He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Matthew 28:6
When long days, temper tantrums, and ungrateful children threaten our sense of joy, let us cling to the cross and allow Christ’s resurrection power to rise up in us. Before we blow a gasket, before we raise our voices, before we throw in the towel, let us draw from the Well of Christ’s living water that lies within us. No matter how deep that well seems, we must do the hard work to pull the rope through the pulley and elevate the bucket up, so that its purifying hydration reaches the depths of our parched souls. We could all use a cup of Christ’s living water to lavish our lives with grace, to soothe our emotions, and to quench the fire of anger that sometimes burns within us.
Children are not obedient toy soldiers. They have minds all their own, and while this does not discount the fact that we should discipline our children when they choose rogue ways, it does attribute to the fact that we all fall short of God’s glorious standard (Romans 3:23). I think that how we handle our children’s disobedience speaks volumes about God’s love and grace. If we are able to not act rashly or become instinctively angry, we teach our children to control their impulses, to bite their tongues, and to think twice before their actions. This type of disciple requires the heart of God to be on the forefront of our minds, at all times. We acquire this type of self control through the resurrection power within us through the Holy Spirit, Christ in our hearts, Jesus’ power and authority pulsing through our veins. We must call upon Jesus’ holy name and draw from the well of Christ’s living water when we need a drop of patience to soothe our own shortcomings in regards to self control.
Children can process life lessons better when adults have their tempers under control. When we are calm and unemotional in delivering discipline and correction, we are preaching the Fruit of the Spirit, self control, to our children. We have access to the source of ultimate peace, patience, and self control through Christ’s resurrection. We have resurrection power in our lives, flowing through our veins, because of what Jesus did for us on the cross. Prayerfully harness that power. Dwell on having patience with your children and self control in delivering consequences and Biblical correction.
Dear Jesus,
Please help to maintain self control in correcting my children. Help me to rely on you as my source of peace and patience when my flesh is urged to do otherwise. Lord, I come to the well and draw upon your resurrection power to help me maintain self control, today.
Thank you Jesus for your death and resurrection. Thank you that by your stripes I am forgiven and set free from eternal bondage to sin. Thank you for rolling the stone away from the tomb, and removing the barrier between me and God for all eternity. Thank you Jesus for saving me. Amen
Steps of Faith:
What do you need to be uprooted within yourself in order for something of a godly nature to resurrect in your life? Is it a lack of patience, jealousy, an overly packed schedule? What changes do you need to make? Prayerfully give it to God, and ask that he would enable something more beautiful such as love, patience, forgiveness, generosity, or self control, to grow up in its place?