2024-05-16
Job 31:1 NIV
There are certain doors in life that once opened are hard to close – pornography is one of them. And like any addict, once you’re hooked, you need increasing doses to satisfy yourself until finally you end up shocked and shamed by the depths to which you have sunk. And statistically speaking, the problem is exactly the same in the church as it is in society. Jesus taught us to pray, “Deliver us from evil,” and some of that evil is now brought into our homes through television and the internet. Parents, protect your children from things that can cloud their minds and hurt their chances of building healthy relationships.
And if you’re addicted to pornography, pray this prayer: “Lord, ‘cleanse me from my sin’ (Psalm 51:2 KJV). Help me to stop setting myself up for shame and failure by the things I open myself up to (See Romans 13:14). I repent and ask for your deliverance now. Reveal to me the emotional needs I’m attempting to fulfill, and give me the courage, strength, and wisdom to deal with them in a manner that honors you. I want to follow Job’s example, because he made a covenant with his eyes not to look upon, wish for, or lust after sinful things. I can’t do it in my own strength. Fill me with your Spirit. Give me someone I can trust to be honest with me – someone who will share this burden with me in prayer and believe for my deliverance. Give me a longing for you that will surpass and destroy all lustful thoughts. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.”
Soul food: Deut 32:29-34:12; Mark 9:1-13; Ps 62; Prov 12:18-19
Job 31:1 NLV
Daar is sekere deure in die lewe wat moeilik is om te sluit nadat dit eers oopgemaak is – pornografie is een van hulle. Soos enige verslaafde het jy toenemende dosisse nodig om jouself tevrede te stel, totdat jy uiteindelik geskok en beskaamd oor die dieptes waartoe jy gesink het, is. Statisties gesproke is die probleem presies dieselfde in die kerk as in die samelewing. Jesus het ons geleer om te bid dat ons van die bose verlos sal word. Hierdie bose is egter nou deur die televisie en die internet in ons huise ingebring. Ouers, beskerm jou kinders van dinge wat hulle gedagtes kan besmet en hulle kanse om gesonde verhoudings te bou, kan seermaak.
As jy aan pornografie verslaaf is, bid die volgende: ‘Here, wis tog my sonde uit (sien Psalm 51:3). Help my om op te hou om myself vir skaamte en mislukking deur die dinge waarvoor ek myself beskikbaar stel, oop te stel (sien Romeine 13:14). Ek bely my sonde en vra vir u verlossing. Onthul die emosionele behoeftes wat ek probeer vervul aan my en gee my die moed, krag en wysheid om dit op ‘n manier wat U eer, te hanteer. Ek wil Job se voorbeeld volg, want hy het ‘n verbond met sy oë gesluit om nie na sondige dinge te kyk, daarvoor te wens of dit te begeer nie. Ek kan dit nie in my eie krag doen nie. Vul my met u Gees. Gee vir my iemand wat ek kan vertrou om eerlik met my te wees – iemand wat hierdie las in gebed met my sal deel en vir my verlossing sal glo. Gee my ‘n verlange na U wat alle wellustige gedagtes sal oortref en vernietig. In Jesus se naam bid ek dit. Amen.’
Sielskos: Deut 32:29-34:12; Mark 9:1-13; Ps 62; Spr 12:18-19
2024-05-15
Colossians 3:21 NIV
Embittered children ultimately become discouraged. A discouraged child is less hopeful, less enthusiastic, lacking in determination, and easily led astray. By destroying your child’s hope, you’re undermining their God-given temperament. Children are born with optimism, inspiration, anticipation, and possibilities. Without hope, there is nothing to inspire them. Hopelessness brings depression and darkness of heart and soul.
When you embitter your children, you undermine their hope. When you demoralize them, you destroy their confidence, leaving them afraid, insecure, and unable to face life. Self-confidence is necessary for a healthy self-image, for relating to others, for succeeding in their education and a career. A disheartened kid loses certainty and becomes a broken spirit. The spirit is the center of the being. A broken spirit produces a broken person. “A broken spirit saps a person’s strength” (Proverbs 17:22 NLT), leaving a child with their core disabled.
