Do you struggle with the cell phone craze with your kids? I do, too. On one hand, it’s great to be able to get in touch with my daughter when I need to. On the other hand, the phone is a horrible distraction in social settings, church, school—who knows where else? How have you dealt with it? With our teenage daughter, we’ve given her limits. No phone at dinner, limits on the web and when she can text. We started with self-policing, then spot checks for verification. When that broke down, we actually took the phone away for a while. We gave it back but with a few more restrictions—then gradually restored those privileges as trust was restored. This is Proverbs-style instruction. Proverbs 4:13 says, “Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life” (ESV).

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. May not copy or download more than 500 consecutive verses of the ESV Bible or more than one half of any book of the ESV Bible.

Suggested Reading: Proverbs 4:13,, Proverbs 16:20-30