Silas
Beloved of All
Your prayer is deeply biblical and reflects a heart that wants to honor God in the difficult and holy work of raising children. You have rightly seen what Scripture teaches in Proverbs 22:15, that foolishness is naturally bound up in the heart of a child, and that loving, consistent correction is God's means to drive it far from him.
That word for training in Scripture carries the idea of systematic instruction, like catechizing, a steady and intentional forming of a child day by day. It raises an important question for every parent to consider, what are you training your child to become. If the goal is only success in the eyes of the world, a child may become successful and still be far from God. But to train a child in the way he should go, in the fear of the Lord, is to set before him the path of life itself, trusting the promise that when he is old he will not depart from it.
Part of that training includes discipline. Scripture speaks of the rod of correction as a tool to drive folly away, and that principle remains true. That does not mean there is only one method. For some children and in some situations, the wise and loving removal of privileges or other consistent consequences can be very effective. What matters is not harshness or reacting in frustration, anger or impatience, but a steady hand and a loving heart that provides clear boundaries, wise instruction and faithful correction to shape character.
God models this for us. He has great patience with us as His children. Just as you patiently teach a child to walk, fully expecting stumbles and falls along the way, so the Lord is patient with us as we learn to walk with Him. He disciplines us because we are His children, and that correction is proof of His love.
You asked for wisdom, patience and grace, and that is exactly what a parent needs, and what God loves to give. Wisdom is the principal thing. Scripture tells us to get wisdom and with all our getting to get understanding. This wisdom is more than knowledge or facts. Knowledge gives information, but wisdom knows how to rightly apply it. The wisdom of this world is earthly and self seeking and leads to strife and envy, but the wisdom that comes from above is pure, peaceable and gentle and produces good fruit in our lives.
In Proverbs, wisdom is pictured as a person crying out in the streets, calling to all who will listen. That picture points us to Jesus Christ Himself, for in Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. He is the Word of God, the Bread of Heaven and the Word of Life. As you feed daily on Christ and His Word, you are receiving the very wisdom you need to lead your home. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and as you walk in that reverence for Him, He will pour out His Spirit of wisdom, knowledge and understanding upon you.
Keep asking Him as Solomon did, for a wise and understanding heart to guide your family. He gives generously to those who ask. May He grant you that steady grace to instruct with love, to correct without harshness, to be patient through the stumbles, and to replace foolishness with discernment, self control and a love for Him. May He guard your children's hearts from the temptations of this world and draw each of them closer to Himself day by day.
We join you in that prayer, asking the Lord to strengthen you, to give you peace in your home, and to let His wisdom dwell richly in you as you guide your children in His ways. In Jesus name, amen.
That word for training in Scripture carries the idea of systematic instruction, like catechizing, a steady and intentional forming of a child day by day. It raises an important question for every parent to consider, what are you training your child to become. If the goal is only success in the eyes of the world, a child may become successful and still be far from God. But to train a child in the way he should go, in the fear of the Lord, is to set before him the path of life itself, trusting the promise that when he is old he will not depart from it.
Part of that training includes discipline. Scripture speaks of the rod of correction as a tool to drive folly away, and that principle remains true. That does not mean there is only one method. For some children and in some situations, the wise and loving removal of privileges or other consistent consequences can be very effective. What matters is not harshness or reacting in frustration, anger or impatience, but a steady hand and a loving heart that provides clear boundaries, wise instruction and faithful correction to shape character.
God models this for us. He has great patience with us as His children. Just as you patiently teach a child to walk, fully expecting stumbles and falls along the way, so the Lord is patient with us as we learn to walk with Him. He disciplines us because we are His children, and that correction is proof of His love.
You asked for wisdom, patience and grace, and that is exactly what a parent needs, and what God loves to give. Wisdom is the principal thing. Scripture tells us to get wisdom and with all our getting to get understanding. This wisdom is more than knowledge or facts. Knowledge gives information, but wisdom knows how to rightly apply it. The wisdom of this world is earthly and self seeking and leads to strife and envy, but the wisdom that comes from above is pure, peaceable and gentle and produces good fruit in our lives.
In Proverbs, wisdom is pictured as a person crying out in the streets, calling to all who will listen. That picture points us to Jesus Christ Himself, for in Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. He is the Word of God, the Bread of Heaven and the Word of Life. As you feed daily on Christ and His Word, you are receiving the very wisdom you need to lead your home. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and as you walk in that reverence for Him, He will pour out His Spirit of wisdom, knowledge and understanding upon you.
Keep asking Him as Solomon did, for a wise and understanding heart to guide your family. He gives generously to those who ask. May He grant you that steady grace to instruct with love, to correct without harshness, to be patient through the stumbles, and to replace foolishness with discernment, self control and a love for Him. May He guard your children's hearts from the temptations of this world and draw each of them closer to Himself day by day.
We join you in that prayer, asking the Lord to strengthen you, to give you peace in your home, and to let His wisdom dwell richly in you as you guide your children in His ways. In Jesus name, amen.
