31 Aug Raising Godly Children
Finding the right balance is not always easy, especially when raising a child in a Godly way. We have to maintain a connection while still offering correction.
Every day our children are growing and changing and as they do, we need to adjust how we parent them. For example, in our household, how we parent my teenage step-son is different to our younger son, who is still very dependent.
Our mission at the moment is to reinforce to my step-son that his choices have consequences. Often, as parents, we get upset if our child forgets their sports kits at home or leaves a project for the night before because we don’t want them to make bad choices and, if we let it, it becomes our problem to solve. In truth though, we do not have to and shouldn’t, bare those consequences for our children. All they learn from that approach is that we will swoop in and save them every time. When they finish school and go off to university or enter the working world, they will then learn, the hard way, that they are in charge of their own lives. Let’s look at what scripture says about raising our children:
“Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.” – Proverbs 13:24 NIV
I do not believe in hitting children, so for me, I see the above scripture as meaning that if we spare discipline, we do our children a great disservice.
“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” – Proverbs 22:6 NIV
We need to point our children to God’s Word for guidance. We as parents, are humans and are flawed. When we show them, practically, how to navigate their lives through the Bible, we teach them a skill that will prepare and help them for their entire lives.
Prayer
Dear Jesus,
Thank you for the great privilege you have given us of being parents. Lord, help us to not take this responsibility lightly and to lean on You for help.
In your precious name, Amen.
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