Be of Good Courage, You Can Overcome Bad Parenting Habits!
by Adela Osmond

Description: It is never too late to become a better parent...all you need is a little help from above!
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How many of us, parents, know we are not always as successful with our children as we would like? We sometimes ponder why we can’t be more effective in our teaching and training of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Before we think of it, we sin in front of our children saying things we ought not. We fall short of God’s standard suddenly, showing attitudes of anger, bitterness and stubbornness. Oh, how we’d cringe at the thought of our ungodly actions and words after the fact. For we know our children mirror it quickly.

We are downhearted asking ourselves, “is there any hope that we may change the pattern of our bad habits?” Be of good courage my friend, there is hope, mercy, and godly wisdom waiting for all of us if we but continually seek it.

Know today that there is hope. Hope is a desire for something to happen, while expecting or being confident that it will come true. Hope also implies a certain amount of perseverance, believing that something is possible even when there is some evidence to the contrary. Our hope lies in the goodness of God.

But just knowing there is hope is not enough. In Proverbs 28:13 we find a hopeful verse in which to consider: “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy”. To prosper in parenting duties, a parent, must recognize their sinful behavior right away, then confess it, and most importantly forsake it.

It is naïve to expect as a parent to reap good influence on our children while clinging to bad parenting habits - habits of sin. The concept of forsaking or letting go of sin corresponds to the New Testament idea of “putting off” sin. We find the remedy of overcoming a bad parenting habit by forsaking or letting it take no part of us.

God is the giver of all things; His word tells us that if we but draw close to His ways, He will grant us mercy. If our faith in Christ really means as much to us as it should, then it only follows that our faith should be the number-one underlining message coming from our lips. When we present Biblical Truths properly and with love, we will see positive response in our dear children.

Do you lack godly parenting wisdom? James 1:5 says “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

Also, the apostle Paul writes to Timothy words of encouragement saying… “be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love,… giving attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” Timothy 4:12-13.

We as Christian mothers can be the example our children need! To do so, we must hold fast to Paul’s words, as Timothy once did, and get inspired to work toward gaining godly wisdom in order to teach our children in word, in conduct and in love.

One way God gives us wisdom is by reading and applying His Word. Let us give diligent attention to reading (the Bible, avoid conflicting modern popular opinion), to exhortation (presenting the warnings and the promises of God, to excite our children to apply it in their daily lives), and to doctrine (that is teaching, the instruction of the Word of God). We’ll easily overcome the traps of bad parenting with the help of God’s wisdom when we forget our ways and cling to His.

So be of good courage my friend, there is hope, mercy, and godly wisdom waiting for you ~ renew your faith, seek it now! Adela Osmond, is author of Plant the Word and co-owner of http://www.trainupchildren.com. Plant the Word activity guide (for ages 4 and up) comes with 100+ hands-on Bible activities to teach children how to draw close to God in word and in deed. Plant the Word CD accompaniment hold 179 Bible verse traceable worksheets, sow the word stationary, and 51 Scripture cards. Also, you can find free Old Testament Bible Lessons and worksheets at: http://www.trainupchildren.com/children/bible-lessons.php

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