Learning the principle of giving. Examine this: Sade tossed the bag of chips to Titi. The bag hit the sharp edge of the table and its contents spilled over the dirty floor. The whole class burst into laughter at this and Titi ran out of the class with tears streaming down her face.
‘I wanted to give her the chips since she asked for it.’ Sade said, laughing with the others. ‘Now she made me waste my chips.’
‘Then why did you throw it? You could have just given it to her.’ Anne scolded Sade.
‘She should have caught it. it’s just a bag of chips.’ Said Sade.
‘How would you feel if someone did the same to you?’ Asked Anne.
Yes, how would you feel if someone wanted to give you something and did so in the wrong way? Like Sade did to Titi.
When you want to give someone something or do them a favour, do so the way you would want to be done for or to you.
The bible tells us that how we give is how we will receive; “Good measure pressed down and running over”
Remember, God gave us life and He never treats us bad just because He is our Maker. He expects us to give in a way that will please Him. A way that we will expect to be given too.
So, remember to give the way you would want to be given. I trust that you have learntLearning the principle of giving
Prayer: Dear Father, forgive me for the times I have given the wrong way. Help me to remember to always give the way I would want to be given too, in Jesus name. Amen.
Action point: Give just the way you would want to be given.
Declaration: I am not selfish. I give the way I would love to receive.
Who is your friend? That’s a question you must always ask and answer genuinely from time to time. The truth is that your friends can make or mar you.
Now, as a born-again Christian, there are things you shouldn’t attempt to do or that shouldn’t cross your mind.
When you suddenly find that those things are constantly popping up in your mind, you’re getting attracted to them and can’t seem to know why check yourself.
One way to constantly put yourself in check is by asking questions.
Ask about the type of music your so-called friend listens to. Ask about their view on dressing. What kind of movies do they see? What about their parents? Are they involved in their life?
Most times, when you change your friends, a change occurs in your words, thoughts, and actions. This is because you are exposed to new stimuli and have to adjust to accommodate them.
Asking such questions helps you to understand why you are attracted or feeling what you’re feeling.
You can also speak to your parents or pastor about it.
A quick solution is to immediately leave those friendships that make sinful acts attractive to you.
Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
Prayer: Lord, help me not to be attracted to sinful deeds, words, and thoughts. I put my mind under your care, purify my words, thoughts, and actions daily. Help me steer clear of people who will corrupt me in any way.
Action plan: Again, assess your friendships. Which new friendship has got you acting differently from how you were before? What negative things have you started thinking of or doing? What or who caused it? Talk to your parents about it and end that friendship.
Declaration (children): I will not team up with bad friends. I will not bring sorrow to my parents. I receive grace to break all wrong associations.
Are you wondering how to show love to your parents? Does home feels like wildfire is ravaging through it? You are always at loggerheads with your parents and the house can’t seem to contain all of you.
Quick questions for you;
1. How many of these bushfires are you causing?
2. How many rules did you break?
3. What could be happening now if you had just listened and obeyed their instructions?
It takes two to tango and a coin definitely has two sides. Don’t totally blame them for the heat in the house. You should work at learning how to show love to your parents.
Now, your parents couldn’t have decided to make the house uncomfortable for you. You think they are, because you are not having your way, you want them to be fine with your behavior and just keep quiet.
Check yourself very well and see where you did wrong. Find your faults, make amends, and see if the temperature won’t go down at home.
See if the house won’t be large enough for everyone, Including you.
“my child, you must follow and treasure my teachings and instructions.”
Prov. 2:1
Be the peace you want to see at home. Yes, be at peace; learn how to show love to your parents.
Finally, remember God’s command about obeying your parents and the benefits of doing so. Take it to heart and practice it.
“Do not deceive yourselves by just listening to his word; instead, put it into practice.”
James 1:22 GNT
God bless you richly as you honor your parents. Amen.
Prayer: Father, help me to scrutinize my ways and make changes in all the areas I need to.
Action point: Scrutinize your words, actions, thoughts today, and see where your faults lie. When you find them, speak about them to your parents and ask for their help.
Declaration: My children are well behaved. They do not make the home uncomfortable for anyone. They do not set the home on fire by their actions and inactions.
The power of your words cannot be overemphasized. The destiny of any child can be shaped by the parents, long before the child is born.
Words declared over the baby go a long way to determine how the baby will turn out to be. That is why fathers are called upon to declare blessings over the child at the point of naming.
We see an example in the bible.
Luke 1:76 [KJV]And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
This was Zechariah praying for his child. He prophesied over his child. He spoke into the future of his child. He declared positive words into the life of his son. He declared God’s word over the baby. The power of your words over your children is great.
This that Zechariah did is what parents ought to do from time to time. From a tender age, learn to declare faith-filled words into the lives of your children.
It is not too late to start. Regardless of how old your children are, you can still speak into their future. Yes, speak! The power of your words over your kids is great.
You can decide how their tomorrow will eventually turn out with the words of your mouth.
Prayer: My children will make an impact in life, in Jesus name. Amen
Action point: Start declaring positive words over your children.
Declaration: My children will inherit the earth. They will rise higher and higher. They are not limited by anything. They are God lovers.
You should learn how to watch your thoughts. Everyone has a responsibility. And as we grow older and scale different milestones, our responsibilities increase.
There are consequences for when we carry out or do not carry out our responsibilities.
As a child, you might ask, “What is my responsibility? I am just a child, why should I be responsible?”
Know this, you are responsible for three things – your WORDS, THOUGHTS, and ACTIONS.
These three things are important.
Your thoughts come from within you. They can be positive or negative, that is good or bad.
Bad thoughts tend to come from having issues with others and if not quickly checked, can damage your spirit, mind, and body. You should learn how to watch your thoughts.
Have you ever seen a mango with a black spot on it? If the rot stays on longer, it enters deep into the fruit till the whole fruit becomes rotten.
You have to throw that fruit away. I don’t think anyone would want to eat it.
For instance, someone steps on your toes in class. What hurts more was that the person didn’t even say sorry. You begin to harbour ill thoughts towards the person and think of ways to pay them back.
It can get to the stage that when you see them or someone mentions their name, you frown your face. This shows unforgiveness.
It’s unhealthy for your spirit, mind, and body. Sometimes, some health issues are a result of unforgiveness.
Yes, the person stepped on you but you have a responsibility to not allow the person’s action to affect you that much.
Look at these verses:
The Lord hates evil thoughts. But he is pleased with kind words. Prov. 15: 26 ICB.
Look at another
The Lord looks into a person’s feelings. He searches through a person’s thoughts. Prov. 20:17 ICB
Here is yet another
Be careful about what you think. Your thoughts run your life. Prov. 4:23 ICB
Are they saying something to you? One good way to control your thoughts is through prayer. Pray and ask God for help to forgive so you can be forgiven too. So learn how to watch your thoughts by praying.
Look at another powerful, inspiring, and breathtaking verse in Psalm 139, which talks about you being wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:14 – “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”
What is this verse telling you? How do you feel when you read this?
You should feel important and unique that your Yahweh says you are as wonderful as all His works.
Let’s break down this verse
“I praise you, for I am fearfully
This means that you are meant to instill fear in the enemy’s heart because you are made of God.
“…and wonderfully made”
Never has the world seen a unique and one-in-a-lifetime person like you. The world has never experienced you before. out of all the billions of people on the earth, none is like you.
“Wonderful are your works:”
Everything God made is wonderful, exquisite, and a blessing to all mankind. This same God made you.
“my soul knows it very well.”
The psalmist acknowledges that even his soul knows how great a creation he is. He knows that God didn’t make him ordinary. God made him be a special type of creation, different from all the other creations of God.
Write this verse down and memorize it. When people try to put you down and say you are nothing, tell them how the mighty God made you the most special of all His creations.
May the reality of how God made you always stick with you. Amen.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for how special You made me. I am special. I am special.
Action point: Reflect more on this verse and write down the wonderful things you know about yourself. You can also ask people around you too.
I believe we remember the story of blind Bartemeus in the Bible. His story illustrates how to get answers to your prayers.
What if the blind man had not asked what the surrounding ruckus was about?
What if he had just continued begging and minded his business?
Something in him must have stirred him up to ask what was happening. He probably had been nursing a desire to have his sight, and when he heard that Jesus was around, it aroused his expectation. Pay attention to this story so you can learn how to get answers to your prayers.
Quickly, he opened his mouth and screamed the most he had ever done in his life. He knew it was now or never.
He had to have heard of the acts of Jesus to have done what he did. Even when they tried to shut him up, he screamed the more. This was the day he had been waiting for, and nothing or no one would stop him from getting what he wanted.
This was the same Jesus that had been healing people, and someone wanted him to shut up. He gave it his all and never regretted doing so. That is how to get answers to your prayers.
Are you expecting to have what you are praying for? Are you listening to the voices telling you your prayers won’t be answered? Allowing people or circumstances to shut you up?
Be like that man and scream the more. Jesus is ready to command you to be brought before him. And when you get in front of Jesus, know what you want.
You will never regret calling on Jesus.
Prayer: Lord, give me an expectant heart. Teach me to expect answers to my prayers. Amen.
Action point: Visualize your prayers as answered. See yourself in the light of prayers answered.
Declaration: I am expectant. My miracle will not pass me by.
There is what is known as godly compassion. We all are familiar with the story of Moses. When Moses was born, he escaped being killed.
The daughter of Pharaoh had compassion on him and took him to the palace. Instead of being killed, Moses ended up becoming a Prince all because someone had compassion on him.
Exodus 2:6 (KJV) And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews’ children.
There is what is known as godly compassion.
You should lay hands on your children and decree favour upon them. Pray compassion into their lives, that people will have compassion on them.
Let them understand there is something called compassion.
Prayer: Lord, have compassion on my children. Amen
Action point: Study and learn more about what godly compassion means.
Declaration: My children bring me favour. They enjoy compassion from all and sundry.
One attribute we should pray for as children is the spirit of meekness. There is how to exhibit meekness as children created by God.
Meekness is strength under control. Meekness is an attribute of human nature and behavior.
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Ephesians 4:2 (KJV)
It has been defined several ways: righteous, humble, teachable, and patient under suffering, long suffering willing to follow gospel teachings; an attribute of a true disciple. There is how to exhibit meekness as children created by God.
with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
Ephesians 4:2 (ESV)
Our children should learn to be meek in their attitude towards people, also in their conduct.
The spirit of meekness can only be achieved through the help of the Holy Spirit.
It is the spirit of God that dwells in our children that help them to be teachable, and to also become true followers of Christ.
Children are taught, and therefore they can be taught God’s Law. God is interested in the way we handle and train our children.
He gave laws to the people of Israel and commandments to the descendants of Jacob. He instructed our ancestors to teach his laws to their children.
Psa 78:5 (GNB)
God is a God of continuity. He perpetuates His covenant and extends it to our children.
He expect us as parents to teach our children and show them Gods ways.
In fact, he commands us to do so. It is a responsibility and a God given assignment we must not fail to do.
We keep teaching our children God’s word as a matter of priority. What we teach them is what they become. They give us peace when they are taught God’s ways. Children are taught, and therefore they can be taught God’s Law.
Prayer: Lord, help me to teach my children your law.
Action point (parents): Be intentional about teaching God’s word to your children.
Declaration: I teach my children God’s way. They do not depart from these teachings. They are rooted and grounded in the Lord. My children are godly. They are used of the Lord. They dream, see visions of the Lord and prophesy.
Children obey God’s rules! Rules can be defined as a set of explicit or understood regulations or principles governing conduct or procedure within a particular area of activity.
Simply put, rules are written principles, guidelines and instructions for doing something right. It is created to manage behavior in an organization or country.
On the other hand, regulations are directives made in addition to the laws in a particular country or can be defined as rules accepted legally by the administration.
The scripture says
You and your children must obey these rules forever.
Exo 12:24 (GNB)
It is amazing how much God is concerned about our children and how He mandate it for us to obey Him.
God is not going to accept any of our excuses for not training our children.
Our busy schedules, no matter how we justify it counts before God.
When we are willing and ready to obey God, then He helps us and comes to our rescue.
Prayer: My children will obey God’s laid down rules in Jesus name. Amen.
Action point: Have you been disobedient in time past? It’s time to turn a new leaf.
Declaration: My children obey God’s rules. They are taught in the ways of the Lord. They grow in the admonition of the Lord. They are fat and flourishing in the court of the Lord.
My children are responsible is our focus today. I remember when I was little and my mother gave me some money to buy fish from the market. When I got to the woman selling the fish, I couldn’t find the money I was given.
Guess what happened when I got home? My mother was angry and scolded me for losing the money.
Why do you think my mother was angry? Was she right to be angry? The answer is “yes”.
It was my responsibility to keep the money well. It was in my possession and I should have kept it well. I was trusted to keep it safe and get what I was sent.
Responsibility means doing what is expected of you and accepting the consequences for either doing or not doing these things.
This means that as a child, there are things you are meant to do, say or keep. Things you will be responsible for. And as you grow older these things increase in size and time.
“…Each person should judge his own actions. Then he can be proud for what he himself has done. Each person must be responsible for himself.”
Gal. 6:5 ICB
The bible verse above says that you are to judge your own actions, check if you are proud of what you do and that you should be responsible for yourself.
In other words, are you proud that you are responsible or not? Judge yourself.
May the Lord give you enlightenment about being responsible. Amen.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I open my heart as I learn about responsibility. Help me to keep my heart open. Amen.
Action point: Ask your parents what your responsibilities are if you don’t know them. If you do, as the bible verse said, are you proud of your actions?
Beyond learning at school, you get to relate with other individuals. You must learn how to be responsible as you relate with people. There are teachers, non-teaching staff, and your fellow students to relate with at school.
Every school has rules and regulations guiding its operations and existence.
Students are meant to obey these rules and regulations at all times.
As a student, the first way to show responsibility is by obeying the rules and regulations of your school.
You should also ensure that you help other students to obey the laws of the school.
When a fellow student is doing something contrary to school rules, you should tell him it’s against the rules. That way you have done your part.
Do not also follow other students to break the rules. Rather than do this, report to the teachers.
In class, ensure you are not causing distractions or joining others to do so. Your class is part of the school and whatever rules the class teacher lays down should be obeyed.
These are just some ways you can show responsibility at school.
May God guide your hearts towards obeying rules and regulations at school. Amen.
Prayer: Lord, give me the grace to be a responsible student at school. Amen.
Action point: Do you know your school rules and regulations? If yes, are you obeying them? If no, get them and read so you can start obeying them.
Declaration: I am an obedient child. I obey laid down rules and regulations.
What is the power of forgiveness? Is forgiveness not for the faint-hearted? Is there really a power in forgiveness? Today we would be answer these questions.
One thing about forgiveness is that your failure to forgive has made you unholy before God, which won’t make Him listen to or even answer your prayers.
That’s because when God looks at you, He sees the mark of sin on you – resentment, unforgiveness, hatred, and He can’t look at you like that.
However, when you ask for forgiveness before you pray, it takes the mark of sin away from you. Or even while praying and the Holy Spirit convicts your heart of unforgiveness, quickly forgive whoever you need to forgive so that your prayers might be answered.
When God sees your entire heart as unholy, He also sees your body as unholy too.
By allowing unforgiveness to stay in your heart, you are causing yourself more harm than good.
An unforgiving heart affects your entire body. It can cause you to have medical conditions. The power of forgiveness cannot therefore be overemphasized.
Be holy today and forgive who you need to forgive. God bless and provide for you as you do so. Amen.
Prayer: My Father in heaven, forgive me my trespasses and help me to forgive everyone I need to forgive, Amen.
Action point: Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to show you who you need to forgive and do so fast
Declaration: I choose to forgive all who have hurt me.
There are benefits of forgiveness. Forgiveness is important in serving God. A key instrument in entering and staying in God’s presence is by letting go of offences.
No wonder Jesus mentioned in the Lord’s prayer that “…forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
We can’t come before God with any sin in our lives. The lack of forgiving others when they hurt us is a sin.
You might wonder how does this keep my body holy before God? The bible says that the heart of man is full of wickedness.
When you harbor resentment towards another person and refuse to forgive them, you can’t come before God.
Jesus said to ask for forgiveness not because of the other person, but so that God can answer your prayers. In other words, it’s about you, not the other person.
“But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins too.
Mark 11:25 NLT
It was also emphasized here:
“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Matt. 6:14-15 NLT.
When you fail to forgive, you hurt yourself and cut short God’s blessing upon your life.
These are some of the benefits of forgiveness. May God help is all to to forgive all who have hurt us in time past. Amen.
Prayer: My Father in heaven, forgive me my trespasses and help me to forgive everyone I need to forgive. I want to be holy to you. Amen.
Action point: Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to show you who you need to forgive and do so fast
Enforcing your healing. Have you ever come across these words in the bible? Or heard someone say them? What comes to your mind when you hear them say it?
The prophet Isaiah was speaking about the coming of a Messiah who would come to save the whole world from the consequences of sin and lead everyone to heaven. He said the things that would happen to this messiah. Read below.
