Helping Children Have Positive Attitudes
Helping children have positive attitudes
Psalms 127:3-Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him
Psalms 127:3-5 tells us that
3 Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from Him. 4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. 5 Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.
For starters, the first thing that we want to do for our children is:
Pray for them and with them
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Luke 18:1 And He spoke a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray and not faint.
You can do this by creating a bedtime and morning prayer routine
Sometimes children experience terrors and have trouble sleeping at night.
Have them say their prayers and then pray together as a family. Also remember to pray for and with them before they go to school. As an adult you know how hectic an average day can be so we should be proactive and ask God to protect our children as they go about their day.
- Purchase a bible for them
- Study and highlight scriptures that speak to their situation or weakness/problem areas
- Memorize and recite scriptures
- If you don’t know how to pray for your child there are Christian prayers online that you can use as a guide.
Speak great things over them
The bible says that the power of life and death are in the tongue and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21
As a parent you don’t want to create self-fulfilling prophecies where you keep harping about the wrong that they are doing. After awhile if you keep saying things like, “You’re stupid, you always do it the wrong way”, etc. eventually what you are saying will manifest. I’m not saying don’t point out behavior that is obviously negative, but rather call it out and speak the opposite of what you see. You may say “It’s so hard to get you up in the morning, but you will be an child that likes to get up in the morning!”
Now you may not see results immediately, but by faith, keep speaking it in areas where they are needed and watch a change come. The key is to remain consistent and vigilant! Commit it continually to prayer and don’t give up!
(Romans 4:17), we were told to call things that be not as they were, or they are already that way.
Listening
It is important to listen to your children intentionally. Children are seeking our attention and we don’t want someone or something harmful to start giving them attention. Children are battling pressures of school, sex, drugs and other social pressures. It is equally important that they may have a had a bad day and may not be in the head space for the normal routine. Sometimes acknowledging “their bad day” allows them to feel seen and heard and in turn ready to handle the rest of the day but just don’t skip the prayers.
- These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
- Children’s children are a crown to the aged,
and parents are the pride of their children.
Lead by example:
At the end of the day, attitude reflects leadership.
Set the tone by intentionally being positive and admonishing your family to do the same. We are leaders in the home and our tone and attitude is often caught…rather than taught. Being transparent and saying “You know mommy had a long day” or something to that end is helpful for your children to see that you are human and gives our children a realistic understanding about life.
Life is not always easy and everyday may present challenges. However, staying negative or always being angry after coming home from work may send a negative message to your children regarding how they approach their future jobs. This also may be a time to check our “self-care”. If your work is affecting your home life, it may be time to reconsider a new approach to your work or career. You can’t pour into others from an empty glass or place. Living to the point of depletion without taking care of yourself is not wise.
Self-care is often looked at as a luxury rather than a necessity. It is important that you stay in touch with your peace of mind. This also means taking time to pray, make and go to your doctor appointments, drink your water, take your vitamins or prescribed medication.
In all of these things, we strive to give our children back to God. In our human strength there is only so much that we can do. God knows this and wants us to rely on Him and seek Him for wisdom.
2 Corinthians 12:7–10
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
