Shepherding a Child's Heart-1

Getting To The Heart Of The Behavior

The Scripture teaches that the heart is the control center for life. A persons life is a reflection of his heart. (Prov. 4:23)The heart is a well from which all the issues of life gush forth.

The heart determines behavior. What you say and do expresses the orientation of your heart.

(Mark 7:21)The evils (evil thoughts,sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance, and folly) in action and speech come from within- from the heart.

What your children say and do is a reflection of what is in their hearts. (Luke6:45) Behavior is not the basic issue. The basic issue is always what is going on in their heart.

The heart is the control center of life! We as parents often get sidetracked with the behavior.

Behavior irritates and thus calls attention to itself. Behavior becomes your focus.

We must as parents require proper behavior. "Why" ....... God's law demands it. Parents must help their children ask the question that will expose that attitude of the heart that has resulted in wrong behavior. How did his heart stray to produce this behavior? In what characteristics ways has his inability or refusal to know, trust, and obey God resulted in actions and speech that are wrong?

This is a tough thing, I think for parents, because it takes TIME.........you will need to sit down with your child and share the scriptures that speak on those specific sins. You showing them what God's law commands of them and why. God IS the final authority.