{"id":1294,"date":"2016-09-30T17:58:56","date_gmt":"2016-09-30T22:58:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebcsv.com\/pa\/?p=1294"},"modified":"2016-09-30T23:50:41","modified_gmt":"2016-10-01T04:50:41","slug":"discouraging-your-child","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebcsv.com\/pa\/discouraging-your-child\/","title":{"rendered":"Discouraging Your Child"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Discouraged\"Discouragement<\/h4>\n

The importance of training our children up using biblical principles of love, respect, and discipline cannot be over stated in a day when the lack of such proper training all around us is so evident.
\nAs a father and grandfather I want to be an encouragement and source of wisdom from God\u2019s Word and His work in my own life over the years to my adult children and other young couples who may be starting their families.<\/p>\n

While striving to represent Christ to our families by following Him in our homes and understanding that as men we can sometimes be harsh and heavy handed while barking out orders and insisting on our way, I would offer a word of caution as a father, to fathers about accountability to the Lord and some strong admonitions to us from scripture.<\/p>\n

In our zeal to produce for the Lord the godly offspring he desires, let us not forget our own inclinations toward sin.
\nRight after children are instructed in Ephesians 6:1-3 to obey and honor parents there is a directive to fathers that should not be glossed over, verse 4- Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.<\/p>\n

Then Colossians 3:20 instructs children to –\u00a0 obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. But the very next verse 21 is to us- Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.<\/p>\n

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 is a measuring stick of how we\u2019re doing as Christ followers;
\nLove is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.<\/p>\n

Take away\u2026
\nAre we lovingly and consistently training up our children in the admonition of the Lord remembering God\u2019s command to us as fathers or are we nit-picking, frustrating, and\u00a0 stifling them by setting unrealistic expectations or constantly insisting on our own way giving our little charges no room to explore and express themselves and to grow as God intended?<\/p>\n

At best, angry and discouraged children tend to grow into angry and discouraged adults.
\nAt worst, rebellion and distain for anything of God could be the result.<\/p>\n

There is excitement and freedom and room for personal expression in God\u2019s creation and it is our job as fathers to teach our children how to do that in a God honoring way.
\nBe sure you\u00a0don’t strain out a gnat and swallow a camel dad.<\/p>\n

His peace be with you.<\/p>\n

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