02 Dec Parenting – Chapter 4
Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family by Paul Tripp
Chapter 4 – John Breckenridge
Parents, as we look this week at what brings about change in our children, we must remember that we can’t make our children different. We can ask, pray, speak with authority, love and encourage, but the changing of a person, even our own children comes from the work of God’s spirit.
In Chapter 4, Inability, Dr. Tripp lays out an argument that I completely agree with. That is, we confuse our authority as parents, which is God given, with ability to effect change, which remains the Lord’s prerogative. We should confidently, lovingly and faithfully proclaim the truth to our children, and ask God to bring about the changes to the hearts of our children.
It’s hard to be patient and not fall into the trap of believing we can be the change agent. As a parent, I repent of this temptation on a regular basis.