Do you ever wish you could make someone do the right thing? Parents often watch their children make bad decisions and feel powerless to do anything about it. Unfortunately, many just give in and put a “band-aid” on a situation by giving money instead of time, ignoring a situation instead of disciplining, or trying to be their child’s friend instead of their parent. The best way to love your child is to care enough to correct them when they need it.
God, who is the perfect Father, gives us His thoughts on correction and discipline in the following verses:
The Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in (Proverbs 3:12).
Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul (Proverbs 29:17).
The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother (Proverbs 29:15).
You can’t change your child’s heart, but you can correct their behavior. If you love your children, you need to do what is necessary to enforce righteousness. If you know your child is headed in the wrong direction, do something about it.
Don’t be afraid they will run away and you will lose them. If they are in rebellion, you have already lost them. Go after them and get them back. Don’t try to make your children happy; it’s God job to be their joy. Your home is a training ground and you should be the one doing the training. In too many homes the children are training their parents by having a good attitude if they get their way, and a bad attitude if they don’t. Correct your child with firm, loving discipline–not abuse.
Look to God for the fruit of the Spirit and find your peace and joy in him and not in your children. Then you will be a parent with power!
When you do this, you will teach your children to look to God to be the source of peace and joy in their lives. God wants the best for us and knows that sin hurts us. Keep your heart clean by confessing to God and being a righteous parent. Be a role model by confessing to your children. Ask for forgiveness when you “blow it” with them. It will open the doors of communication in your relationship and will teach them to confess to God and you later on. Never underestimate the power of God when someone wants to be restored and renewed. When God gets involved, it’s a real transformation!
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)