**Daily Devotional** **February 12** *6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. - Prov 22:6 (KJV)* To train someone, is to show them how to do something. To train a child, you have to show them how to live in this world, and behave according to the Word of God. You don’t just teach them how to live in this world, but you make them learn both by setting an example, and by punishing them when they don’t behave properly. Modern psychology tends to say that you should not spank a child, but the bible says you shouldn’t spare the rod (Proverbs 13:24). You can not reason with a young child, but they can understand a spanking. You should train a child to mind the rules, both yours and societies. If you don’t start training them early in life, then you will have your hands full when they get to be teenagers. The Word teaches that a child left to himself, will cause you shame (Proverbs 29:15). If a child is trained properly when he is young, it normally will cause them to have respect and obey the laws as they get older. There are some that will rebel at society when they grow up, no matter how they are trained, but if they are brought up in a godly home, the chances are that they will return to God when they grow older and get maturity. There is never a guarantee that a child will remain sane in their actions, but if you don’t train them when they are young, you can be sure they won’t live a godly life on their own (Proverbs 22:15). You are not doing your child a favor, by letting them have their own way, when they are young. Punishing your child is never fun, but seeing them grow up to be rebellious is certainly heartache for a parent. Don’t spoil the child just because it is the easy way out, or you will regret it later in their life. Praise God for all His directions given to us in His Word! Devotional by Pastor Joe W. Green, www.infinite-faith.com