2024-05-12
Psalm 127:3 NLT
Over the next few days, let’s look at some practical areas where we as parents are often confused. (1) Guidance versus criticism. If you have a placid, agreeable, and compliant child who enjoys school, homework, and doing household chores, bringing “them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” will be a joy! (Ephesians 6:4 NIV).
Many of us, however, are given assertive, strong-willed kids with their own agendas. These kids know what they want, and when and how to get it. They also know what they don’t want to eat, wear, hear, say, and do! And parents of these kids need help in building the kind of relationship that creates trust and allows for mutual discussion and respect in a tug-of-war atmosphere. In such cases giving guidance can easily become criticism, constantly emphasizing the child’s faults: “You look ridiculous in that… you’re never on time… why can’t you be like…”
A much better approach is to point the kid to the solution. Even valid guidance offered negatively will damage self-worth, breed resentment, and destroy the possibility of building mutual respect. They need to hear you say, “I’m not on your back – I’m on your team!”
When normal conflict arises – and it will – it’s tempting to become overbearing or frustrated. When you shout, insult, or humiliate the child, you lose sight of your parental goal of guiding and training. This leaves them feeling angry, disempowered, uncertain of themselves and you – an invitation to rebellion. But if you guide your child as one who is on their team, with patient practical help, links will be forged that encourage cooperation, trust, and mutual respect.
Soul food: Gal 5:22; Luke 19:11-26; Ps 36:5-9; Heb 10:19-23
2024-05-11
Proverbs 22:6 ERV
Ever wish for a parenting do-over – a second chance to raise your kids? With hindsight and insight, you think you would do it right this time! Parenting is both rewarding and guilt inducing. It’s rewarding because we love our children and they bring us joy. It’s guilt inducing because we blame ourselves for their shortcomings and misfortunes. “Where did I go wrong as a parent?” There is no perfect parent, and there is no universal blueprint because every child is born unique.
Psychologists told us our children were born a “blank slate,” waiting for us to write life instructions on them. Not so! Babies are miniature people, “born in sin and shapen in iniquity” (See Psalm 51:5). They are given to us to figure out as we try to mold them spiritually, morally, socially, and intellectually. By age seven, they have learned about 75 percent of everything they will ever know.
But although there is no one-size-fits-all formula for success, there are God-given principles that work whether you’re a new parent or a grandparent. “Teach children in a way that fits their needs, and even when they are old, they will not leave the right path” (Proverbs 22:6 ERV). Notice some keywords here. “Teach,” which implies imparting information in a consistent, understandable way.
Toddlers learn better with pictures. Older kids need us to use contemporary language. If they don’t “get it,” we probably didn’t teach it well enough! “Children” means old enough to understand. “A way that fits their needs” implies knowing their personality and abilities and tailoring your teaching to fit them. When God’s principles fit the child’s unique characteristics, they’re more likely to adopt and follow them.
Soul food: Deut 22-24; Mark 7:24-37; Ps 44:1-8; Prov 12:7-9
2024-05-10
1 Peter 5:10 NIV
If you want God to restore you and make you “strong, firm and steadfast,” meditate prayerfully on these four Scriptures, and look for ways to put them into practice each day:
(1) “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time” (v. 6 NIV).
(2) “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (v. 7 NIV).
(3) “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (v. 8 NIV).
(4) “Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings” (v. 9 NIV).
Now, here is the result God promises when you walk in the truth of these four Scriptures: “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast” (v. 10 NIV). Note two important phrases here: “The God of all grace.” Whatever you fear and whatever you have to face, God will give you the grace to handle it. “After you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong.” If you are going through a season of stress, God has promised that it will lead to a season of strengthening. So when you pray, “Lord, take me out of this,” He may answer, “No, I will take you through it and make you ‘firm and steadfast.'”
