Family

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The Power of Believing the Best

“Love bears up under anything and everything that comes,
Is ever ready to believe the best of every person,
Its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances,
And it endures everything without weakening.” 1 Cor. 13:7 TAB

Our attitudes and actions are shaped by what we believe. Believing a positive statement about someone causes us to respond positively to that person. At the same time, believing something negative brings about a negative response. Believing for a positive future brings hope and peace. Believing for problems and failures brings fear. Even thoughts of faith or fear show forth in our lives; the fruit of our believing.

Believing the best should become a way of life for a parent. By that, I do not mean a blind belief that our child can do no wrong, or denial of problems relating to our children. Quite the opposite! Believing the best can help us face the issues, the weaknesses and the sin in their lives. It brings the power to see beyond where they are today and reach forward to what they will be tomorrow. It knows and believes that God’s purpose will prevail in their lives.

Believing is not a Pollyanna attitude that says “nothing bad can happen to me.” It goes beyond an optimistic attitude. It walks in expectancy and confidence that even when the unfortunate happens, good will follow. It means that when our kids choose a wrong attitude or action or friend; when they are selfish or inconsiderate; or rude or unthinking…we can look past the behavior with mercy and focus on who they can be in Christ. We can choose to love in a way that believes the best in them. Yes, we must hold them accountable for the sin and irresponsibility in their lives, but at the same time we must allow an undercurrent of acceptance and unconditional love to flow through us. This is believing the best from ourselves.

Consider Paul’s words: “ Just as you were once disobedient and rebellious toward God but now have obtained mercy, so they also now are being disobedient, that they may in turn one day, through the mercy you are enjoying, also receive mercy…through you…” Rom. 11:30-31.

Believing means to have a firm conviction and to accept as true, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Conviction can be defined as assurance, confidence, certainty and belief.

What convictions do you hold concerning your son or daughter? What do you accept as true?
Maybe, you haven’t given it much thought before now. Yet, I believe it is crucial in relating to our children, and especially our teens. Without a sense of vision and hope for their future, we cannot see them as God does. Sometimes it is hard to do this in the throes of parenting. We can forget that these young adults are part of God’s special plan for this generation! They are set apart for His purposes, even though at times we think there is nothing further from the realm of possibility…this is when our convictions must hold fast.
How do we develop these convictions?

First, ask the Lord to show you His vision for your children.

Second, remember that these convictions should be positive in nature and must agree with God’s Word.

Finally, we must study them, speak them, pray them and believe them, that these truths might become a stronghold in the lives of our sons and daughters. For “faith comes by hearing, and hearing from the word of God.” Rom.10: 17. We increase our faith, our ability to believe God’s best, by adhering to the truth He has spoken.

Consider these promises:
1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation,
God’s own special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds of Him who called you…”

Isaiah 61:3 “…they …shall be called oaks of righteousness (lofty, strong and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness) a planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

Psalm 1:3 “And he shall be like a tree firmly planted by water, ready to bring forth fruit in its season; its leaf shall not fade or wither and everything he does shall prosper (and be successful).”

Search your heart. Search God’s word. Decide today that you will believe for the best, regardless of circumstances or challenges. Believe beyond a shadow of a doubt, that God will fulfill His promises and that the best is still to come.

Sue Brage
2/17/2002

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