Getting Them Through the Teenage Years Use wisdom and understanding to establish your home. Proverbs 24:3 CEV When you’re the parent of a ‘teen in transition’, it’s important to find the right blend of correction, instruction, motivation and praise. Instead of focusing on behaviour you don’t want, praise and reward behaviour you want more of. If your child feels like you’re always ‘on their back’ instead of ‘on their team’ about how they dress, their friends, their music, etc., they’ll resist you at every turn. The Bible says about parenting: (a) ‘Children, obey your parents.’ (Ephesians 6:1 NKJV) (b) ‘Do not exasperate your children.’ (Ephesians 6:4 NIV) Use the carrot and stick approach. If you’re all ‘stick’ and no ‘carrot’ you’ll provoke them into rebelling, going undercover and cutting off communication. And if you grew up in a home where you were never praised or rewarded, you’ll have to work harder to break the cycle. Exploding at your teen just teaches them to handle their own anger explosively. Expect to be shocked and be prepared to respond constructively. If you take their mood swings and inconsistencies personally, you’ll end up reacting in ways you regret. Do you remember your own adolescence and how youfelt about your parents’ opinions, tastes and rules? Mark Twain said: ‘When I was fourteen my dad was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have him around. But when I got to be twenty–one I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years!’ If you’re raising a teen, here are two Scriptures worth remembering: ‘Love never fails.’ (1 Corinthians 13:8 NKJV) ‘Use wisdom and understanding to establish your home.’ (Proverbs 24:3 CEV) The word for today devotional May I also add that there is a great battle between parents and the devil in raising kids.. In as much as parents desire the best for their children, the devil wants to catch them young! Little wonder, the bible quickly advised, train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it Proverbs 22:6 NIV. Notice the phrase ...he will never turn from it, this implies that parents are responsible for their children. I like the story of Ben Carsons mom. The husband abandoned this il-literate woman with the sole responsibility of raising the kids all by herself. She humbly seek the wisdom of God on how to raise the kids, and instead of prostituting around, she worked hard to fein for them. Today, Ben Carson is one of the world best surgeon. Children are like blank check, they are your input... That which you want them to become, you teach them.. Pray fervantly for them, teach them the truth right from their infant stage, you want them to love books, inculcate the reading reading culture in them, be the first to identify their potentials, and encourage them accordingly, do not show favouritism.. You are the captain of your ship, sail them on the right path! Be an example to them..if you want them to be good, be good yourself, if you want a godly home, be godly! Remember, an orderly mind, breeds an orderly home, an orderly home, breeds an ordely society.. Proverbs 24:3-4.
Posted on: Sat, 22 Nov 2014 06:12:48 +0000