Retro Wednesday

 

Retro Wednesday 2012: Guarding Your Home

By Stephanie H.

 

Proverbs 4:23 “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”



 

A home security system protects your home and everything inside.  It gives you a peace of mind when you are away.  Do you have a security system in place for the hearts of those living in your home?  Are you guarding their hearts and training them to be able to make good decisions when you are away?

 

·         First check your own personal spiritual health

·         Establish oneness in your marriage, pray together about your desires to protect your family

·         Guard your children’s hearts

 

Deuteronomy 23:14 “For the Lord your God moves about in your camp to protect you and deliver your enemies to you.  Your camp must be holy, so that he will not see among you anything indecent and turn away from you.” (emphasis mine)

 

Ways to consider guarding the hearts and minds of those in your home:

 

·         Model a passion for Jesus in your Home – model a daily walk/relationship with the Lord

·         Wives respect & honor your husbands

·         Limit the TV/movies/radio/internet/devices you allow into the home (What goes in through the eyes goes to the mind…creating a visual rolodex!) resource: www.pluggedin.com

·         Sleepovers (Does the host home have a “system” in place? Do they guard their children’s hearts?  Do they have older siblings of the opposite gender?)

·         The language used in the home (Is it positive?)

·         Restrictions on dating…Set a purpose

·         Train them young to guard/cover their body…they will protect that as they mature

·         Kids should know that you love them no matter what – teach forgiveness, try not to overreact

·         CRAZY Praise/celebrate accomplishments & goals

·         Teach them to use a Concordance and send them to the Word for guidance

·         Train kids to be great workers at home

·         Listen to & validate them

·         Expect your children to show respect to everyone in the family

·         Stand up for what is good, right and holy even if it isn’t the “norm”

Challenge:  After you and your husband have discussed and prayed about ways to protect your children’s hearts discuss these with them.   If you already have a “system” in place remember that it needs to be serviced and updated often as your children grow.  What is needed for your family may not be what is needed for the family next door, so be mindful when speaking of your system so that you do not sound judgmental.