DD Day 41

Deuteronomy 4:9
9 “But watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren.

FAITH STORIES

It is amazing how quickly we forget or dismiss the ways God has been faithful to us. We become distracted, self-sufficient, or focused on a new problem. God knows these human tendencies. That is why He asks us to actively remember His blessings. He takes it one step further by instructing us to share these stories with our children. Children learn from example. If parents model a faith that is alive and real, it will have incredible influence on them.

Ephesians 6:16 talks about taking up the shield of faith to defend against the evil one. Your family's shield of faith can be constructed with stories of God's faithfulness and provision.

Take the time to communicate to your kids the many ways God has blessed you. It is an affirmation for you and an example to them.

Daily Devotional- Parenting, Day 40

Day 40

Numbers 20:12

12 But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!”

DELIVERING CONSEQUENCES

Talk about a tough consequence! Moses, the great leader of the Exodus and recorder of the Ten Commandments, was not allowed to enter the Promised Land because he blatantly disobeyed God. Moses pleaded with God to change His mind, but God followed through with the consequence.

Even great leaders and great kids can make serious errors. In a culture of declining moral standards, following through with the right consequences can feel unloving and harsh. But developing habits of obedience in our children requires that we establish clear boundaries and consistently enforce the consequences when they disobey.

Though it may seem harsh, delivering consequences consistently is an act of love.

Daily Devotional - Parenting

Day 39

Numbers 14:18

18 The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.

CONFRONTING REBELLION

What prevents you from calmly following through with consequences when your kids sin or rebel? I resisted giving consequences because I wanted to avoid angry responses such as: "Chill, mom!" "You're mean." Or, "I'll do it later." I tried reasoning with them, but this usually backfired. I tried arguing my point, but the more I talked, the angrier they seemed to become. I was hiding behind words (nagging, reminding, and arguing) to avoid giving consequences.

When you get an angry response for delivering consequences, don't escalate the situation by nagging or replying in anger. Words are easy. You may think you are being "strong" when you argue your point forcefully or make dictatorial decrees, but the truth is it takes more strength to hold your tongue and give consequences calmly and with empathy. That is a model of real strength.

Confront rebellion calmly and deliver consequences, rather than words.

Daily Devotional - Parenting

Day 38

Leviticus 18:4-5 

4 Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the Lord your God.5 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the Lord.

GOOD BOUNDARIES

The laws given to the Israelites may seem overwhelming and tedious to us. God's requirements covered everything from priestly duties to skincare! But this was not an exercise in excessive control. The Israelite community was beginning a journey into the wilderness and God knew the pitfalls and temptations that lay ahead. These regulations were a gesture of His love and grace to help them succeed as a nation.

Similarly, we know the pitfalls that await our children on their journey to adulthood. Out of love and protection, we establish boundaries. We know they do not have the maturity and wisdom to set limits for themselves. When you find it difficult to hold fast to your boundaries, remember God's example with the Israelites. Firm boundaries communicate love and promote security.

Good boundaries let your children know you love them.

Daily Devotional - Parenting

Day 37

Exodus 16:4

4 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Look, I’m going to rain down food from heaven for you. Each day the people can go out and pick up as much food as they need for that day. I will test them in this to see whether or not they will follow my instructions. 

DAILY DEPENDENCE

We often long for God to reveal the whole path before us, but He usually gives us only one stepping stone at a time. During Israel's desert wandering, God set up a system that required the Israelites to trust in His provision on a daily basis. He knew self-sufficiency would draw them away from Him.

It can be tough to choose a path of daily dependence on God in our lives and the lives of our children. We desperately want to plan, orchestrate, and manipulate all the details because it gives us a sense of control. The illusion of control however, can tempt us to rely on ourselves instead of God. Are you holding tightly to your sense of control, or are you depending on God for guidance?

Trust your children to God each morning. He knows what He's doing.

 

Daily Devotional - Parenting

Day 36

Exodus 14:13-14

13 But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the LORD rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again.14 The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”

BE STILL

Trapped against the sea, the Israelites watched in terror as the Egyptians advanced in hot pursuit. Moses alone remained calm and encouraged the people not to be afraid. He challenged them to be still and allow the Lord to fight for them.