Soul food: Deut 18-21; Mark 7:14-23; Ps 37:32-40; Prov 12:4-6
2024-05-09
Mark 9:23 NKJV
Demosthenes, who was reputed to be the greatest orator in ancient Greece, had a serious speech impediment. Legend has it that he overcame it by reciting verses with pebbles in his mouth and speaking above the roar of the waves at the seashore. As a prisoner in the Wartburg castle, Martin Luther made use of his time by translating the New Testament into German. Beethoven wrote his greatest symphonic masterpieces after losing his hearing. John Bunyan wrote The Pilgrim’s Progress when he was in prison. Daniel Defoe also wrote in prison, creating Robinson Crusoe. Abraham Lincoln is thought by many to be the best of the United States presidents, but he probably would not have become known as a great leader if he had not led the country through the Civil War.
Often, difficult situations seem to be involved in producing great leaders and thinkers. But that is only the case when their attitudes are right. When a problem comes in contact with someone who has the right attitude, the result is often wonderful. Out of great turmoil come great statesmen, businessmen, scientists, educators, pastors, and others. Every challenge is an opportunity, and every opportunity has a challenge. But it’s the attitude with which you approach your problem that largely determines the outcome.
When a man whose son couldn’t hear or speak asked Jesus to heal him, Jesus replied, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes” (v. 23 NKJV). The man replied, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (v. 24 NKJV). And Jesus did. Plus, He healed the man’s son. If you need help with your attitude, talk to the Lord today.
Soul food: Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:1-11; Eph 4:7-10
2024-05-08
Philippians 2:3 NKJV
Observe: (1) The right attitude makes a difference in your relationships. Theodore Roosevelt said, “The most important single ingredient in the formula for success is knowing how to get along with people.” And Paul writes: “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (vv. 3-4 NKJV). If your track record with people isn’t too good, maybe you need to look at your attitude. While it’s true that some people just seem to have a winning way with others, someone with limited people skills can learn to win with others if he or she decides to change their attitude and approach.
(2) Your attitude makes a difference in how you face life’s challenges. During the Korean War when US Marine Chesty Puller found himself surrounded by eight enemy divisions, his response was, “All right, they are on our left. They are on our right. They’re in front of us. They’re behind us – they can’t get away from us this time!” In life, problems, challenges, obstacles, and failures are unavoidable. So, how are you going to deal with them? Will you quit? Will you let conditions make you miserable? Or are you going to attempt to make the best of things? Which path you select depends on your attitude. The old saying is true: What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Remember the times in your life when you have grown the most. Weren’t they times when you had to overcome obstacles and problems?
Soul food: Deut 14-17; Mark 7:1-13; Ps 37:25-31; Prov 12:1-3
2024-05-07
Job 8:7 NKJV
It’s easier to recognize success looking back than it is looking forward. For some of us, it can be many years before we recognize our success, celebrate it, and feel secure in it. That’s because we lack a proper perspective. At its widest point, the Mississippi River requires a two-mile-wide steel span bridge to get across; while at its source, the stream is so small you can jump over it. But it’s still the same river. Most things start small!
Have you ever heard the Serenity Prayer? It goes like this: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.” It was first prayed in a little church in Massachusetts by theologian Reinhold Niebuhr during a Sunday morning service. Only a small group of people was in the congregation that day, but one person liked the prayer and after the service, he asked Niebuhr for a copy. “Here,” Niebuhr responded, handing over a crumpled piece of paper. “I doubt I’ll ever have any more use for it.”
Well, guess what? Next to the Lord’s Prayer, it’s the most used prayer in the world. Isn’t it ironic that Niebuhr’s prayer became so popular? Evidently, his perspective wasn’t too good because he didn’t know what he had. With that story in mind, read this Scripture again and really think about it: “Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would increase abundantly.” With God’s help, you can turn your failure into success and go on to greater things.
Soul food: Deut 11-13; Mark 6:45-56; Ps 37:16-24; Prov 11:30-31
