“Whether you turn to the right or to the left,
your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
Isaiah 30:21
- Insight #1: Godly discipline has to be learned before it can be applied. (Hence, there is no place for the foolish maxim: “Do as I say, not as I do.”)
- Insight #2: Godly discipline is meant to be a lifestyle, not a series of events. (Teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness should be an on-going part of relating.)
- Insight #3: God does not have grandchildren; He only has children. (Only those who enter into a personal relationship with Christ have the assurance of being a child of God–John 1:12, 13)
- Insight #4: Make regular worship at a Bible-teaching church and fellowship with other Believers a priority. (The strength of those relationships, will likely be invaluable as you support each other the tough seasons to come.)
- Insight #5: Help your children think biblically by reading to them–A LOT! We especially enjoyed learning about the lives of Christian heroes, various series of books as well as reading the Bible itself.
- Insight #6: When disciplining your children–draw them close to you–rather than isolate them. Make a point of ministering to their hearts by giving thanks to God for them and for His plan and purpose to be worked out in their lives.
- Insight #7: Along the way, look for opportunities to bring laughter, adventure, and ways to serve others into your family routine.
- Insight #8: The key to effective Godly discipline is PRAYER.
- Insight #9: Speak truth in love–relying on the Scriptures for the best means of ministering to the mind and heart.
- Insight #10: When dealing with sin, resist the temptation to minimize it.
- Insight #11: With older children/teens, resist using long-term restriction as a weapon.
- Insight #12: Problems seldom occur at convenient times. Check your attitude by giving thanks that God’s timing is always perfect.
To broaden the scope of these insights refer to the following posts:
The Lost Art of Godly Discipline
The Key to Godly Discipline
Godly Discipline: Stubborn, Steadfast, Grace-Centered Love
All to His Glory!