Courageous Joy

PARENTING/DISCIPLINE IN PROVERBS - CHAPTER 3

3:1-2 "My son, do not forget my teaching but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you."

~The goal of my parenting is not only outward behavior. The goal is a child whose heart delights in my teachings and commands (which ought to be coming from God).

~My teaching must go beyond rules...to Scriptural Principles and beyond that to the very nature and character of God. Rules change when the authority (rule enforcer) is removed. The character and nature of God will stay with my child regardless of where he moves in life. (Previous post dealing with these thoughts "Where's the Grace?")

3:3 - 11 Things that I'm to teach my child
~kindness, truth, to trust in the Lord, to fear the Lord, to honor the Lord with his wealth, not to reject the discipline of the Lord or loathe His reproof.

3:12 "For whom the Lord loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights."

~The discipline/teaching described here will take TIME. First, I must learn of God. Second, I must know each individual child. 3rd, I must meditate, pray and search the word for wisdom and creativity to teach each individual child God blesses us with. Fourth, I must spend my days with my children - interacting, guiding, mentoring pastoring their heart. Fifth, if I look for an easy way out or focus only on the external, my child's heart will not delight in my commands. I will have failed my child.

Heart - in scripture means the center of man...seat of emotions, will and intellect.

~My discipline of each of my children must be individualized. I'm not finding a formula in Proverbs. I'm finding an emphasis on relationship. I must have a relationship with God. My goal is for my child to have that relationship with God and to have a relationship with me as well - a relationship that is full of honor and respect.

~ God wants ME to seek HIM for the best way to partner with Him to raise each one of my children. To excel as a parent I am forced to search out each child's gifts, weaknesses and bents. This knowledge will come from interacting with my children and from time spent in prayer for and with each child. God wants ME on my face for each of my children, searching His Word and communicating with Him about what each of my children needs.

~God doesn't give me a formula because he wants my parenting , as every other area of my life, to be spirit-led; not expert-led. (Gal 5:25). He wants relationship from me and my children.

~God's way of discipline (oral instruction that is God-centered and God natured) forces ME to seek Him....above all else.


Further study:
*Do word studies on reproof, discipline and corrects

**Sorry to those on SHS who have heard me say things like this again and again.....