Spiritual Discipline
Mark 9:28-29: "When he came into the house, his disciples began questioning him privately, 'Why could we not drive it out?' And He said to them, ‘This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer'" (NASU).
After the Transfiguration, Jesus, James, John and Peter came down the mountain and they were met by a dad and his son possessed by a vicious demon. The other nine disciples had attempted to cast it out without success. Jesus rebuked the demon and cast it out of the boy, returning him to his father.
These nine disciples had just returned from their first successful mission of preaching and healing, yet they were unable to cast out this one demon. Why? Perhaps because they had neglected the spiritual disciplines of fasting and prayer. When Jesus explained the failure as a lack of prayer, it must have been very humbling.
Spiritual discipline is necessary for all aspects of life, and particularly for parenting. The challenge of raising kids demands you turn to God each day and give Him the best of your time. How else can you hear His wisdom?
Consistent spiritual discipline prepares you for the challenges of parenting.
