The moment you can tell your kids, it's ok to be like me...

The moment you can tell your kids, it's ok to be like me...

Have you ever heard parents saying, "Do what I say, don't do what I do"? How confusing that must be for a child.
If you want your child to know Jesus, you need to be what Jesus told you to be and you need to live in such a way that it testifies to the fact that Jesus is alive in you.

Ephesians 6:4 ~ Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

When reading this verse, people mostly think that it means not to make your child angry, but this is not the case. We provoke our children to anger by living one way and doing the opposite.

8 Ways to provoke your children to anger:

1. By saying one thing and then doing another
   James 1:8 ~ A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
   Be an example. 1 Peter 5:3 ~ Not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.

2. Always blaming, never praising
   Don't hurt your child by always finding fault with them. The number one key to humility in the bible is knowing you are not perfect either. James 4:6 ~ God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble

3. Don't have favorites!
   Imagine if God had favorites.... Would you be His favorite? God loves His children equally, so should you.

4. Don't make empty promises
   Don't be a liar, keep your promises so your kids will learn to trust you. We trust in God because He has never broken a promise to us

5. Don't raise them in fear, raise them in boldness
   It's wise to protect your child by holding back evil influences until they are older. However, it's not wise to shelter them in such a way that they never see and experience sin and it's consequences. Hosea 4:1 ~ My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Don't raise your children to be afraid of things and people. Joshua 1:9 ~ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

6. Raise them with patience, not anger
   A parents anger, leads the child to anger. Show them how to be patient and understanding and teach them in the way they should go. Proverbs 22:6 ~ Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

7. Don't neglect your child
   You can't teach them, if you neglect them. And this refers to any kind of neglect including emotional neglect. Don't be so busy preparing for their future that you forget they are someone today...

8. Being perfect isn't easy. When you fail, apologize and try again :)

After all this, your child will follow your example and eventually your child will get to know Jesus, who guides your every thought and every action.

Hive account@hope777