Our streets are full of broken kids. Broken-spirited kids lack the resolve to achieve in life, to set goals and reach them. “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18 KJV). It’s your vision that gives you the inner strength to see something through to its accomplishment in spite of the obstacles encountered. It takes an intact, resilient child to overcome life’s hurdles.
How can you help them? “Instead [of breaking their spirit], bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4 NIV). You must cherish them, teach them God’s Word even when they seem indifferent, practice what you preach, be consistent with your rules, let them see you reading God’s Word and praying regularly. Always encourage them and never, never give up on them!
Soul food: Deut 30:1-32:28; Mark 8:27-38; Ps 57; Prov 12:15-17
Kolossense 3:21 NLV
Verbitterde kinders raak uiteindelik moedeloos. ‘n Moedelose kind het minder hoop, is minder entoesiasties, het ‘n gebrek aan vasberadenheid en word maklik om die bos gelei. Deur jou kind se hoop te vernietig, ondermyn jy hulle Godgegewe geaardheid. Kinders word met optimisme, inspirasie, afwagting en moontlikhede gebore. Sonder hoop, is daar niks wat hulle inspireer nie. Hopeloosheid bring depressie en donkerte van hart en siel mee.
Wanneer jy jou kinders ontmoedig, vernietig jy hulle selfvertroue en maak hulle onseker en nie in staat om die lewe te trotseer nie. Selfvertroue is noodsaaklik vir ‘n gesonde selfbeeld, om met ander mense om te gaan en sukses in hulle opvoeding en beroep te behaal. ‘n Moedelose kind verloor hulle sekerheid en word ‘n gebroke gees. Die gees is die kern van die wese. ‘n Gebroke gees produseer ‘n gebroke mens. ‘…’n Neerslagtige mens tap jou krag’ (Spreuke 17:22 NLV).
Ons strate is vol gebroke kinders. Hierdie kinders het nie die vasberadenheid om sukses te behaal nie, om doelwitte te stel en dit te bereik nie. ‘Wanneer ‘n volk nie duidelikheid het oor die wil van God nie, word hulle koersloos…’ (Spreuke 29:18 NLV). Dis jou visie wat jou die innerlike krag gee om iets tot die einde, ten spyte van die struikelblokke wat voorkom, deur te sien. Dit verg ‘n heel, veerkragtige kind om die lewe se struikelblokke te oorkom.
Hoe kan jy hulle help? ‘…voed hulle op met dissipline en teregwysing wat die Here se goedkeuring wegdra’ (Efesiërs 6:4 NLV). Jy moet hulle koester, God se Woord vir hulle leer selfs wanneer hulle onverskillig daaroor lyk, doen wat jy sê, konsekwent met jou reëls wees, hulle laat sien hoe jy God se Woord lees en aanhoudend bid. Moedig hulle altyd aan en moet nooit, ooit oor hulle tou opgooi nie!
Sielskos: Deut 30:1-32:28; Mark 8:27-38; Ps 57; Spr 12:15-17
2024-05-14
Colossians 3:21 NIV
Another point of parental confusion is this: (4) Bitter versus better. What is bitterness? It is strong resentment or cynicism. How do parents create bitterness in their children? Consider the following triggers:
(a) Inconsistency. This happens when you are autocratic and authoritarian one day and permissive the next. What brought a strong rebuke today brings a smile of leniency tomorrow. So, your child never knows what to expect.
(b) Moodiness. Today you’re fun and enjoyable to be with; tomorrow you’re irritable and distant.
(c) Unreasonableness. There is no room for discussion, no opportunity for children to explore their feelings. “Just do as I say because I say it!” So, the kid is never given the chance to think through the reasoning process.
(d) Abusive behavior. It might be physical or emotional (withholding your love, the silent treatment, rejection). Or it might be verbal (yelling and using words that wound).
(e) Failing to walk your talk – saying one thing but doing another! You profess certain beliefs but don’t practice them. You expect your kids to be respectful while you display disrespect to others. You expect honesty from your children, but they see you cheat and lie your way through life. Children are keen observers – they may not say anything, but not much that you do escapes their attention. They see your inconsistencies – when what you say doesn’t line up with what you do.
All of these behaviors can make them resentful. “Do not embitter your children.” Don’t set them up to become discouraged.
Soul food: Deut 28-29; Mark 8:14-26; Ps 44:17-26; Prov 12:12-14
