Catherine of Sienna once said, “Be all God created you to be and you will set the world on fire.”
We all want our kids to be who God created them to be. We all want them to be men and women of God who set the world on fire. But their level of confidence is a huge factor as to whether or not our kids will step into their God-given identities and their God-given destinies.
Confidence. It’s the stuff that risk takers are made of. And risk takers are the stuff world changers are made of.
But confidence is an interesting thing. Too little prevents people from accomplishing what they could. Too much causes them to either strive for success for all the wrong reasons, to seek attention for what they are doing, or to let their confidence circumvent their accomplishments because they became misguided and made it about themselves.
So, how do we build a balanced quality of confidence in our kids?
1. Cheer them on as much for the big things as you do for the small ~ It’s easy to get caught up in the grand and cheer them on when they hit the home run, make an A, or win an award. But we need to cheer just as hard and just as loud when they strike out and have a good attitude, when they get hard fought for D, or when someone else wins the award they were hoping to win. Cheer them on for the big and for the small and you will begin to help them understand the sense of accomplishment that builds character.
2. Let them fail, but teach them to fail well…especially by your own example ~ We don’t always win. We don’t always make the right decision. We aren’t always successful. That’s a reality of life our children need to not only know and understand, but embrace. When we don’t succeed…when we make the wrong decision, when we don’t win…those are all opportunities to learn how to lose well and how to do better next time. Confidence can be cultivated, even in loss…sometimes, especially in loss.
3. Challenge them to reach to the next level in little increments ~ Growing is a slow process. Challenge your children to do something a little beyond their ability to stretch them. Each time they reach a little farther for the next level, they jump over a hurdle that was holding them back. Runners run farther when they stretch themselves to run beyond where they ran last time. Our children will exceed where they are now only by reaching farther and trying harder.
4. Set age appropriate goals ~ Set goals they can achieve while challenging them to go to the next level. As they grow older, help them set their own goals and watch them bloom as they fulfill their goals. Confidence is built every time they set a goal and reach it. Give them responsibilities and as they fulfill those responsibilities cheer them on.
5. Teach them the difference between self-confidence and God-confidence ~ No where in Scripture are we told that we need self-confidence. Our confidence is in the God who created us. It stems from knowing Him, knowing how much He loves us, and understanding how precious we are to God. NOTHING gives us more confidence than knowing who we are in Christ.
You are your children’s BIGGEST CHEERLEADER but it’s not enough to stand on the sidelines of their lives and cheer them on. You speak so loudly into their little hearts and they look to you to not only cheer for them, but to lead them, guide them, challenge them, and help them discover how amazing they are and the wonderful plan God has for them.
Then they will become the risk takers that set this world on fire because YOU instilled the confidence in their heart that gives them the courage to soar.
Do your kids lack confidence? Will you use any of the 5 ways to build confidence in the lives of your children? What would you add?
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REGISTER NOW for the
2014 M.O.M. Conference ~ BETTER TOGETHER
July 31st – August 2nd
Jacksonville, Florida at Trinity Baptist Church
Registration Information, Location, List of Breakout Sessions, Descriptions of Workshops, Conference Speaking Team, Better Together Conference Flyer, Better Together Bulletin Insert (Full Color), Better Together Bulletin Insert (Black & White), Better Together Conference Cards (Postcard Size)
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