Daily Devotional

INFLUENCING YOUR CHILD'S LIFE

Discipline your son while there is hope (Proverbs 19:18).

An average child begins to struggle with their identity and seek their independence as they approache the age of 12. The permissive parent starts to panic when the child assumes their own identity and starts pulling away. Fearing the worst, the parent becomes authoritarian by tightening the screws of discipline and restricting the child's activities. A power struggle ensues with predictable results. The child bolts and the parent calls for advice.

FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION

I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me (Exodus 20:5).

The fact that demonic strongholds can be passed on from one generation to the next is well attested by those who counsel the afflicted. This is not to deny that many problems are transmitted genetically or acquired from an immoral atmosphere. All three conditions can predispose an individual to a particular sin.

COMPLETE IN CHRIST

In Him you have been made complete (Colossians 2:10).

Colossians 2:6-10 reveals three levels in our relationship with Christ. If we are going to present every believer complete in Christ (Colossians 1:28), our discipleship must acknowledge the following order.

GODLY GOALS AND DESIRES

Has He [God] said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? (Numbers 23:19).

One key to successful living is learning to distinguish a godly goal from a godly desire. A godly goal is any specific orientation reflecting God's purpose for your life that does not depend on people or circumstances beyond your ability or right to control. Who do you have the ability and right to control? Virtually no one but yourself. The only person who can block a godly goal or render it uncertain or impossible is you.

LIVE RESPONSIBLY TODAY

Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself (Matthew 6:34).

APART FROM CHRIST I CAN DO NOTHING

I am the vine, you are the branches apart form Me you can do nothing (John 15:5)

Add the following statements of doctrinal affirmation to those you began reading yesterday. Allow the truth of God's Word to saturate your heart and guide your steps in the coming year.

I believe that Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18), and that He is the head over all rule and authority (Colossians 2:10).

ONE TRUE AND LIVING GOD

I am the LORD your God. You shall have no other gods before Me (Exodus 20:2,3)

The doctrinal affirmations today and tomorrow will help you renew your mind and take your stand on the truth. I recommend that you read these Scriptural affirmations aloud at least once a week in the coming year.

PERSONALLY RESISTING SATAN

Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts (Romans 13:14)

OUR RESPONSIBILITIES

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself (Philippians 2:3)

Once when I was pastoring I got a distress call: "Pastor, you better get over here or we're liable to kill each other." When I arrived at the house I persuaded them to sit down across the table from each other to talk through their problem. They whaled away at each other for several minutes, slamming each other with accusations and insults.

THE GREAT ETERNAL CONSTANT

See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God (1 John 3:1).

Have you ever felt that God is ready to give up on you because, instead of walking confidently in faith, you sometimes stumble and fall?

Do you ever fear that there is a limit to God's tolerance of your failure and that you are walking dangerously near that outer barrier or have already crossed it?