To Discipline in Love
Thank You for loving me, Father. Your love that is shed abroad in my heart enables me to discipline my children in love. I desire to imitate You, mimic Your speech and manner of life, just as well-behaved children imitate their parents. Thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to teach me to walk in love and in the light, and I pray that in our home I will walk circumspectly. I would imitate Your acts, words, nature, ways, graces, and Spirit. I pray that I will be alert, taking every opportunity to nurture, train, educate, discipline, and correct my children with love and praise.11
I purpose to discipline my children while there is hope, before their habits are formed and sealed for life, and I will not let my soul spare for their crying. I love my children too much to allow them to follow the customs and practices of this world. May I remember that it is better for them to cry now than for both of us to cry later.12
In the name of Jesus, I thank You for loving me so much that You do not allow me to continue in sin, but rather You chasten me; I will never grow weary of Your correction. In the name of Jesus, I resist fear; instead, I declare and decree that my children will not faint when I reprimand them. I am not in this alone, Holy Spirit; You are helping me convict and convince them of sin, righteous, and judgment so that they may walk in truth. I purpose to train my children, without seeking revenge; instead, I will correct them with loving concern. I will nourish them with wholesome discipline and instruction, which will bend them toward You, my Lord and my God.
Father, I pray that Christ may dwell in my heart through faith. And I pray that I, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that I may be filled to the measure of all Your fullness.
Your love in me enables me to be patient and kind. If I discipline my children, but have not love, it profits us nothing, and neither of us gain anything. My love will protect, trust, hope, and persevere. Love never fails. Thank You for being a father/mother to my children. My help comes from You, my Father and my God.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Scripture References:
Romans 5:5 John 16:7,8
Ephesians 5:1,8,10,15 amp Ephesians 6:4
Proverbs 19:18 Proverbs 22:6 amp
Proverbs 3:11,12 Ephesians 3:17-19 niv
Hebrews 12:5 1 Corinthians 13:1-8
© 2014 Word Ministries, Inc.