Encouraging Kids
Joey and Carla Link
November 16, 2016
It is so easy to get frustrated with your kids when they don’t do what they should do and you know they know better. But have you ever considered what would help your child to choose to do the right thing?
First why did they choose the wrong path? What was so alluring to them? James 1:14 says it’s what entices us as well as our own evil desires.
“Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by
their own evil desire and enticed.” (NIV)
What can help your child overcome their evil desires? What can help them turn from the enticements of their friends and worldly influences? What can help them when they are discouraged and defeated because they keep getting in trouble for doing the same old thing over and over and over again?
In Judges 20 Israel was tired from fighting.
“But the Israelites encouraged one another and again took up their positions.”
Judges 20:22 NIV
If you have used lots of consequences with your child and see no difference in his behavior, how about taking a different approach and trying encouragement? Do you know encouragement means “To give courage to”? If your kids are struggling in one particular area, perhaps they need courage to do the right thing.
How well do you encourage your child in the way they are to go? Something like:
- I know you can do it!
- What do you think you should do? That’s a great idea. Go for it!
- When you do obey, you always feel better.
- How much happier are you when you are not in trouble?
- When you make the right choice, you have more fun.
- I would be happy to help you with this.
Encouraging your kids to do right is a very powerful tool in training them in the way they should go.
At this season of thanksgiving, look for ways for all members of the family to encourage each other. Encouraging others is not only a way to get a child’s focus off themselves and on to others, it’s a powerful force to do what is right. The more encouraging they are, the more thankful they will be!
Paul’s final words to the Corinthians “Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.”
If we are not training our kids to be encouragers at home, how will they learn to be encouragers to their friends and peers? What are you doing to train your kids to become encouragers?