4 Ways to Help Your Teens Make Good Decisions

Life is full of confusing decisions for teenagers. I should know, I survived that turbulent period of life, brought up my two daughters to adulthood, and presently serve as a youth ministry leader at my church.

Major, life-changing choices like “where am I going to college” or “should I take a job my senior year” have to be made. Myriads of day-to-day decisions confront them. Many parents struggle during these moments. I certainly did! How do we counsel teens to follow the right path?

The world’s message

Culture and upbringing can certainly influence the decision-making in our life, but is relying on non-Christian worldviews sufficient?

The Bible says,?“Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own” (John 7:17, NASB).

I came to a point in my life that I decided that there is truth in these words of Christ. Where I couldn’t rely on my instincts or base decisions on what I felt was right. My teenage years were devoid of any Christian discipleship, but the value of these words would have saved me countless heartaches.

So, parents are you willing to follow Him every day and then model this behavior for your children??I know that I have temptations, even as a parent to adult children, in certain areas of my life where I do what I please in direct defiance to what the Bible teaches.

Like listening to music or watching a show that really doesn’t bring glory to our Creator.?Children watch your every move are and weighing your decisions for you. With any issue I face, I must be willing to do the Lords’ will. If successful, then all my doubts about any decision will become plain to me and them.

The Ten Commandments

Further, there are some choices clearly commanded in the Bible that are non-negotiable and there shouldn’t be any discussions on these points.

The perfect law of the Lord known as the Ten Commandments clearly states that it is never acceptable to lie or steal. God has spoken plainly on such things.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16, NASB).

The method for making some decisions is so clear-cut that they are easy to make.

The Bible tells us what not to do through the commandments, but it also says what to do.

It’s clear some of our decisions are always right and some decisions are always wrong.

It’s the character of God and his Word that decides the course of action. This is why it is so important for parents to read their Bible daily. To avoid confusion, you must know what scripture says so that you can adequately instruct your children.

What if I am still unsure?

However, there are some areas of our lives where even after reading the Bible we still feel unsure about a course of action. Where God doesn’t say yes, and He doesn’t say no. Leaving us wondering what to do.

Here are four fundamental truths you can follow when you reach this point:

1.?Will it bring glory to God?

If a decision is made that will take anybody’s eyes away from the glory and the wonder of God, then do not do it. The Bible says, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31, NASB).

This verse should really be the motto for our Christian life. As Christians, our job is to lift Him up and bring others around us to think great thoughts about Him. We worship God even in the smallest most mundane aspects of our life. Like when we interact with others in the community or sitting at the breakfast table, or talking to fellow students at school.

2.?Will this decision help the child in their Christian walk of faith?

God has given us immense freedom and free will to live out our time on earth any way that we choose. God says, “I have the right to do anything, ‘you say — but not everything is beneficial. I have the right to do anything’ — but not everything is constructive” (1 Cor. 10:23, NASB).

But do the activities we chose build you up and make you a stronger Christian. If not, it’s time to evaluate the merit of the decision.

3.?Will the decision enslave me?

Habits are hard to break, and stubborn ones can take control of us and our teens.?The Bible says, “l things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything” (1 Corinthians 6:12, NASB).

God tells us that bad choices we make can possibly master us. Think of habits that can’t be given up…is this glorifying to God? These decisions are often influenced by the devil that is described in the Bible as the tempter who is a roaring lion and will do anything in his power to see us fall (1 Peter 5:8, NASB).

4.?Is the decision Godly or worldly?

It boils down to this: after I make this decision will it make me more after the pattern of Christ or the pattern of the world?

We have guidance:

“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever” (1 John 2:15, NASB).

This decision might include not only bad things a person can do but also good things. For example, you may be so good at something that you begin to excel at it, and it starts meaning more to you than your spiritual life. We are to use caution in all things.

Conclusion

There you go! Four principles I would use to help guide your children into adulthood. Once you make a correct and firm decision, where the conscience is at peace, then you know what is right and what is wrong.

And sometimes because none of us are the perfect Christian, we will find that what is right isn’t very appealing. However, our Savior?is?perfect. Yet, He lived a life of self-sacrifice in serving and pleasing others as scripture tells us that, “for even Christ did not please himself” (Romans 15:3, NASB).