With every moment you spend training your children how to love people on purpose, you are setting them up for a future filled with satisfying relationships.

John Eldredge was right when he said that every boy is asking the question, Do I have what it takes? and every girl is asking, Am I lovely?

Evangelist Luis Palau says, “God has no grandchildren, only children.” Each and every one of our sons or daughters must make their own decision to follow Jesus. For real faith to thrive, each generation must become the first generation.

Remind your teenager that what Jesus wants is not perfection, but one whose heart is fully His.2 Inspire him to remember that that’s where joy and peace are found.

Cooperating with God in the formation of their character, then teaching and training and exhorting and loving them to Jesus—these things must become your top priority. You must become intentional about it.

That’s an appeal. So simple! So reasonable and workable, humble and loving! Your teenager’s legitimate need to question your values and your opinions is respected, while you’ve satisfied her need to be heard.

Andrew Murray concluded that the great secret to a peaceful home is for parents to “first [be] ourselves what we want our children to be.”

Be sensitive to what the Spirit may be trying to tell you about your children. Only He knows all that is churning in their hearts. The wise parent depends on God to provide wisdom.

Remember James 1:20: “Human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”