This is the title of a book by Ginger Plowman (yes, it's American!) that I'm reading at the moment. It talks about heart-oriented discipline as opposed to merely changing wrong behaviours.
Ginger writes, '........Biblical discipline involves love, the heart, and God's Word. Because God is concerned with the issues of the heart, biblical discipline involves much more than outward behaviour. Biblical discipline gets to the heart of the porblem. After all, if you can reach the heart, the behaviour will take care of itself. In order for us to reach the hearts of our children we must realize that there is far more to parenting than getting our children to act right. We have to get them to think right and to be motivated out of a love of virutue rather than a fear of punishment. We do this by training them in righteousness. Righteous training can only come from the Word of God.' She refers to Ephesians 6:4 which says, 'Bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord'.
The book so far has really challenged me to start thinking ahead about how Dave and I can discipline Elizabeth in a way that changes her heart, not just her behaviour. It has also challenged me to model virtue to her, such as not complaining, being patient etc. Just as well we have God to help us and change us!
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