Medicinal Rebellion

Is rebellion good for the soul? When we were kids, most of us probably thought so - but now that we are parents - we may need to reconsider. There's a lot of poor info in our world on this topic. Rebellion comes from the heart, but it doesn't start in the teen years, it built from the very beginning. So, it takes a plan to help our kids deal with rebellion in a godly way. Here are some additional reasons we need a plan to reach their hearts:

The heart experiences guilt and conviction of sin. We reached a point and our kids have or will reach a point when choices are made that are sinful.  Sometimes we can look at our kids and know they are guilty. Guilt robs us and our kids of peace. Guilt is a lot like pain - it's a gift you would prefer not to have. Pain keeps us from damaging our bodies. Guilt keeps us focused on the forgiveness of Christ. It makes  his gift meaningful. Depending on how we handle guilt we will either motivate our kids to cover up wrongdoing, blame others, justify it - or do it God's way and confess make things right. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from unrighteousness" (I John 1:9). We have the privilege of helping our children grow into understanding the gift of forgiveness.

The heart experiences passion. Whether it's a job or a playing a sport or an instrument or whatever, we know when someone "has their heart in it" - or not. Helping children learn to give their best - is another gift we have in shaping their hearts. "I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin again you" (Psalm 119:10-11).

The heart chooses values and convictions to live by. This touches on the area of what one does when no one sees and no one knows. The very young man Daniel chose not to eat the royal food even though everyone else was and he could have died for his choice. The KJV says he "purposed in his heart that we would not defile himself" (Daniel 1:8). True heros are not the strongest or the smartest, they are those who live by conviction. So, when does one stand up for himself and when does one submit? What does honestly really look like - when no one will know? These are heart issues that we have the privilege of shaping - and they will get shaped by someone else if we don't do our job.

The heart is the connecting place with God. Belief is an essential block to accepting Christ - and it takes place in the heart (Romans 10:10). When we are baptized into Christ, he puts his "seal of ownership on us, and put(s) his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit..." (2 Corinthians 1:22).

So, all together that is NINE reasons we have to make affecting our kids hearts a huge priority! Here are the things about the heart. The heart is:

• a wrestling place for decisions
• where commitments and determination grows
• where we feel close to others
• the place emotions are experienced
• the starting point of temptations and desires
• the seat of guilt and conviction of sin
• is a place of passion
• where values and convictions rest
• the connecting place with God

Our next meeting will offer a plan to affect our hearts. This chart is a preview.

Note: In addition to the Bible, I used thoughts from The Parent Life Saver by Dr. Todd Cartmell and Parenting Is Heart Work by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller.