A Mother's Words
Proverbs 18:21 - Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
Children who are raised with encouragement know who they are and their value in their own eyes. They are better adjusted, more balanced, and more capable.
Hebrews 11:3 - By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Children need discipline, but they need words of encouragement. Don’t just condemn, show them the way.
We either speak God’s Word or we’re speaking something less
Proverbs 12:14 - A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth,
And the recompense of a man’s hands will be rendered to him.
You don’t get something from nothing. So, sow good words from the Bible into your children’s lives. Bless them with the love, Spirit, and knowledge of God. When we’re filled, it should come out somewhere.
If there are unwholesome words coming out of our mouths, where is that coming from? Let us fill ourselves with something different.
Proverbs 13:2,3 - A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth, But the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence. He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.
Be cautious about what proceeds from your mouth. If it’s the Word, it’s good, but once we let loose with our sinful nature, negativity and trouble will follow.
We need to protect our hearts. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Isaiah 57:19 - “I create the fruit of the lips:
Peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near,”
Says the LORD,
“And I will heal him.”
What comes out of our mouths comes to pass. Let us speak life and peace instead of sorrow and doom. Why not start speaking positively all the time?
Children slowly gain responsibility. As they develop their own lives, whatever influenced them before will shape and direct everything. And if that is not enough, that power will carry through not only our children, but our grandchildren and great grandchildren. We have incredible power, so let us plant seeds of love, life, and faith.
Matthew 12:34-37 - Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
For every word we speak we will be taken to account. Let us stop speaking words that may bring condemnation (of a sort) and speak words of life and love. Make the words you speak from the Word of God. Fill your heart and by the abundance of your heart the Word speaks.
Proverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.
Exercise the right training from the start. You are rooting them in life. Plants that have lost their roots will die. But, if you make a good foundation those roots will be deep and strong.
Pleasing the Lord instead of pleasing yourself leads you to start pleasing yourself as God will change you and then give you the desires of your heart.
Keep your words positive over your children.
John 6:63 - It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
Everything Jesus spoke was meant to bring Spirit and life. So, mimic Jesus and speak the words of life. Speak them into all things, especially into your children.
Think inline with God’s Word. If we constantly put His Word into our lives, our lives will line up with that and keep us on the straight and narrow. Hold forth the word of life. Let them see it and let them run towards it.
Nine things to speak life into your children’s lives.
1. Read the Bible to your kids.
2. Teach them the stories of the Bible.
3. Teach them all about Jesus
4. Teach them how to have their sins forgiven and receive eternal life.
5. Teach them how to follow Jesus with their lives.
6. Teach them how to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit.
7. Lead them by example through living what you teach.
8. Admit when you’re wrong. You’re transparent anyway, so be honest.
9. Reinforce the other 8 items by having your children in church… Sunday School, Children’s Church, Youth Group, and other positive role models.