Parenting by Design - August 14

Humbled by Our Strengths

Luke 22:24:  "And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest" (NASU).

Even at the Last Supper, the disciples of Jesus were jockeying for position in the coming Kingdom.  In their desire for power and position, they failed to see the true source of greatness. 

God-given strengths can become our greatest weaknesses when we rely on them rather than the Lord.  Our hearts can deceive us and encourage us to believe in our own abilities (Jer 17:9).  For example, Abraham's strength was his faith, but he lied about Sarah in Egypt (Gen 12:10-13:4).  Moses' strength was his humility (Num 12:3), but he lost his temper in the wilderness and acted foolishly, and he was not allowed to enter the Promised Land (Num 20).   Peter boasted he would never desert the Lord, but he denied Him three times (Luke 22:54-62).

These failures remind us true strength lies in depending on God.  Are you constantly seeking God's wisdom through prayer as you make parenting decisions?  When you are most confident in your parenting, make sure you are depending on His strength, rather than your own.

"Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall" (1 Cor 10:12 NKJV)