Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
Thoughts on Today’s Verse…
In Malachi 4:6, God promised that fathers and children in God’s coming Kingdom would be reunited in heart. Let’s make that real in our homes today by nurturing and correcting our children, using a balance of nurture and correction. Let’s not make our faith so full of rules and restrictions that it becomes impossible for our children to obey or hear that they are our beloved children, with whom we are well pleased! Let’s not grant so much freedom, however, that our children feel neglected and uncertain about how to live in today’s morally chaotic world. Let’s turn our hearts toward them and pray for God to turn children’s hearts toward their homes with us and our Father in heaven!
My Prayer…
O LORD God Almighty, Abba Father, our land lies under a curse because many Fathers have spiritually and physically abandoned their children. Please raise up parents, especially fathers, daddies, who will balance the challenging tasks of love, nurture, and correction and heal our families so our children may know your love and grace. In Jesus’ name, we beg you to help our fathers. Amen.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.