How many times today did you ask at least one of your children, "why did you do that?' And then you were met with the answer, "I dunno!"
All decisions and choices we make in life have an origin - it is found in what we love and desire and the Bible identifies this source as our heart. We nor our children can intrepret life correctly until we understand that it is the heart that directs all of our life.
So how do we deal with our children's hearts? The first step is to realize that many of us, most of the time focus on the behavior of our child and lose sight of the attitudes of heart behind the behavior. We can learn to manipulate our child's behavior through obedience therapy techniques of rewards and punishments - but this will never touch a stony heart. Only the work of God through grace can accomplish this (Ezekiel 36).
1. How have you seen your child's desires and passions expressed lately?
2. Write out what the Scriptures tell us that the heart does (page 52) and adjectives that describe the heart (page 53).
3. How have you been attempting to control your child's behavior without addressing the heart?
4. What is the "when", "what", and "why" of behavior?
5. Read Ezekiel 36: 22-32. How does this speak of the grace of God? How does this apply to your parenting?
6. According to Hebrews 3:12-13, why do your children need you?
7. According to Galatians 6:1, what is your ministry to your children? what warning is there for you in this verse?
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