Have you ever taken the time to examine your child's spirit? Do you ever just sit back and watch their body language and the words they use in conversation? Notice the way they talk to and treat others. Do you see consideration and respect in them? You can learn a lot about your children by just being observant.
Once you begin to notice the spirit of their attitude (we all have one), do not disregard what you are seeing. Little attitude problems grow into real monsters and it happens sooner than you may ever realize. I really believe that the reason so many parents fail to observe closely enough the spirit and attitude of the children, is because they are ignoring their own sour, angry spirit. It is difficult to call into account our child's rebellious attitude, when we have a grown up version of the same thing.
Parents can provoke their children to wrath, and this wrath can be stored up inside their child's heart and soul, until one day they find an outlet to dump it on. Terrible ugliness and hurt can come from that kind of situation.
But what is the real problem here? The child has been provoked by the parents own anger, yet the child cannot deal with his problem until we as parents deal with ours. Show your child how to repent so he can learn how to forgive.
If your child displays evidence of a root of bitterness or a hard heart, they need help and restoration done in their spirit. That can only happen if we as parents are fully and completely surrendered to God. Otherwise…save your breath. Your attempts to help will be in vain because they are hypocrisy.
God cannot bless your efforts to help your child, if you are unwilling to be honest about your own bitterness and bad attitudes.
Parents, you will reap what you sow. Your child will shut you out and have no respect for you if you cannot be honest and up front about your own sin.
The saddest part of raising children with angry spirits, full of rebellion and bitterness, is that Satan uses these attitudes to set them on a path that will take them straight to a devil's hell.
Never allow your own pride, and failure to examine your own spirit, to be the cause for your children rejecting Christ.
Ephesians 6:4 "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."
