Stepping Stones: “You Did It, Why Can’t I”

Transformational Thought

Some mothers prepare their teenage daughters for premarital sexual activities by helping them with birth control plans. They may feel guilty asking their teenage daughters to abstain from sex outside of marriage, especially if they, as teenagers themselves, did not. Likewise, some fathers may allow their teenage sons to drink alcohol … after all, they did when they were teens … how can they say "no" now?

No matter what mistakes we may have made, that is history. If we have received Jesus' forgiveness, the past is past. This is today … and God is calling us today to train our children in the way they should go. The way that is pleasing to Him.

Because you broke rules and made mistakes does not mean that your children should follow the same pattern. It is vital that you learn from your wrongdoing and receive Christ's forgiveness. Then God calls you to love your children enough to teach them the right way … God's way.

But for your message to have real impact on them you need to do 3 things:
1. Don’t just tell them the right decision to make, but live it, role model it.
2. Understand the reasons that those behaviors aren’t good and explain them to your child. Your explanations need to go deeper than “the bible says so” or “because you’ll get in trouble”.
3. Start equipping them with a concrete strategy so they can become better decision-makers. Teach them decision-making skills and the rewards and consequences they will experience physiologically (their brain chemistry), psychologically (their personality), and spiritually (their connection to and relationship with God). Knowing the benefits of doing the right thing will help motivate them to do the right thing.

Today, remember you don't have to do it alone. Ask God for the courage, the strength, and the wisdom to train your children in the way they should go. Today, do some self-assessment and see how you disciple those God gave to you to mentor with decision-making skills. WITHIN REACH is a unique and valuable resource to teach the detriments and process of poor decision-making and how to move toward great decision-making skills.

Prayer
Dear God, help me to guide and disciple my children so that they won't make the same mistakes that I did. Help me to train them in the way they should go. Help me understand how You designed me and why I make the decisions I make. Help me learn how to make Godly decisions and teach these principles and motivations to my children. I pray this and all prayers in the name of the One You sent to train me in the way I should go, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children say - AMEN!

The Truth
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.
Proverbs 22:6

The Lord your God will delight in you if you obey his voice and keep the commands and decrees written in this Book of Instruction, and if you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and soul. This command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you to understand, and it is within your reach. Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Deuteronomy 30:10-11, 19-20