The Road Less Traveled

• Mon 11 Jun 2007 - Who are you fighting?

Are you fighting your kids - are you fighting to have them obedient or patient or positive or dilligent? I feel like there's a never-ending list of things I'm fighting to change in my children. I look at them and see an endless of things I'd like to change. If only ___ would not tease his sister or complain or.... Sound famliar?

We look for the perfect way to change our children, to train them right. We read books, talk to others. All good and helpful. BUT, what will make them change? Is it the perfect technique? The perfect consistency in discipline? Having the perfect partner who disciplines perfectly?

Who are we truly fighting?

Ephesians 6:12
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Our battle is against our sin nature and against Satan. All of those negative behaviors originate in the evil of this world. How can this evil be overcome? Only through a source of power over the evil in this world. Only the Holy Spirit's power can cause any of our discipline programs or trainings to be effective. In my own strength, my words, my discipline, my attempts at being consistent will all be in vain. I will never be the perfect mom, BUT I have a powerful God. I can never cause my children to love each other, BUT I have a God who can work on hearts and change them.

How much do we want change for our children? How much do we want them to grow up to be the people the Lord wants them to be? Only through our relationship with the Lord and dilligently praying will they change. Only through resting in God's power to work despite my insufficiency and allowing him to work through me will those desired changes happen.

But how do I have time for it all? I recently read some great posts from a mom with older children and she talked about what a blessing her children are and talked about the things that made a difference in raising them and how she made time for the Lord. I will go into more detail on this soon. For now, may we press on in our relationship with the Lord and cry out to him for our children and have faith in his power to change lives.

Comments

• Mon 11 Jun 2007 - Thank you

Posted by floridamomto4

This post comes at a perfect time for me. I was just talking to my husband this morning about how I feel like I"m not making headway against one of my children's character issues. Prayer should always be my first response but it often isn't. Thanks for the reminder!

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• Mon 11 Jun 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Michelle32

Melanie,

You look familiar. Did you used to know Pam Batson? I'm an old pal of hers from high school.

How funny to see YOU here at HSBlogger! (if it's you)

Anyway...loved your post! :)
Michelle (not real name for privacy sake at HSB)

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• Mon 11 Jun 2007 - I concur !

Posted by Anonymous

Melanie, this is sooo true, in the natural and in the rush of the days, we often mean well in the AM and vow to do better... eg; lean on the Holy Spirit as we go through our days, but inevitably, we end up veering to the left a bit, left being our natural selves, inclinations, understandings & responses. If we would just remember to ask Him to help us to recognise more readliy when we get (in the flesh) so we may repent of it and renew our determination to press in and depend on His wisdom and guidance, Oh how wonderful our days would be! Awe inspiring! What match is our fleshly efforts and understanding against our opposition, the world, the fallen flesh and satan!?
Wow, thanks for reminding me of this simple yet profound truth... I pray we might all look inward and listen to the still small voice daily.. (and tall through the day!) so as to teach our children to dop the same!

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• Mon 11 Jun 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by jillconnelly

Excellent! The part I've been trying to focus in on lately is the "praying diligently" part. And not just praying FOR them but WITH them to teach them the habit of prayer.

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