Daily Devotional
Betty Miller shares her daily
devotionals which are based on the book of Proverbs in the Bible.
The Wisdom
of God
Verses for the Day:
15 My son, if
thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.
16 Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.
Proverbs 23:15-16 (AMP):
15 My son, if your heart is
wise, my heart will be glad, even mine;
16 Yes, my heart will rejoice when your lips speak right things.
Thoughts for the Day:
In these verses in Proverbs
we find a father rejoicing when his son has a heart of wisdom and speaks
rightly. Children's behavior can cause parents to rejoice, or to grieve,
depending on their conduct. When children obey and are good children, any
parent is happy over their children's lives. A child with a good heart will
demonstrate that goodness in the way they act. They will not only show
honor and respect for their parents, but will be well-mannered as well. In
today's society there has been not only a departure from goodness, but good
manners, as well.
In my generation,
children were taught to address their elders politely,
or "Please" or the southern "Yes, Ma'm" or " No, Ma'm," or
When we had a Christian school in our church,
one of the first things we had to teach the children was to address the teachers
and church elders by their titles, such as "Pastor Miller" and "Mrs. Miller."
The modern day teaching on child upbringing that says we should be "buddies"
with our children, takes away the respect for authority. Children should not be
on the same level with adults according to the Bible. Children feel
insecure when a parent acts like another child in a relationship with them. This
does not mean that we can't get down and play with them. It certainly does
not mean we are to "Lord" it over our children in a demeaning or demanding way,
but rather, we are to be in a position that brings security to our children.
Colossians
3:20-21:
20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the
Lord.
21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
Proverbs 22:6:
"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not
depart from it."
Children are a
reflection of their upbringing. The Bible tells us that we must teach and
train them in the ways of the Lord or they will bring sorrow to us. We are
instructed to talk of the things of the Lord day and night with our children.
They learn by the life that we live before them, not by just what we tell them.
Deuteronomy
6:5-7:
5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy
soul, and with all thy might.
6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them
when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when
thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
Parents today, who
think they can smoke, or drink, or live in adultery with someone; yet, they do
not want their children to do the same things, are deluded. We must live
righteously before our children and be totally committed to God, if we expect
our children to live righteously and embrace our beliefs. We must guide our
children and not allow them to become involved in the things of the world.
Some things in our
culture today are not just worldly, they are Satanic. Many young people are
being led into a culture of death and witchcraft, while parents are ignoring
their evil dress, music, and friends; or they are just passing it off as a fad.
If children are "doing" things that are ungodly and impure, then they are into
sin and eventually that sin will bring destruction to their lives and rob the
parents of the joy that they could have if their children behaved with a wise
heart from God. Parents are responsible for preventing their children from doing
evil things.
Proverbs 20:11:
Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be
right.
Prayer for the Day:
Dear Heavenly Father,
I am grateful that You are always there to help us in the upbringing of our
children. Lord, forgive us when we have failed, and give us Your wisdom in
dealing with the things our children embrace that are not of You. Help us to
share the dangers of evil things in such a way that they will turn from them.
Give us Your love and grace as we live our lives before them. Lord, give
our children a wise heart so that they will be good examples in the world.
Lord, deliver me and my children from the things that would turn our hearts
from You. Give us a love for Your Word, and may we all walk in it. I ask in the
name of Jesus. Amen.
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