Lord, make my child uncomfortable with sin. Help him/her to know the beauty and simplicity of walking with a sweet and humble spirit in obedience and submission to You. (Power of a Praying Parent, Stormie Omartian)
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 (NIV). Most often I would hear this scripture used when a Christian woman/man was dating an unbeliever or considering marriage. We should extend this admonishment to our children in regard to the people with whom they're associated. As Christians, we teach them to love everyone and treat everyone as they would want to be treated. But what happens when our children are unable or unwilling to separate from their immoral friends...CORRUPTION! The mistake commonly made by believers is that we can constantly be in the midst of sin and not sin. That's like saying we can be in a room where everyone is smoking and the smell will not get into our clothing...not likely. We begin to think of ourselves more highly than we ought. Truth is, our sinful nature may be dormant but it ain't dead! A friend of ours said it this way, "bad company corrupts good morals."
In God's eyes people ultimately are divided into two categories: those who are in Christ and those who are not. Therefore, believers must not be in voluntary partnership or in intimate association with unbelievers, for such relationships can corrupt their relationship with Christ (Full Life Study Bible, Study Notes). It's OK to show someone the way of salvation, but don't sacrifice your footing and slip trying to be the savior. God is God all by Himself and He doesn't need our help!
I am weak, but Thou art strong; Jesus, keep me from all wrong; I'll be satisfied as long, As I walk, let me walk close to Thee. Lord, when we walk close to You; the enemy has to come through You to get to us. We pray that our children desire a closer walk with you. The closer they walk with You; the more uncomfortable they will become with sin. In Jesus name, Amen!
Today I want to be http://youtu.be/zOScUrQpBP8
Showing posts with label parents. Show all posts
Showing posts with label parents. Show all posts
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
April 17 - The Fight is Fixed!
Remember, your battle is not with your son or daughter. "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of he darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12). Your battle is with the enemy. The good news is that Jesus has given you authority "over all the power of the enemy" (Luke 10:19). Don't be afraid to take advantage of that. (Power of a Praying Parent, Stormie Omartian)
Our children will grow and develop physically as we nurture and care for them. The will develop their own emotional state as they experience life and all the ups and downs associated with maturing. The only area that we can 'shape' is their spiritual life! As Christians, we "are engaged in a spiritual conflict with evil. This spiritual conflict is described as a warfare of faith that continues until we enter the life to come". In the battle with the enemy; it is crucial that we have a strategy and take advantage of our advantage! Jesus secured our victory through his death on the cross AND He "disarmed the evil powers and authorities".
Our advantage is our authority! Power is the ability to do or act, while authority is the power to determine, adjudicate, or otherwise settle issues or disputes; jurisdiction; the right to control, command or determine. Truth be told, satan has power but he doesn't have authority...at least he shouldn't have authority in the life of Christians. When Jesus said "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you"...He meant it!!!
Lord, for our children's sake, help us to recognize and utilize the authority given to us! Not that we get puffed up in self, but that we may pulverize satan and his schemes. We pray that any principality, perversion, power, or force attempting to operate in our children's lives be revealed, so that we may pull it down. Though we wrestle in war; the battle is won...VICTORY IN JESUS IS OURS. Amen!
Our children will grow and develop physically as we nurture and care for them. The will develop their own emotional state as they experience life and all the ups and downs associated with maturing. The only area that we can 'shape' is their spiritual life! As Christians, we "are engaged in a spiritual conflict with evil. This spiritual conflict is described as a warfare of faith that continues until we enter the life to come". In the battle with the enemy; it is crucial that we have a strategy and take advantage of our advantage! Jesus secured our victory through his death on the cross AND He "disarmed the evil powers and authorities".
Our advantage is our authority! Power is the ability to do or act, while authority is the power to determine, adjudicate, or otherwise settle issues or disputes; jurisdiction; the right to control, command or determine. Truth be told, satan has power but he doesn't have authority...at least he shouldn't have authority in the life of Christians. When Jesus said "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you"...He meant it!!!
Lord, for our children's sake, help us to recognize and utilize the authority given to us! Not that we get puffed up in self, but that we may pulverize satan and his schemes. We pray that any principality, perversion, power, or force attempting to operate in our children's lives be revealed, so that we may pull it down. Though we wrestle in war; the battle is won...VICTORY IN JESUS IS OURS. Amen!
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
April 16
The Bible says, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 'Honor your father and mother,' which is the first commandment with promise: 'that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth'" (Ephesians 6:1-3). The fact that we can affect the length and quality of our children's lives is reason enough to pray, instruct, and discipline. (Power of a Praying Parent, Stormie Omartian)
Growing up, whenever I heard this scripture quoted, the 'responsibility' was placed on the child(ren). Often used in conjunction with admonishment for mischievous behavior; we were "scared straight" by the thought of dishonoring our parents leading to an early death. However, Ms. Omartian puts a different twist on this scripture in her prayer when she says that "we (parents) can affect the length and quality of our children's lives...". We affect where they live because of the house we provide. We affect how they develop and mature because of the family, spiritual and educational environments in which we place them. Even their decision making can be based on watching how we handle certain situations. But to ponder the fact that I can affect how long and what kind of life my child will experience...WOW!!!
The "Parents and Children" article in the Full Life Study Bible says that parents should "Make your children aware that God is always observing and evaluating what they do, think and say" and "Through example and exhortation, encourage your children to live lives devoted to prayer". I would offer that we simply give them something to honor and obey!
Lord, as we encourage our children to live lives devoted to prayer, help us to practice what we preach. It is no longer acceptable to proclaim "do as I say and not as I do". We must align what we expect from our children, with what we exhibit to them. Remind us that our children's perspective of You and how they relate to You will often be connected to their relationship with us. Thank you for entrusting us with Your seed and allowing us to guide and direct them in this world. As we honor and obey our Heavenly Father; we declare our children will honor and obey as well...for this is right. In Jesus name, Amen!
Growing up, whenever I heard this scripture quoted, the 'responsibility' was placed on the child(ren). Often used in conjunction with admonishment for mischievous behavior; we were "scared straight" by the thought of dishonoring our parents leading to an early death. However, Ms. Omartian puts a different twist on this scripture in her prayer when she says that "we (parents) can affect the length and quality of our children's lives...". We affect where they live because of the house we provide. We affect how they develop and mature because of the family, spiritual and educational environments in which we place them. Even their decision making can be based on watching how we handle certain situations. But to ponder the fact that I can affect how long and what kind of life my child will experience...WOW!!!
The "Parents and Children" article in the Full Life Study Bible says that parents should "Make your children aware that God is always observing and evaluating what they do, think and say" and "Through example and exhortation, encourage your children to live lives devoted to prayer". I would offer that we simply give them something to honor and obey!
Lord, as we encourage our children to live lives devoted to prayer, help us to practice what we preach. It is no longer acceptable to proclaim "do as I say and not as I do". We must align what we expect from our children, with what we exhibit to them. Remind us that our children's perspective of You and how they relate to You will often be connected to their relationship with us. Thank you for entrusting us with Your seed and allowing us to guide and direct them in this world. As we honor and obey our Heavenly Father; we declare our children will honor and obey as well...for this is right. In Jesus name, Amen!
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