Text: Ephesians 6:1-4
I heard someone refer to a friend’s parents once as intentional parents: I haven’t forgotten that statement, and it is something I pray about often. It’s fairly easy to become a parent, but to parent with discipline and instruction from God? (v. 4) Well, that is a little more difficult.
There is only one way to know instruction that comes from the Lord: we need to know Him and know His word. The Bible has become lost in our homes, and it is something that we must be intentional about bringing back.
- Mothers, let’s encourage one another. What are tangible ways that we can become more intentional parents?
- How can we bring the Bible back into our homes?
- Being intentional is a quality that we should all strive for. How do we become more intentional in our day-to-day life?
Similar to Sarah, I'm surprised that I feel a need to comment considering I have not had the privilege of this experience….yet. Sometimes I wonder why is it taking so longggg…but God knows best, and I'm receiving revelation that my wait is about preparation. I can't imagine myself as a single birth parent; no slight against those who are, I just don't know where I would begin w/o a husband to help. My revelations are revealed in many various ways….this devotional is great, reading/studying scripture, unexpected conversations/situations, my own parents, and a dear friend who often baby sits her grand daughter.
The "intention" of God's will for children to be taught about Him from an early age is such a reflection of His love for us all. I'm realizing that "discipline" is about educating to get better, and applies not just when we've done wrong and need correcting, but also as a foundation for wisdom to grow and develop in our understanding. It applies to us as adults when we intentionally respond to our Heavenly Father's commands, and we as parents are to teach our children how to see God's promises in everyday living.
I am enlightened and encouraged through everyone's comments! Have a blessed day!
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Today my youngest child is 18. I rejoice that she has passed with dignity and grace into official adulthood. As I read this passage I reflected on my relationship with my own parents now. We are intimately bound up with our children in their younger years. They are dependent on us for virtually every aspect of their daily lives and we see their character take shape and have to confront our own nature exposed through the challenges they reveal. I had to regularly ask for forgiveness from God and from my children as anger or frustration would seem to explode when I had unrealistic expectations of them or myself.
My mother is in her eighties and enjoys independent living, full mobility, a family close by, a loving church community and pockets of good health. I have seen her weather many storms and as we count and celebrate birthdays each month, increasingly she says goodbye to faithful friends and relatives who have ' run their race'. I have seen my mother's physical and mental stamina diminish but her heart of love and her generosity of spirit continues to grow and the fruit of the spirit is ripe within her. Leviticus 19:32 says ' Stand in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly, and revere your God.' I stand in the middle now. I look forward to being a grandma and am enjoying my adult children and pray that I will be full of wisdom and love to be able to honour and respect my parent's generation.
My kids are 19 and 25. We homeschooled beginning when my daughter was done with 6th grade and my son just finishing first grade. Many reasons for the change, but essentially, so we would have God be a part of our kids lives 24/7. Now I am a Grandma, and my daughter’s little girl is 2 and a half. She is VERY strong willed, but my daughter is being very intentional about bringing the love of Jesus into her daughter’s world. I just came across a book for the parents of strong-willed children called ‘You Can’t Make Me! But I Can Be Pursuaded’ (I might be a little off on that title … But if you search ‘You Can’t Make Me’, I’m sure you will find it!). I want to get this book for my daughter… I heard the author speak on ‘Focus on the Family’ a couple months ago… A great Godly woman!! Thought I would recommend it here for anyone looking for advice on being a Godly parent to a strong-willed child. Blessings!!!
Hermione, Consider the thought before uttering the word. Silently ask God to order your steps with His word! Give thanks for patience!
My biggest challenge is to be a patient mom. I am struggling big time in that area. I have to remember to pray daily to attain this important fruit of the spirit. God is teaching me to be patient thru situations in my life. I want to react to my children with love and kindness not impatience.
Wow apparently I can’t spell…. Sorry about that!
I am so far from being the Godly mother I want to be. I anger to quickly and am on my phone way to often. I take my kids for granted because I stay home with them. I don’t spend enough 1 on 1 time. I have a 2 and a 4 yr old. My 4 year old is soooo strong willed and I’m trying. To figure out how to point that I’m the right direction. Some of my favorite things we have done is memorization. She knows John 3:16, the Lord’s Prayer, and numerous others but my favorite is when she was 2 we taught her Mark 16:6 “He has risen! He is not here!” She had to say it before she could do her Easter basket. Same with “for unto you is born this day in the city of Daveid, a Savior who is Chriat The Lord.” On Christmas. But my favorite is what my husband does every so often. When she gets in trouble and it warrants a spanking… He will tell me to give him her spanking. We can then tell her that Jesus took our spanking for us…. And so on…great conversation starter. We also try to pray after disciplining…to where she has to take responsibility by asking for forgiveness and naming what she did wrong. Hope this helps. Any suggestions for a VERY strong willed child would be appreciated.