Daily Devo
Raising Children
By: Lisa Boisvert
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord. Ephesians 6:4 (NLT)
Anyone that has raised a child knows that it is hard! Some children are more difficult to raise than others, but at times, all of them can provoke us to anger. But keep in mind, uncontrolled anger often leads to destructive words and actions… if we're not careful, anger can damage many of our relationships. Therefore, it's not surprising that our instruction manual for life (our Bible), addresses how to properly raise our children.
People with understanding control their anger; but a hot temper shows great foolishness. Proverbs 14:29 (NLT)
Anger can be a dangerous emotion, even for believers. Controlling our anger towards defiant children can be difficult, but uncontrolled or inappropriate anger can break the spirit of our children and cause them to rebel against us and/or God. But when God's Word tells us what not to do, it usually tells us what we should do instead. For example, Ephesians 6:4 tells us not to provoke our children to anger by treating them poorly. Instead, we are told to instruct them and use proper discipline "that comes from the Lord."
When our children see us obeying the Lord, they are more willing to receive God's discipline and instruction. But if we tell them one thing and model another (like inappropriate anger) they aren't likely to honor or obey us. If they obey at all, it will be done grudgingly, not from the heart. The main reason we must raise our children God's way is because we won't always be around to personally instruct them. The greatest legacy we can ever give our children is holding fast to the foundational teachings from God's Word!
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Ephesians 6:1
Even when we raise our children properly, they may still rebel. If they do, at least they will have a divine, biblically calibrated moral compass inside them. If they ever stray from the Lord, they will have God's principles embedded in their soul. Even if we don't live long enough to see our prodigals return, with proper instruction "in the Lord" they will be able to return to the everlasting arms of the Lord without our help.
If you are struggling to control your anger, remember this; The Lord will never ask you to do something that is impossible to do. Don't try doing it alone, Pray to God and ask Him for help!