Galatians 5:1
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Acts 15:10
Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?

Romans 8:15
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."

These verses relate to freedom we have in Christ. Freedom can be defined in several ways for different individuals. Some people are in bondage to fear, to sin, to other people, to circumstance.

Through Christ we are assured God delivers, rescues, frees and releases his children from all kinds of chains : be they physical, mental, emotional or spiritual.

When the childre are provided with healthy autonomy, they will grow with the healthy understanding of God's love and grace that they will not feel condemned or live in unhealthy fear and guilt. Jesus came to break us free from the slavery of fear and guilt that the world and the devil puts on our children.

In some instances, parents can adopt the style of putting excessive fear in the minds of children to control them. If the core emotional need of Healthy autonomy is not met, they grow developing beliefs that bad things are about to happen around the corner, I am powerless to do anything, I will be rejected by anger or abandonment.

Sometimes we parents can be manipulative and twisted in our behaviour and make the children to feel guilty (even though children's choices are healthy) if they do not fit our agenda of society status, ego and endless family needs, benefits and comforts. Such behaviour of parents can cause unhealthy guild in the mind of kids and the child will develop negative beliefs that he or she is the victim.

Today's Practical

Ask the children if they have any fears in their mind and allay those fears sharing the above scriptures of freedom that Jesus gives from fear.

Make a decision not to put unhealthy guilt in the minds of children to fulfill your own unhealthy parental expectation.