Pursuing Heart Renovation Over Behavior Modification

Today my pastor gave an awesome sermon on Grace.  And the best part was I really needed it tonight.  I had another freakout parenting moment when my son spit on me. We were playing, but I felt he crossed the line.

My struggle has been with with focusing on behavior modification over heart renovation.  But in the end, I could care less about good changed behavior if my kids heart is still full of rebellion. I know this will be a lifelong battle and a temptation in parenting; namely, to settle for behavior modification over heart renovation.  Heart renovation takes time, patience, grace, mercy and the truth spoken in love.  Behavior modification is as simple as a threat or spanking.

I almost feel discouraged in my parenting and this battle in particular.  Thank God the battle belongs to the Lord, He has gone before me in battle, and He has won the war.  All that is left is for me to walk in the victory already won.