As we raise our children, we too will be faced with panic-inducing situations. If we do not have a solid foundation of faith, we may be overcome with fear and tempted to act rashly. Instead, God asks us to pause and seek his guidance. He reminds us the battle is His. Obviously this requires us to depend on God's wisdom instead of our own. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to be still.

When faced with difficult parenting situations, seek God's guidance before you act. And, let Him work.

Daily Devotional - Parenting

Day 35

Exodus 13:17
 
17 When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”
 

DETOURS

God did not lead the Israelites on a direct path from Egypt to the Promised Land. Instead, He opted for a route that avoided obstacles and challenged them to evaluate their hearts. In the course of our parenting journey, God sometimes takes us on detours that seem counterproductive. While we often have a wonderful story written for the lives of our children, it is usually one that does not include pain and hardship. Inevitably God's story takes us to places we wouldn't choose to go on our own, but they are the very routes that develop maturity, integrity, and perseverance.

When you are in the midst of one of these detours, challenge yourself to adopt God's eternal perspective. He is making your kids more like His.

Daily Devotional - Parenting

Day 34

Exodus 4:10-12
10 But Moses pleaded with the LORD, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.”

 
11 Then the LORD asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the LORD?12 Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.”

CALLED TO PARENTING

Sometimes we don't understand why God calls us to a certain task or ministry. Other people seem far more qualified to meet the challenge that faces us. And yet over and over again in the Bible God used unlikely people to accomplish His goals.

There is no greater calling from God than parenting. When you feel inadequate for the task, realize you are putting your trust in the wrong person! Strive to be an excellent parent, but recognize that God is not dependent on your knowledge or expertise to bring about His results.

When you feel overwhelmed, surrender control and trust God. He will provide.

Daily Devotional- Parenting

Day 33

Exodus 1:15

15 Then Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, gave this order to the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah:

TRUE VALUE

The Hebrew midwives feared God and did not obey the king's request. Interestingly the Bible records the names of the midwives, but not the name of the Egyptian king. By worldly standards this doesn't make sense. Egyptian kings are far more "important" than Hebrew midwives. But people who are revered on earth don't necessarily possess the qualities that are celebrated by God.

It is so easy to crave validation, status, and notoriety for our kids. We are tempted to buy into our culture's definition of "success." God's plan for our kids, however, may not bring worldly fame. Even so we should rejoice because there is no greater blessing than raising kids who are faithful to their calling.

Are you encouraging your kids to be significant to the world, or to God?

 

Daily Devotional- Parenting

Day 32

Genesis 50:20

20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

GOD'S ETERNAL PLAN

Joseph endured the evil intentions of many people — his brothers selling him into slavery, Potiphar's wife falsely accusing him, the cupbearer forgetting him and seven years of famine. Yet God was able to use all those events to bring about the deliverance of Israel. Through all the disappointments (and the victories), Joseph remained confident that God was in control.

The Bible encourages us to adopt this perspective with our children. They are certain to experience trials and disappointments — injuries, sickness, rejection by friends, failed tests and dropped balls. At times we may wonder if God truly has a plan. Joseph's story reminds us that God is bigger than our circumstances. Although we may not be able to grasp His overall plan now; one day we will be able to see the beautiful tapestry that has been woven out of the events of our lives and the lives of our children.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him (Rom 8:28 NIV).

Look past trials and wait for God's response.

Daily Devotional- Parenting

Day 31

Genesis 30:1-3

1 When Rachel saw that she wasn’t having any children for Jacob, she became jealous of her sister. She pleaded with Jacob, “Give me children, or I’ll die!” 2 Then Jacob became furious with Rachel. “Am I God?” he asked. “He’s the one who has kept you from having children!” 3 Then Rachel told him, “Take my maid, Bilhah, and sleep with her. She will bear children for me, and through her I can have a family, too.” 

