Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40 NIV
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Pray for Israel
RealChristianWomen.blog
Statistics show that children today spend an average of 30 hours per week in school where they are often taught ideas that are diametrically opposed to biblical truths, e.g., evolution, the acceptance of homosexuality, transgender ideology, etc. Then they come home to another 30 hours per week spent in front of a television bombarded by commercials and sitcoms or social media that portray homosexuality and abortion as normal and acceptable.
This is in contrast to the short time spent weekly in church. Not only that, our teens face a much different world than we did, and the propaganda to influence their beliefs is great.
I have often wondered why so many Christian teens drift away from God when they go away to college. Many research studies confirm that this is true and provide insights into why. But God’s Word is even more insightful.
#1 “Train a child in the way he should go,
Even when he is old he will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6 NIV 84
Training children is the responsibility of the parents, not the youth leader, pastor, or Sunday School teacher.
One study found that when both parents were faithful and active in the church, 93 percent of their children remained faithful. But when neither parent was active at all and only attended church now and then, the percentage dropped to a mere 6 percent.
#2 In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus said, “Some seed fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture.” Luke 8:6
Jesus explained it like this,
“Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.” Luke 8:13 (emphasis mine)
The problem: no roots! So how do we ensure that our children are rooted in God’s Word? We must instill in them the importance of God’s Word. We do this most effectively by our example. Once they leave home, they WILL be tested. Will they be prepared?
“Blessed is the one …
whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.” Psalm 1:1-3
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8 NIV
#3 “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Deuteronomy 6:6-7
I found nothing in God’s Word that commands us to entertain them and make church fun. And even though church attendance is important, it is not the youth leader’s responsibility to prepare your child to go out into the world. It is yours.
#4 Pray for your children.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 NIV
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6
RealChristianWomen.blog
“Many plans are in a man’s mind,
But it is the Lord’s purpose for him that will stand (be carried out).” Proverbs 19:21 AMP
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Pray for Israel
RealChristianWomen.blog
“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’ Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Matthew 7:22-24 (NASB)
“The works that God recognizes are those that flow from a heart of obedience and love, not merely external actions done for show or self-justification.” Bruce Cooper
Read more in the article Circumventing God’s Will.
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Pray for Israel
RealChristianWomen.blog
Girding ourselves firmly with God’s truth is essential, for it determines whether you and I will stand or fall.”
Pastor Jack Hibbs, Living in the Days of Deception
“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist…” Ephesians 6:13
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Pray for Israel
RealChristianWomen.blog
“Now the serpent was more cunning than any animal of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God really said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” Genesis 3:1 NASB (emphasis mine) Read full chapter
Comment: Satan is crafty. He will try to make us doubt God’s Word. He is tricky, manipulative, deceitful, deceptive, shrewd, and clever. Don’t fall for his schemes!
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Pray for Israel
RealChristianWomen.blog
“For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13 (NASB)
“This verse affirms that God Himself works within us to fulfill His purposes. Our ability to perform works that please God is not a matter of our own strength or wisdom; it is God who enables and directs our efforts in accordance with His will.” Bruce Cooper
Read more in the article Circumventing God’s Will.
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Pray for Israel
RealChristianWomen.blog
Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27 NIV
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Pray for Israel
The occult has become part of American culture. Every Christian should know that divination is an abomination to God. But do they?
1 Chronicles 10 is the story of King Saul’s last day on Earth. He is wounded by the enemy and then kills himself to keep from being captured. The next day, the Philistines stripped him and cut off his head. Verses 13 and 14 (NIV) say,
“Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord; he did not keep the word of the Lord and even consulted a medium for guidance, and did not inquire of the Lord. So the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.” (emphasis mine)
Many Scriptures make it clear that all types of divination are a sin and an abomination to God. Here are a few.
“When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.” Deuteronomy 18:9-11 NIV (emphasis mine)
“I will set my face against anyone who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute themselves by following them, and I will cut them off from their people.” Leviticus 20:6 NIV
“Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.” Leviticus 19:31 NIV
God calls these things detestable. Yet many people think the occult is just innocent fun. Nothing could be farther from the truth! The devil will entice God’s people to sin in any way he can. One of his favorite ways is to make the sin seem innocent. (It’s just for fun!) But it’s not innocent fun, and sin has consequences. Remember Eve and the crafty serpent?
“Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” Genesis 3:1 NIV (emphasis mine)
The serpent deceived her into thinking it wasn’t really a sin.
Christians should look to God for guidance, not demons. In this passage, the Apostle Paul commands an evil spirit (demon) to come out of the girl who was a fortune teller.
“Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.
Acts 16:16-18 NIV
Some methods of divination include psychics, tarot cards, ouija boards, reading tea leaves, astrology, horoscopes, zodiac signs, fortune tellers, witchcraft, drug use, the Enneagram, and all occult activities.
We open a door to evil spirits by participating in these things. Remember, sorcery of any kind is not innocent fun. The power of the occult is demonic. God’s Word is our only guide.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” James 1:5-6 NIV
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
“Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path.” Psalm 119:105 NIV
Necromancy is the supposed practice of communicating with the dead. In reality, it involves demons and opens the one who practices it to demonic influence. Satan and his demons seek to destroy us, not to impart truth or wisdom.
MY EXPERIENCE
When I was a teenager, I participated in a seance with friends. They said there would be someone there who really knew how to do it. That night, I was overcome by intense fear I had never experienced before or since. I knew I was doing something I shouldn’t be doing.
I repented of this sin and would never, never do it again. I learned my lesson well.
If you know someone who is troubled by unusual fear, make sure they are not opening the door to demons in some way. If they are involved in the occult, they need to study the Scripture, pray, and repent.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 NIV
Please read the comments below!
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Remember to Pray for Israel!
RealChristianWomen.blog
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2 NIV (emphasis mine)
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Pray for Israel
RealChristianWomen.blog
Real Christian Women 