Wednesday #2 Devotion

Jeremiah 33:3--Call unto me, and I will answer thee; and
show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

What a relief it is when we discover that we do not have to raise our children
within our own wisdom or based upon our own strength. Right here we have
a very clear promise from God for when we are stuck. God explicitly tells us
that if we would simply call upon Him we would have answers given to us.

The raising of children is many times a mystery. There are a million different
scenarios within their everyday behavior that may prompt the question in your
heart, "Why in the world did they do that?" Top that with the many facets of
each person's personality, and you have one mixed up goulash of potential
stress and frustrations. The combination of those two elements makes for many
opportunities to scratch your head or want to throw in the towel.

I can remember having a major impasse with my oldest daughter when she was 2.
While we did not have any "terrible two's" at our house, we did have a very intelligent
daughter who learned very quickly the one action that pushed her Mommy's button,
the "Why?" She would be so sweet and look me right in the eyes when I had instructed
her to do anything. Her head would cock slightly, her lips would curl into a sarcastic grin
and out would "sweetly" pour, "Why, Mommy?" I must admit,
it was ingenious. She knew exactly how to take a moment meant to teach her proper
discipline in life and transform it into a battle of wills for the power of the moment.

This situation was very quickly ruining the peace of my home and, frankly, testing my
ability to be patient and loving with my daughter. So, I prayed and asked God for a witty
invention to deal with this situation. I so often find myself running to my Father for a
new and bondage-breaking solution to the headlock that frustrations can have
in my life.

Now, the result did not replace Godly discipline. You can not replace discipline with cool
ideas. However, God will give you many real and neat ways to compliment the discipline
where the truth and importance of obedience will dawn in your child.

For me, God taught me by simply rephrasing my instructions to reflect more of a discovery mindset
instead of a commanding one, my daughter would be drawn into finding a solution
to the problem at hand. She now would have an important role in the functioning of the
home, which to her validated her place in our family. A very simply solution indeed, but
one I would not have comprehended or even imagined had He not lavished Godly wisdom
into my heart.

When I implement God's idea, my daughter quickly and completed submitted to my
instructions and we have never again had any more problems in this area (as long as
I continue to do it the way God taught me.) Therefore, I do not take it for granted at
all that God knows exactly how I am to raise my children and point them in the path
of His calling for their futures. God will lavish His wisdom and creativity upon me by
my simply asking Him to do so. This is my greatest asset and weapon in
raising my children.

Confession: I have the greatest resource available in raising my children.
God is faithful to teach me the fullest way to guide my children to
obedience, safety, and wisdom. I receive God's wisdom now to raise my
children. I receive this wonderful gift and will rely wholly on Him to
guide my journey as a Mother.