THE VALIDATION OF THE WORLD

Ancient Middle Eastern culture placed great value on a woman who could bear a child, especially a son. Jacob's wives, Rachel and Leah, were sisters and rivals who used childbearing (by giving birth themselves or through their maidservants) to bolster their sense of self-worth. Their competition quickly degenerated and produced sinful attitudes and behavior as they focused on validating themselves by the worldly standard.

Like them, we can define our worth, and the worth of our children, by achievements and the ability to possess what others value. When we measure our significance in these ways, we become slaves to the thoughts and opinions of the world rather than the thoughts and opinions of God. Remember where your true citizenship lies.

Rest in your identity in Christ instead of chasing after worldly validation.

Daily Devotional- Parenting

Day 30

Genesis 24:27

 27 “Praise the LORD, the God of my master, Abraham,” he said. “The LORD has shown unfailing love and faithfulness to my master, for he has led me straight to my master’s relatives.”

ACTIVE DEPENDENCE

When it was time for Isaac to marry, Abraham sent a servant to find a wife among Abraham's relatives. The servant left for Ur, trusting God to make the choice clear when the time was right. His task was accomplished when he met Rebekah at the well. Notice his response: "As for me, being on the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master's brethren." What a wonderful example of "active dependence!" The servant embarked on the journey, but depended on God to guide him to the right woman.

In parenting, "being on the way" means accepting our responsibility to make decisions that affect our kids. Our fear of mistakes may tempt us to avoid decisions, but parenting requires us to act. Thankfully God does not ask us to rely on our own wisdom. When we acknowledge our dependence on Him and seek His guidance and strength, He promises to provide them.

Be humble enough to seek God's will, and then bold enough to make decisions.

Daily Devotional- Parenting

Day 28

Genesis 16:13

13 Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the LORD, who had spoken to her. She said, “You are the God who sees me.” She also said, “Have I truly seen the One who sees me?”

"SEEING YOUR CHILDREN"

This passage tells of the trials of Hagar, the maid of Sarai. Sarai was unable to conceive so she sent Hagar to Abram, hoping Hagar would bear a child in her place. When Hagar became pregnant, however, animosity developed between the two women. Sarai's mistreatment caused Hagar to run away into the desert. There God intervened and encouraged her. She knew He truly understood her struggle, and as a result, she felt deeply known by God. She even named God: "You are the God who sees me." This gave her the strength to go back and fulfill her responsibilities to Sarai in the midst of tough circumstances.

Like Hagar, our kids desperately long to be seen and known by their parents. How can we do this? By taking time to discover and celebrate their interests. By appreciating their unique qualities no matter how different they are from our own. By listening to their perspective on life.

When we discover and value our kids' God-given uniqueness, they feel known and accepted.

 

Daily Devotional- Parenting

Day 27

Genesis 9:20-22

20 After the flood, Noah began to cultivate the ground, and he planted a vineyard.21 One day he drank some wine he had made, and he became drunk and lay naked inside his tent.22 Ham, the father of Canaan, saw that his father was naked and went outside and told his brothers.

CONFESSION AND REPENTANCE

During the Flood Noah demonstrated obedience to God under incredibly difficult circumstances. His obedience waned, though, when the earth dried. In this particular case, Noah made wine, got drunk and passed out. His son, Ham, discovered Noah in this dishonorable position and mocked him in front of his brothers. When Noah woke up, he cursed Ham. It's interesting to note that, while Ham was wrong and deserved consequences, Noah wasn't exactly accountable for his poor example.

As parents, we need to humbly admit sin even when it is commingled with the sin of our children. If we fail to take responsibility for our mistakes and focus on the mistakes of our children instead, we provide an example of blaming and excuse-making. Our kids may conclude that the rules do not apply to people in positions of power or authority.

Our willingness to confess and repent provides a powerful example for our kids.

Daily Devotional- Parenting

Day 26

Genesis 2:24

24 This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.

CONSEQUENCES

God's plan for our kids is for them to become progressively less and less dependent on us and eventually to leave our home. We can help them develop the skills they are going to need as adults by allowing them to make more age-appropriate choices and experience the consequences of those choices.

