HEART

H ave a heart for God first and foremost! There are 574 references to the Heart in the NIV Bible. A word mentioned that many times is important. To know you have a heart for God, you have to know that you have given your heart to God. Romans 10:9 says, “That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Before you can have a heart for your children, you need to make sure your heart is right with God. 

E vict anger from your heart before bedtime (Eph. 4:26-27)! Do you have a bitter heart toward anyone? Are you holding a grudge? Do you always see the negative and fail to let the past go? Take time to go to God right now in prayer and ask Him to make your heart right. Life is too short to live with an angry and divided heart. 

A ccept your children and avoid comparing, competing, and controlling (Eph. 4:30-31)! 

R eign in your tongue to protect hearts from hurt (Eph. 4:29)! Think about your mouth having a gate and ask yourself these questions before speaking to your children: Is it true? Is it needful? Is it kind? (Henry Gariepy, Portraits of Perseverance) Spend time finding words that will encourage and do away with words that nag or criticize. Make a list of encouraging things you can say to your children. Focus on all the reasons you have to be thankful for the family that God has given you. 

T ake time to show God’s love, kindness, and compassion from your heart (Eph 4:32-5:2)!

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