Topic: Child’s Training (2)
Dear reader,
Being a parent is an awesome responsibility, as well as a fantastic privilege. In spite of the demands it places upon you, you still need to keep at it with dogged determination. God commands you to train your children, and He also supplies you with the grace required to perform this assignment effectively.
Child training is a continuous process that must be carried out over a period of time. The rewards of a good child training cannot be compared to the effort put to it. So, do not give up even if results are not seen instantly; consider the future benefits and this will spur you to work harder at training your child (ren).
Today, we will be examining one of the essential parts of Child Training which is: The Place of Discipline in Child’s Training
What is Discipline?
Discipline means training a child to be obedient and self-controlled. It is important to understand that for child training to be effective and efficient, discipline must be involved. Until discipline is added to training, it remains only a teaching. Let’s take a look at this Scripture.
He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity (Job 36:10).
Two things are mentioned in the above scripture, the opening of the ear to discipline and returning from iniquity. If you want your children to return from iniquity, that is, to return from anything that is contrary to righteousness in words, thoughts, behaviour and lifestyle, their ears must be open to discipline. If you do not want iniquity to reign in the lives of your children, you must first open their ears to discipline.
Therefore, discipline is of utmost importance in making child training effective. Lack of training makes a child susceptible to destruction. For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not (1Samuel 3:13). Eli, the priest, neglected child training; consequently, his two sons were destroyed and he too was eventually destroyed. That shall not be your portion in Jesus’ name.
Now, I am sure you are wondering how to go about it, if the issue of discipline is that important. I will share with you two ways by which you can discipline your children so that their training can be of benefit to you.
Tools For Effective Discipline
The Rod
The rod is a tool for discipline. The word “rod” in Scripture can mean two things: the spiritual or physical rod.
The spiritual rod: In Isaiah 11:1 the Bible says: And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The rod here is talking about Jesus, also in Revelation 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. Still talking about Jesus, the Bible calls Him the Word of God. Spiritually, the rod primarily means the Word of God. When I said the rod is a tool for discipline, I simply meant using the Word of God to discipline your children. It is important that as a parent, you understand that the strongest rod to use in child training is the Word of God. It is much more powerful than any physical cane.
Now, the question is, how do I use the Word as a rod to correct my children? For instance, if your child misbehaves and you want to discipline him or her, you will need to locate a scripture or two that will show that the deeds of the child are wrong; you call the child, sit down with him, and show him from the Word why his actions are wrong. With the help of the Holy Ghost, let the child see the need to change his character and his actions by making him realise that God is not pleased with such behaviours. After you have done this, leave the child alone to make up his mind. The Word expounded unto him is life, after you are gone physically, it will continue to work in his life. Hebrews 12:4 says, For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Only the spiritual rod has the power to penetrate the soul and the spirit of the child and effect changes in the positive. From today, begin to use the spiritual rod in disciplining your children and bringing them up in the fear of the Lord.
The physical rod: The physical rod is the cane. “Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.” Proverbs 23:13-14”. Once in a while, it may be necessary for you to use a cane to discipline your children. This should be done occasionally, so that it does not become a way of life. When using the cane to discipline, ensure that you do not overdo it. Do not injure your children in the process of beating them. When some parents are angry beat their children recklessly until those children sustain serious injuries. This is likely to harden their hearts and whatever discipline you instill in them will not bring a lasting solution. When the physical rod is to be used, it should be used with care. Do not give room to careless beating. Although the use of this rod is not a sin, it is important that you understand that there is a limit to how far this rod can go; it can only be used to torment the body, it cannot affect the soul or the spirit of your children. But the spiritual rod, which is the Word of God, can penetrate from the physical realm to the realm of the soul and the spirit, bringing about discipline even when you are not there physically. Do not buy a special cane for the purpose of disciplining your children, rather lay emphasis on the spiritual rod.
Prayer
Prayer is a spiritual weapon that you can use to bring about discipline in the lives of your children. Prayer makes child training easy, because it moulds them spiritually. As a Christian parent, who desires disciplined children, you must spend time to pray with and for your children daily. Mother Wesley, the mother of John and Charles Wesley, was woman of prayer; she spent time praying for her children; no wonder her children were foremost among the people who changed the world, who affected their world positively, with impacts that are still being felt today. You can also do the same. Your children need your prayers. Do not faint in praying for them.
If you put these two tools to work, disciplining your children will become the easiest thing to do. In closing, I will like to say that there is no way you can discipline your children if you are not disciplined yourself. It is my prayer that God will grant you grace to do your responsibilities toward your children. You will not fail in Jesus precious name.
To be able to instill the right discipline in your children, you need to be in Christ. This means accepting Jesus as Lord and Saviour of your life. If you have made this decision to accept Jesus into your life, then say this prayer of faith:Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for delivering me from sin and satan to serve the living God and thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.
Congratulations! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are now born again and a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).
With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ Name! Call or write to share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org, 07026385437 OR 08141320204.
For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Raising Godly Children, Understanding Motherhood, Building a Successful FamilyandA Living Witness.
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Pastor Faith Oyedepo is the wife of Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide a.k.a. Winners’ Chapel, and Senior Pastor of Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, Nigeria.
