As godly parents, one of your priority should be how to disciplined children. You must remember that you will give account to God over them.
Don’t hesitate to discipline children. A good spanking won’t kill them. As a matter of fact, it may save their lives.
Proverbs 23:13-23 (GNT)
Discipline is good. The bible encourages it. Disciplined children are a blessing because those are the children that are well developed and balanced in society. The society is filled with undisciplined children, you don’t want your children to be a part of the statistics.
Love corrects. If you truly love your children, then you must learn to correct them. If you want them to turn out well, then like the bible says, a good spanking won’t kill them. Love does not overlook wrongdoing.
We have to teach and train our children (raising them up as disciplined children), and the Lord will help us in Jesus name.
Who is your friend? That is one question that you must ask and answer if you desire to become the best of who you are meant to be.
Julius had a problem. He needed a solution. This issue had been eating deep into him. He just couldn’t wrap his head around it. He began to emaciate as a result of excessive thinking. He wasn’t looking like the Julius everyone knew. His parents wondered what could be wrong with their once lively lad.
He knew he had to find a solution to whatever was wrong with him. Just like a flash, he remembered his one time buddy and friend, Samson. Who is your friend? Who do you call friend? Samson was not really born again, that was why he cut ties with him initially, but now, he needed his help desperately.
Oh, why didn’t I think about him before now? He asked himself.
Off, he dashed to Samson’s house and discussed with him. In the end, Samson had a good time laughing at his long time friend who was looking worried over a “simple” matter.
Samson told him what to do. Even though he knew it was wrong, he went ahead, as he needed a solution badly. Who is your friend?
This was what happened to Amnon, David’s son. What was heavy in his heart, became a small matter in the eyes of his friend because his friend had a devilish mind.
As a matter of fact, Bible says his friend was a subtle, shrewd and crafty person.
Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, who was the son of David’s brother Shimeah. Jonadab always knew how to get what he wanted,
2 Sam 13:3 (CEV)
Jonadab put Amnon in trouble, just like Samson did to Julius in the story above.
Little wonder the Bible says
Stop being deceived: “Wicked friends lead to evil ends.
1 cor 15:33 (ISV)
Who are those you call friends? Are they really worth it? Are they after your wellbeing or your downfall?
Talk to your parents. Let them help you identify who your friends really are.
Prayer: Lord, help me to identify my real friends. Amen
I want to bring to our remembrance something really important this morning. Dear child, you are a special gift! Yes, you! You really are.
It is something we know, but we sometimes allow the devil fill our minds with negative and false thoughts. This was exactly what happened to Jude.
Jude was always moody. He was always downcast and sad. He just couldn’t fathom certain things going on around him.
One thing that kept coming to his mind was that his parents loves his siblings more than they love him. He didn’t see himself as a special gift.
He fought this thought for weeks until his Sunday school teacher read this verse in church yesterday.
Gen 4:1 (KJV)And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord.
Dear children, this is how I want you to see yourselves henceforth. You are a special gift from God to your parents.
You are not a mistake. You are not ordinary. You came at the very right time God wanted you to come.
We all know God gives good gifts. That means you are a good gift to your parents, not just an ordinary gift.
Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father who created all the lights in the heavens. He is always the same and never makes dark shadows by changing.
James 1:17 (CEV)
Don’t conclude your life because of your present situation. You are a special gift.
Look on the bright side. You are perfect because God made you so.
Parents, let’s do well to encourage our children, assuring them of God’s love.
Prayer: Lord, thank you because I see myself the same way you see me. Amen
Action point: Tell yourself you are a special gift to your parents.
Declaration: I am a gift to my parents and to this generation.
It’s time to talk about health decisions. Your health is another important area of your life that you should make changes in. Don’t think because you are young, there’s no need for you to take care of your health.
This area is often neglected by many children and parents alike, until something bad happens.
May we not experience such in Jesus name.
Here’s a fact you should know – it’s the body you take care of now that will aid you when you are old. Don’t wait till you are thirty or forty before you start taking your health seriously. Start making better health decisions.
Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.
3John 1:2 (ESV)
Watch what you eat, drink, inhale or apply on your body. Beyond your physical body is your mental health. Learn to make better health decisions.
Be conscious of what you watch, read or listen to. If it doesn’t build your mind in ways that will make you a positive and fulfilled person, do not do it. Do not give in to peer pressure to do what is wrong. .
The bible cautions us to watch what we allow into our bodies and minds. So, review the past month and ask yourself questions concerning your health decisions. Some of the questions you can ask includes:
1. Did I eat right? 2. How often did I exercise or turned a potato-couch? 3. How many books did I read? 4. How did they impact my life? Did I take good health decisions? 5. What changes did I make from reading those books? 6. What type of thoughts did I think?
May the Lord help you make excellent health decisions this new month.
Prayer: Lord, I want to make better health choices in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Action point: Make a list of your new plans for the month and start doing them.
Declaration: I consciously guide my health. I am not careless with what enters my body. I make great health decisions.
The month has begun already. Are you making adjustments already? Are you finding this series helpful? I hope so. Today we will look at family decisions.
Today, we will be talking about families.
Most times, family members are the most ignored set of people. We tend to think that they will always be there or they don’t need much from us. We push them aside till we get into trouble or something.
Take a good look at your relationship with your family members to know if you’ve been making great family decisions. Do so by asking yourself these questions:
How often did you tell or show them you love them? How many times did you help them when they needed it? How often did you help your parents at home? How often did you obey parental instructions? How many times did you pray for your parents or siblings? What was the last gift you gave your family members? How often did you spend time with them? How often did you fight your sibling?
These are personal questions that will guide you in your journey to making better family decisions. You can and should add yours to these.
Showing love to your family is important and gladdens the heart of God. As a Christian child, you are supposed to value the family system. Christianity itself is a family of believers in Christ.
Prayer: Lord, I am grateful for the family you have blessed me with. I thank you for my parents and siblings. Help me to value them more in Jesus’ name. Help me to make great family decisions. Amen.
Action point: Start by saying a big thank you to your family members for being there for you throughout the year. You can make a big “thank you” card for them.
Declaration: I value my family. This month, I am more committed to them than ever before.
