Put Off Anger....Put On Self-control

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

Proverbs 22:6

In this New Year 2010, I am resolute to live on purpose. No more will time pass where I do not deal with things that need to be dealt with. It is so much harder and takes more time to deal with behavior issues correctly with instruction than to just reason the behavior away and spank or time-out.

God's Word clearly instructs us to train our children.....then to discipline them for disobedience. If we are not training them first, then how can we discipline them with a peaceful heart. Clearly we must instruct the children HOW to act before they can get into trouble for NOT acting that way.

The first character trait that our family will be working on is self-control. There have been instances in our family where anger has shown its ugly head. I have gotten angry because the children have left things out of place or made a mess. The children have gotten angry with each other over toys and such. I want anger out of here! So the way I am choosing to battle this is by training my children to have self-control.

"An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man abounds in transgression."

Proverbs 29:22

If we are angry we will cause fights with others and live abundantly in sin. I do not want that for my life and I most certainly do not want that for my children.

"He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city"

Proverbs 16:32

We should be slow to get upset, no matter how wronged we have been. Often something as simple as taking a deep breath will allow the feeling of anger to flow out of us.

"A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grevious words stir up anger."

Proverbs 15:1

This is God's answer to deal with anger....speak softly. If we yell at a child for being angry, what does God say will happen? It will stir up the anger. However if we speak softly then it will turn the wrath away!

Feeling upset or wronged is a natural emotion and one God is familiar with, therefore we must learn what to do with it. When we feel angry we must control our voice and our actions.

Practically this means that we will be picking 1-2 scriptures and teaching them to the children (immediately following breakfast works great for us as well as when we are in the car driving). When they are able to recite the scripture without help we will move on.

Then I must inctercept the behavior of anger with a kind face and soft words (remember what God says about soft words?) and remind the child of the scriptures they have been learning. Speak sweetly and ask them if they are using self-control....with God's help I will be reporting good things about the eviction of anger in my home!

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, & self-control."

Galatians 5:22-23