The Power of Persuasion

Many parents are so convinced that it's impossible to communicate with their teenagers about anything, let alone instruct them in something, that they don't even try to do anything in this direction, hoping for a miracle that their young creation will somehow come to its senses and become wiser on its own. And by 18 years old they get what was formed under the influence of everything the teenager surrounded himself with. But God has a different plan regarding the raising of our children, and He is interested in parents learning this science and not giving up when some difficulties arise in relationships.

If you had wonderful relationships in your family, but during the teenage period some kind of split occurred, then there is a reason for this that needs to be determined and steps taken to adapt to the new situation.

The Bible gives many recommendations for raising children, and all these counsels and commandments have the power of persuasion when parents persistently follow God's light and do everything possible so that their children are raised in the fear of God and love for people.

Let's take an example from the world: Until what age do young people study in order to then find their place in life? Until the age of majority, and some manage to learn all kinds of sciences until 25 years old and receive a doctoral degree. Teenagers are young people who are learning something, seeking their place under the sun, learning all the delights of new life, and are not yet burdened by many problems of adult life. But some parents think that their children have gotten out of hand and there's no more control over them. But this is not so. If young people encounter wise mentors, then they gladly learn life wisdom from them and adopt much from their experience for themselves.

Remember your youth. At this age each of us had our own authorities, favorite teachers and mentors, and some wise expressions heard in passing became the motto of our entire life and helped not to lose heart in hours of trials.

Words of the wise, spoken in time and in the right spirit, have enormous persuasive power and are capable of forming good habits and worthy character in listeners at any age.

The peculiarity of the teenage period is that young hearts are open to learning about the world and spiritual values. Teenagers seek answers to all their "whys," and God desires to use older people so they can instruct young people at the beginning of their path.

Even if it seems to you that nothing interests the teenager except his smartphone, know that this is not so. It's just that the key of your instructions doesn't fit the lock of his heart, and he's trying to fill his thirsting vessel this way.

As a rule, in many educational institutions students are forbidden to use smartphones under threat of confiscation or expulsion in case of disobedience. And students comply with these requirements and learn what is offered to them. This means the problem is not in temptation, but in a wise approach to the given problem.

Parents have much more authority than any teacher and can establish any order on their territory. But how wise and correct this will be can be seen by their children's reaction.

Just as at birth parents were given a clean sheet of the child's character into which they wrote the story of their love, so in the teenage years many unwritten pages remain that require new ink, a new pen, and special wisdom from above.

"Faith comes from hearing," and discipline comes from instruction. What parents should not do is stop communicating with their teenager if they understand that there is no agreement and unity in relationships. This means the old model of upbringing has passed and a new one needs to be sought. Who knows their child better than parents? They have authority from God and can have the most convincing influence on the growing generation in union with the Creator.

Remember that all your wise instructions, spoken at the right time, in the spirit of love and friendship, have enormous persuasive power. And the higher your authority in the teenager's eyes, the more convincing your words and instructions will sound. Children don't have omniscience, and the very first opinion that convinced them becomes their opinion for life. But you should also be honest in your children's eyes and not be afraid to acknowledge your mistakes if such occur.

God loves to answer the prayers of His children and give them what they ask for themselves, and when you pray for your children, then God's power deals with the free will of the teenager, who can say "no" and not accept what the Lord will offer to his soul at your request. Therefore teach children to pray themselves about their needs and believe that the Lord hears and answers. Do everything possible so that your children find a Friend in Christ and learn to build personal trusting relationships with Him themselves. This will be the most important and valuable investment in their life and will give them a wonderful future and hope.

Remember that God doesn't address the world with His obvious voice, but He uses the speech of His children so that through their mouths and His Spirit He convinces listeners of truth. And the Lord desires that parents correctly represent God to their teenagers, that their words don't diverge from deeds, that they live as they teach. He desires that parents be gentle in their persistence, not dominating over the teenager's will, but calling to good behavior through kind attitude.

The power of persuasion doesn't always manifest itself in wise instructions, but it's strong also in the ability to listen, in the ability to ask right questions, in the ability to understand a person's heart and his need.

The teenager won't remember everything you tell him, but he will never forget what he felt in communication with you. Your respect, admiration for him, honoring him as an equal is transmitted on the level of feelings and is a good convincing factor in application to your words.

Sometimes gentle touches, friendly handshakes, heartfelt embraces say more than all your beautiful and correct words.

Someone said: "Constantly tell children about Christ, and sometimes you can do this with words."

Remember that all your kind attitude, friendly spirit, accepting the young person as he is, has enormous influence on his consciousness and helps solve many complex questions. We don't know when and how many times our kind words saved someone's soul from destruction and a wrong step. Or how our smile and expression of trust supported hands in a moment of despair.

It's also worth taking into account that your teenager's friends may have bad relationships with their parents, but in you find a wise mentor who will show them God's love in practice, help them gain confidence, and give hope.

If, by God's mercy, you have the honor of being a teacher for many young people, then know that your influence and power of persuasion in wise instructions will help them avoid many mistakes and make your life and principles of love and friendship an example for imitation.

Just as there were many people in your life who influenced you, so you can become a convincing force for many and influence good changes in someone's life, and especially in the life of your teenagers.

1. Please read Ecclesiastes 12:11; Proverbs 1:8-9; 10:21; 16:24; 19:20; 22:6; 25:11; Deuteronomy 6:6-7; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Titus 2:6-7; Psalm 119:9; Colossians 4:6; Isaiah 50:4, in light of this lesson.

2. What other verses from the Bible came to your memory?

3. What was revealed to you in this chapter?

4. What is the power of persuasion and how does it work?

5. What is the difference between human persuasion and persuasion that comes from the Holy Spirit?

6. Why does the first persuasion about something become a person's personal opinion? Should this be considered in the upbringing process?

7. How does the imperfection or insincerity of father or mother affect the power of their persuasions?

8. How should a parent live so that his words have the power of persuasion?

9. What mistakes most often reduce the power of parental influence?

10. Why is it important not to lose hope and reconsider your behavior if the teenager distances himself?

11. Why is it important to teach a teenager to distinguish God's voice from the opinion of the crowd?

12. Why is sometimes a simple embrace stronger than any sermon?

13. How to use questions instead of statements for persuasion?

14. Can parents be mentors not only to their children, but also to their children's friends?