Learning to be a good decision-maker is a skill that is learned, and kids will make mistakes along the way. You will be tempted to intervene to prevent mistakes or rescue your kids from consequences, because you hate to see them in pain. Challenge yourself to adopt a longer perspective and ask yourself what will be more painful — allowing them to make mistakes under your roof or postponing the learning opportunity until later in life when the stakes are much higher?

When you allow your kids to experience the consequences of their mistakes, you prepare them to be capable adults.

 

Daily Devotional- Parenting

Day 25

Habakkuk 3:17-18

17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

TRUSTING GOD (PART II)

Are you concerned that your children may be headed down a path they should not follow? God tells us we must trust Him. He has a plan. Habakkuk faced the truth that his nation was about to be destroyed for its disobedience, but he found a way to trust and even rejoice in the Lord, knowing that God's ways are impossible to fully understand. He knew God was working and that his job was to wait quietly and let God's will be done.

The psalmist described this level of trust in Psalm 46:10, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth!" (NKJV).

Trust God — His plan is perfect, even when it is so contrary to our own.

 

Daily Devotional- Parenting

Day 24

 Habakkuk 1:5

5 The LORD replied,

“Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing something in your own day something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it.

TRUSTING GOD (PART I)

Out of context, this verse sounds like an encouragement from God. The reality however, is God was telling Habakkuk He was about to unleash the evil Babylonians on Judah. The Jews were about to be overrun, killed or taken into captivity and the temple was soon to be destroyed as His punishment for years of Israel's disobedience.

God does many amazing works using means we cannot imagine. In parenting, God will work through the trials you and your children face in ways that will astonish you; that "you would not believe if you were told". This is a great comfort when your kids make really bad choices and the consequences seem harsh or unbearable. As the apostle Paul said, "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how unfathomable His ways!" (Rom 11:33).

 

Daily Devotional- Parenting

Day 23

Psalm 115:3-4

3 Our God is in the heavens, and he does as he wishes. 4 Their idols are merely things of silver and gold,
shaped by human hands. 

Psalm 115:8

8 And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them.

THE DANGER OF IDOLS

 

One of the problems with "idols" is their ability to draw us into a lifestyle devoted to their "worship". When we seek after a life that the world esteems, we become more and more like others following that idolatrous path. Acquiring money, power, beauty or fame almost always requires that you become like those who already have those things. And, that means turning away from the path to Christ, because He does not esteem money, power, beauty or fame.

The psalmist recognized the power of idols to transform us. Christ made the same point when He said,"Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matt 6:21). Your lifestyle is an example to your children of where your heart is.

Give your children an example of a lifestyle devoted to God, not the idols of this world.

Daily Devotional- Parenting

Day 22

Romans 11:22
22 Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off.

BALANCING GOODNESS (LOVE) AND SEVERITY (TRUTH)

It is interesting to note the number of times the Bible describes God as exhibiting two attributes that are opposites. In this verse, they are goodness and severity. God's love is expressed in His goodness, but it is not His only characteristic. He is also severe with those who disobey. He balances these attributes perfectly as He relates to His children.

We are called to imitate God in our relationships with our kids. We cannot always be "good" because there will be times of rebellion and disobedience in their lives. We cannot always be "severe" because that creates resentment and fear. A balance between the two is our goal, and God promises to give us the wisdom to achieve that balance (Jas 1:5).

Ask God for the wisdom to balance goodness and severity in your relationships with your children.

Daily Devotional- Parenting

Day 21

1 Corinthians 12:7

7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.

  GIFTS AND STRENGTHS

God designed each of us for a particular purpose and He specifically gifted us to perform that purpose "for the common good". Yet we often want to choose our own design for our children and ourselves. Unfortunately that choice typically includes qualities and characteristics that are honored and esteemed by the world's system. That's not the way God works. God is the architect, and He knows how the pieces fit together.

Don't you think it would be more rewarding to submit to God's design and walk in His will than to struggle to be something you were not designed to be? "All are not apostles, are they?" (1 Cor 12:29).
Try a spiritual gifts inventory with your family. Then work together on ways to use those gifts "for the common good."