Equip Kids for Making Good Choices
Articles
Decisions, decisions. Teenagers face lots of choices, ranging from what to wear to which career to pursue. Every day, young people also deal with social and moral decisions that can impact their faith and their future.
Making the right choices can mean the difference between life and death, so it’s important to help kids connect their choices to real-world consequences. Showing off in a car may impress friends, for example, but it can also put lives at risk. The developmental challenge is that the part of the brain that processes cause and effect isn’t fully developed in teenagers. Although kids sometimes have to learn things the hard way, we still need to show them grace and compassion, as well as loving support and guidance.
Parents may not be able to make decisions for teenagers, but we can equip them with the right tools so they can make wise choices of their own. The solid foundation for decision-making is God’s Word. Jesus urges his followers to spend time in prayer and to “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).
Making good decisions can be hard, and the pressure can leave kids stressed out. But God offers an alternative: peace. He wants to give us extraordinary peace in the midst of making easy or hard decisions. All we need to do is seek him and his wisdom.
TipsGuy Talk, Girl Talk 2 (Simply Youth Ministry) offers tips for dependable decision-making:
When a choice looms, ask: Does it honor God? Does it help me grow? Does it help others grow? Does it cause me or anyone else to stumble? Do my Christian friends and family support my decision? If not, why not? |
The View
Questions to Ask
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The Role of Emotions
Expert Insights for Parents of Teenagers | By Jerry Varner
Teenagers are very emotional beings who face a lot of forks in the road. Those emotions often get the best of kids and their decision making, whether those decisions are social, mental, academic, sexual, or even spiritual.
We receive our emotions from an emotional God who created us in his image. Emotions can be powerful, effective gauges that help us navigate spiritually. When we submit them to God, emotions can help reveal our passions, our fears, and even our direction.
It’s important to keep in mind that all teenagers (male and female) are hardwired with emotions given to them by God. One of our roles as parents is to help them sort out what’s from God and what’s sheer emotion. Involving our emotions in the decision-making process is so very natural, but allowing emotions to drive decisions is where we get into trouble.
Here’s how you can help teenagers separate emotionalism from God’s clear directive:
Remind kids that their choices have to be lived out in the open. After all, how hard can it be to take a stand when no one sees it?
Speak clearly with kids about what God’s Word says. You can use sensitivity in your communication without adding fluffiness that dilutes God’s Word.
Offer teenagers questions to consider and clearly defined steps to take in the days and weeks after they make a decision. This allows the “dust to settle” on the emotions that undoubtedly played an important role in their initial choice.
Let’s face it: Teenagers are prone to allow emotions to rule the day. But we don’t want to be making disciples who follow Jesus and live for him only when it “feels” right.
Bible Focus | Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Media Reviews
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CHRISTIAN MUSICAndy MineoBackground Mineo grew up in a single-parent home. With no male authority figures, he struggled with aggression and profanity. Mineo became a Christian at a junior high camp but didn’t have a church home. He grew to love music and bought equipment with birthday money. Since getting connected to many names in Christian hip-hop, Mineo has produced and worked with people such as Lecrae and Trip Lee. Albums Heroes for Sale (2013), Formerly Known (2012) What Mineo Says “All throughout high school, it was really difficult to follow Jesus without having any community. I didn’t have any home church or men to disciple me. When I went to college…God put me around a bunch of people that loved God, and looked and talked like me.” Explore Mineo’s music is available on Spotify, last.fm, Pandora, and other music services. |
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VIDEO GAMESGrid 2This racing game promises to straddle the fine line between realistic-handling cars and accessibility. There are lots of cars, tracks, and options to keep your foot to the floor. There likely won’t be anything objectionable here. (Rating pending; Xbox 360, PS3, PC) Metro: Last LightThis follow-up to the hit first-person shooter is changing gears to focus more on exploration and stealth than on firefights. But it will still be gory and bloody and not suitable for teenagers. (Rating pending, but almost certainly M; Xbox 360, PS3, PC) For more media reviews, visit http://www.pluggedin.com |
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