The Disciplines of the Faith in Parenting
July 18, 2017
The Disciplines of the Faith
Today, I want to take some time to share with all of you a teaching that I need to revisit as a believer from time to time. As parents, we can sometimes get caught up in equating “discipline” to “punishment.” This is a cultural misnomer that can too quickly cut off what God wants to grow in us, His children: the blooming inward and outward life of the believer.
The disciplining (discipling) of our children can and should be a pouring in and not only a removing. It can and should also be a lifelong pursuit for us. In this group, we do focus on the discipline of prayer. However, it is only one of the disciplines we can and need to cultivate in order to have a rich life in Christ.
Richard Foster, in his excellent book Celebration of Discipline, outlines many of the disciplines of the Christian life. I’ve included some of them here, and will include a link to a document that helps to outline much of what he shares.
1. The inward disciplines
• Meditation
• Prayer
• Fasting
• Study
2. The outward disciplines (inward realities resulting in outward lifestyles)
• Simplicity
• Solitude
• Submission
• Service
3. The corporate disciplines
• Confession
• Worship
• Guidance
• Celebration
There is more to parenting and more to the Christian life than trying to just change what is off base or missing. Instead, we can seek to pour into and fill our hearts and lives with these facets. As we plant and water these in our hearts and in the hearts of our children, we will begin to flourish as believers. When our soil is tended in this way, and when we are quick to uproot anything that is not of God, we will find ourselves doing much less “damage control.”
Prayer:
Father, today I thank You for the time of refreshing that comes from revisiting the disciplines of the faith. I choose to pledge anew to follow You as Your disciple. Strengthen and equip me also to disciple my children, and pour into me what I need to pour into them.
Intercession:
Take time to review your prayer requests. I do love to keep them in a journal so that I can get out of my head and remember where we have come from. Don’t grow weary: this practice of praying over our children is likely the most important tool we have as parents! God is faithful. He will answer our prayers and bring peace to our troubled situations.
Lord, I give this to You today. You are in charge, and I trust You.
In Jesus’ Name I pray, amen.
The Disciplines of the Faith
Today, I want to take some time to share with all of you a teaching that I need to revisit as a believer from time to time. As parents, we can sometimes get caught up in equating “discipline” to “punishment.” This is a cultural misnomer that can too quickly cut off what God wants to grow in us, His children: the blooming inward and outward life of the believer.
The disciplining (discipling) of our children can and should be a pouring in and not only a removing. It can and should also be a lifelong pursuit for us. In this group, we do focus on the discipline of prayer. However, it is only one of the disciplines we can and need to cultivate in order to have a rich life in Christ.
Richard Foster, in his excellent book Celebration of Discipline, outlines many of the disciplines of the Christian life. I’ve included some of them here, and will include a link to a document that helps to outline much of what he shares.
1. The inward disciplines
• Meditation
• Prayer
• Fasting
• Study
2. The outward disciplines (inward realities resulting in outward lifestyles)
• Simplicity
• Solitude
• Submission
• Service
3. The corporate disciplines
• Confession
• Worship
• Guidance
• Celebration
There is more to parenting and more to the Christian life than trying to just change what is off base or missing. Instead, we can seek to pour into and fill our hearts and lives with these facets. As we plant and water these in our hearts and in the hearts of our children, we will begin to flourish as believers. When our soil is tended in this way, and when we are quick to uproot anything that is not of God, we will find ourselves doing much less “damage control.”
Prayer:
Father, today I thank You for the time of refreshing that comes from revisiting the disciplines of the faith. I choose to pledge anew to follow You as Your disciple. Strengthen and equip me also to disciple my children, and pour into me what I need to pour into them.
Intercession:
Take time to review your prayer requests. I do love to keep them in a journal so that I can get out of my head and remember where we have come from. Don’t grow weary: this practice of praying over our children is likely the most important tool we have as parents! God is faithful. He will answer our prayers and bring peace to our troubled situations.
Lord, I give this to You today. You are in charge, and I trust You.
In Jesus’ Name I pray, amen.
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