subject: 7 Hallmarks Of Positive Parenting [print this page] Raising balanced and empowered children is the hope of every parent. However, unfortunately many fail to achieve this objective. This article provide 7 golden rules for raising successful, God-fearing children.
1. Providence
Parents have a sense of obligation to provide for the ones that they helped to bring into this world. No one looks favourably upon a father who is unable or unwilling to provide for his children. Children learn to rely on good parents to provide for their needs. Kids in functional homes do not need to be concerned about what to eat or where they will sleep.
What about our heavenly Father? Is He a reliable provider? Can we reasonably leave Him to take care of us?
Wise parents help their children to learn to accept God as THE Great Provider.
Gen 22:15 recounts Abraham's show of faith and how has been rewarded as being the father of nations. Responsible parents will happily lavish bountiful gifts on obedient children.
Matt 7- 11 points to how God views our requests. Only a delusional parent would give stone to a child that asks for bread. So in our Godly living, we should feel comfortable to ask, seek and knock of God. Like a responsible parent, He will respond to our needs.
Romans 8:28 puts the icing on the cake. We are assured that as long as we remain true and faithful God will be working for good things to happen to you.
An aside: Note that Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac in obedience to God. The love for God must transcend all other loves. Parents should not protect and defend their children at the risk at losing favour with God. These principles must be passed on to our children.
2. Protection
Parents must protect their children. Equally, children must be encouraged to rely on parents for protection. Life is not as dangerous under the protective wings of the parent.
The implication for Godly living is that this is the type of relationship that God wants to have with us as His children. God is committed to protecting and providing for us. (2 Thes 3:3)
Children should be taught to recognize the inadequacies of human power and to put their trust in THE Great Protector.
3. Prodding
Children are not cattle, but sometimes they need a little prodding to get them moving and moving in the right direction.
Our heavenly Father also has that problem with us!
Read Jonah and see how serious God is about having us obey His commands. Some parents tell their children that they do not expect to have to issue the same instructions more than once. How much more should we be quick to obey the all powerful God, our maker?
Many of us follow the instructions of leaders and others out of fear. Some even to the point of doing things that they know to be wrong. We are reminded that we should be more respectful of God since He can not only kill the body but He is also able to condemn your soul.
4. Pride
Most parents have a sense of pride about their children. Some parents think that because of their efforts the child is somehow "owned" by them and that the child is an extension of them.
The more the child fits the pattern that they consider desirable the greater the feeling of satisfaction and level of pride. This in turn sometimes motivates children to make an extra effort to achieve certain objectives: This one is for you Mom/Dad.
What about God?
Would God not also take pride in us as obedient children who are willing to obey His commands?
Ought we not to strive to be obedient to His will so that He too can take pride in our achievements?
In 1 Peter 2 we are reminded that we are a royal priesthood ... and a people for God's own possession: 9
Should we not live up to that high calling?
Children should be guided to please God who sees ALL their actions. Hiding secret flaws from man will not be acceptable. Pleasing God requires more transparency and wholesome action.
5. Punishment
Earthly parents punish their children in the hope that it will help them to develop along acceptable lines. Two passages give us clear insight into the philosophy of our heavenly Father.
Sometimes as parents we are reluctant to discipline our children out of some mistaken sense of love. The account of Saul and Jonathan shows the level of earnestness that one father had with respect to obedience to God, above all else!!!! 1 Samuel 14:41 - 45
What about our heavenly Father?
What is His approach to punishment and discipline?
We often focus solely on God in the context of His grace and love. It is more comfortable to see God in that light. Full of grace though He is, God is also a just God. He abhors sin and requires obedience. He promises to exact punishment on those who are consistently disobedient. A core responsibility of parents is the disciplining of their children. This cannot be avoided.
As God's children we need to recognize that we will receive "tough love" from Him. That is in keeping with the fact that He is a just God. (Acts 17: 29 -30; Hebrews 12: 4 - 11)
6. Patience
Some parents have to face the reality that their offspring have not quite made it to the lofty standards that they have set for the children. They are concerned about the pace of development and get frustrated at persistent weaknesses and failings. They may even wonder if all their efforts have been in vain.
Other parents understand that it might take time for their children to fit the pattern that they have set for them. They take this into consideration and set aside their concern and frustration. Instead they lavish love, support and encouragement. Life's powerful blessings are available to you not from what you do but from who you are.
Sensitive children can detect the growing concern of parents and try to adjust their behaviour to give hope to them. They try to avoid pushing their parents to frustration by re-doubling their efforts. There is renewed motivation to achieve goals.
All children get a boost to their self-worth when they are made to feel confident that their father's love and support is not dependent on what they achieve but on who they are.
What about our Eternal Father?
He is patient and understanding when we fall short of His requirements. He actually makes arrangements to deal with our failings.
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
We are reminded that we are all fallible and that we have a mediator in Christ Jesus whose sacrifice atones for our sins. (1 John 1:8 - 10; 2:1 - 2)
Children need to learn that while God is just, He is also full of Grace and Patience. They should not give up on their quest to serve Him because they slip occasionally.
7. Place
Finally, parents seek to find a safe and secure place for their children. Parents take great comfort from the fact that offspring have safe shelter.
Part of the joy that would have come to the father of the prodigal son is the fact that that night he could sleep with the assurance that his son was in a secure place and not at risk.
What about our heavenly Father? What is His take on this?
He has provided a safe and secure place for us. It is called the Church. (Matthew 16: 13 - 19; Act 2: 36 - 48.
What about you?
Are you an obedient child to your heavenly Father?
Are you in residence in the secure place He has provided for you?
Are you part of His elect, His royal priesthood?
If you are a part of His elect, are you frustrating Him?
Are you living to the standards that He has set for you?
Are you keen to make Him proud of you?
Are you guiding your children along a path that leads them to pleasing God and obeying His commands?
Are you denying them to exposure to the Gospel that you got when you were young?
This is the challenge to you today. Make this day a happy day for your heavenly Father!!!!
by: TrevorES Smith
welcome to Insurances.net (https://www.insurances.net)
