Discernment
Phil. 1:9-11: And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God (NIV).
Paul's prayer for the Philippians could easily be our prayer for our kids. Who doesn't want their children to abound in knowledge and insight and be pure and blameless, making decisions that reflect God's righteousness? How will you help them reach those lofty goals?
One way is to give your kids more choices and opportunities to learn from hands-on experience. Good decision making isn't learned overnight. Your kids may have to make some poor choices along the way before they will know how to make good ones. Obviously, you won't give them just any choice because they should only be given choices you are willing for them to make. But the opportunities to give significant choices are endless.
Practice with little choices for little kids and more expanded choices as kids mature. Walk beside them as they get their hands dirty. Enjoy the process!
Kids who are encouraged to make lots of appropriate choices gain knowledge, insight, and discernment.
