I'm almost done reading Parenting by The Book by John Rosemond. It is a very good book for all parents to read to help get back to the basics of child raising and discipline based on what the Bible says. As Christians is that not what we want to do live by the Book. We too need to be the example to others around us and to our children to live by the Book. It is hard and we do mess up everyday. Or at least I mess up everyday but I do want to help me kids to understand the Truth of what God says, since the Devil has forces all around them trying to lead them in a different way. So today I'm talking from Chapter 9 called The Bible Tells Me So with Proverbs 3:5 as the verse.
The Bible has a number of things to say concerning the discipline of children. This stems from as the Bible tells us about the sinfulness of children. Children do NOT need to be taught how to misbehave; it comes naturally to them...agree? It's the positive influence of adults who are committed to the goal of raising a person of character that is essential.
1) Discipline and Love are Two Sides of the Same Coin: Prov. 3:12
The Bible says that discipline is an expression of delight in one's child. The more parents delight, the more effectively they discipline, and the more effectively they discipline the more they will delight. The Bible also says that parents who discipline their children properly are doing the Lord's work. So it goes without saying that more gratifying employment cannot be found.
2)Punishment is Never Pleasant but Produces Great Benefit for the Person Punished: Hebrews 12:11
The writer of Hebrews is saying is that if correction is not painful to the person corrected, it will have no effect. Two generations ago, parents had no problem making children feel bad when they did bad things. Today because of all the psycho babble going on we are taught 1)attempt to correct their children's misbehavior while 2)taking great care not to make their children feel bad. As a result of this teaching we now have many undisciplined children and mental health professionals enjoy higher standards of living.
3) Punishment is Essential to Proper Discipline: Hebrews 12:6
Today's parents do a lot of talking, reasoning and explaining to their children, when it comes to their bad behaviors. But the Bible says proper discipline, including punishment when appropriate, is an expression of love. Who do you believe? The Bible or the world??
4)Proper Discipline Validates a Child: Hebrews 12:8 If you are not disciplined....then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.
What's this? If a child is not disciplined, the child is not legitimate? It's the equivalent of saying that parental failure to discipline is a form of child neglect. As a mature individual is justified (validated) to God by his or her faith, a child is justified to society (turned into a functional citizen) through proper parental discipline.
5) Obedient Children are Pleasing to Their Parents: Proverbs 29:17 Discipline your son, and he will give you peace;he will bring delight to your soul.
Everyone knows parents whose children are disobedient, sassy and so on. Do they seem at peace? Do they seem to delight in their children? Parents who are content with and in their parenting have children who are respectful, well-mannered, and obedient. The opposite is true as well: It never fails that parents who seem constantly under stress, exasperated, and worried have children who are ill-behaved. Those parents are convinced that their children's ill behavior is the cause of their stress, but that belief is a form of denial. The real problem is their lack of parental discipline!!! The Bible is clear that in order for a child to bring a parent peace rather then discord, the child MUST be properly disciplined.
6) Children are to Obey Their Parents: Colossians 3:20
God wants a relationship with us, but a relationship with God requires self-discipline. Parents who properly discipline their children are likely to raise self-disciplined children who have what it takes to become permanent citizens of the Kingdom. No wonder the obedient child is pleasing to the Lord.
7) Obedience will bring Blessings to Children: Proverbs 1:8-9
A parent who says, "I wish my child would obey me!" just doesn't get it. First, children don't grant adult wishes. Second, that parent wants his child to obey for his benefit; so that he won't be so frustrated and stressed out; so that he'll have more peace of mind. But the Bible clearly says that although parents are certainly blessed by children who are well behaved, the primary blessings of good behavior flow to the children themselves; good manners are like fine jewelry-they grace the person who "wears" them.
8) The Most Obedient Children are also the Happiest, Most Self-Respecting Children: Proverbs 15:32
The happiest parents always seem to have the most obedient children, and the most obedient children are the happiest children. Happiness abounds for those who are obedient, in large part because obedience to legitimate authority is not only a sign of respect for the person in authority, but also self-respect. Disobedient people, wherever they are found are never found happy. They are angry, sullen, malcontents who "despise themselves." Lacking respect for authority, they also lack self-respect. Which one of these people would you like your child to be?
9) A Lack of Discipline Contributes to Death - In the Everlasting Sense: Proverbs 19:18 Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to his death.
Hope. No guarantees, just hope. Proper discipline sets a child on the right road, but it's up to him/her to see to it that he/she stays there - or finds his/her way back when they stray. But you need to get them started out on the right path by disciplining them now. Give the gift of Hope to your children!
10) Discipline is the Way to Life Eternal: Proverbs 6:23
Jesus made a bold statement that He is the "way and the truth and the life" (John 14:6). Through Him we are granted eternal life. In Proverbs, we are told two things; Discipline is the way to life, and the lack of discipline leads ultimately to death. That's how important discipline is!! Through proper discipline, a parent gives a child the greatest gift of all.
This is something I read from the book that I thought might be helpful to some of you out there. This is a great book and I highly recommend it for all parents. You do need to discipline your children not put them on medications. So much of the problems in the school system, and at home are from children who have no consistent discipline but God disciplines us as adults and He is our example and He clearly tells us in the Bible that we too are to Discipline our children that He has given to us. So are you still wanting to believe the world in how to raise your children or to the Creator of those children? It's a choice and the choice is yours.
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