But he was wounded for the wrong things we did. He was crushed for the evil things we did. The punishment, which made us well, was given to him. And we are healed because of his wounds.
Isaiah 53:5 ICB.
He was talking about Jesus Christ and what would happen to him. Imagine that. Even before he was born, what his death would do for you was prophesied long ago.
Look at the last sentence in the verse, “…And we are healed by his wounds.” This means that for every wound Jesus received, He did so on your behalf. Instead of having you receive the consequences of your sins, Jesus took them upon His back.
He also made sure that you get healed from physical health challenges through His wounds. He already took them all on Him. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take your drugs or follow any doctors’ orders. It means that you should believe that Jesus has already bought your healing for you centuries before you were born. So enforcing your healing in Christ is your right.
When next you have a health challenge, say “by His wounds I am healed” because that’s true. And feel the healing power of Christ come upon you as you use your drugs too.
God bless you. By the wounds of Christ, you are healed of all health challenges you may be facing. Amen.
Prayer: Jesus. Thank you for receiving my punishment on your back. Thank you. I receive the healing power you bought for me on the cross.
Action: Do not forget to say by his wounds I am healed.
My children are not afraid; that should be your declaration. Fear is bad. Fear is evil. Fear is from the devil. Fear has torment. Fear means False Evidence Appearing Real.
2 Tim 1:7 (NKJV)For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
The good news is that God has not given us the spirit of fear. In God, we have something more than fear.
Rather than fear, God has given us the spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. Declare that my children are not afraid.
When you are scared, what do you do?
Pray!
Praying helps you to get an understanding of what to do or not to do. Prayer is a tool to help you understand what is happening and how to deal with it.
Never allow fear into your life.
Also, talk to your parents about your fear. Don’t internalize. Talk to your teachers as well. Always learn to open up.
The major thing is that you shouldn’t allow fear – any of your false expectations appearing real, to stop you from doing what you’re supposed to do.
Don’t allow fear stop you from achieving your dreams. Declare again: My children are not afraid.
God doesn’t want you to have any form of fear and even if you do, He asks you to release them all to Him. He can carry them all and has the solution to solving them.
There’s how to give hope to others using words. Words are strong tools that have an enormous strength to give hope to others. They can uplift somebody out of a bad situation.
Words are powerful. When a baby grows to a certain age, he/she is expected to start saying words, no matter how incoherent.
A classmate could be going through hard times at home and your words can give him hope. All the person might need could just be a “Your handwriting is cool”, “I like your shoes”, or “You are pretty”.
Prov 13:12 (NLT) Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.
You don’t know how far your words can go in giving hope to someone who feels like nobody cares or sees him.
Another thing you need to know about words is that words are spirits. Since we know spirits don’t die, then words don’t die as well.
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
John 6:63 (KJV)
So the words you say today will go a long way to determine how your tomorrow will turn out to be.
Be a beacon of hope today. Use your words to raise up someone’s spirit. Give them hope that God loves them no matter what. Make your words count.
Your eyes are a gift from God to behold this beautiful and wonderful world – the earth, He created. But the enemy has somehow found a way of introducing sin and evil into the world. Through people on earth, many unholy things have almost become a norm in the world today. Though your eyes are to see but not everything you see is good for your eyes. The bible tells us that
“Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light.
Matt. 6:22 NLT.
What you see affects your body. Witnessing a traumatic event affects your mind and body. Also when you watch morally unfit videos it affects your body.
Watch out for videos or movies that show sexual content even if they have PG16 labels on them. Remember God is Holy and watching such videos or films is an unholy act.
Don’t be fooled by the words of your friends or people that watching it won’t affect you. It will. The only safe way out of it is not to watch it and run away from friends, people, or situations that will want to make you do so.
It is better to obey God than to have the coolest friendships that will lead you to a lifetime of sexual depravity. One way to know if what you are watching is bad is when you have to hide from others before you watch. That means you are not meant to watch it.
Remember, your eyes are a lamp for your body. They help to keep you from stumbling. Use them well just like you would use a lamp to see in the dark.
God bless and keep you safe in this dark world. Amen.
Prayer point: Lord, help me to keep my eyes safe from looking at things that I shouldn’t be looking at.
Action point: What have you been watching lately? If they are not in line with God’s, pray and ask God to help you overcome them. And tell your parents about it too.
Declaration: My eyes will not behold iniquity. I watch what I see.
Losing a friend can be so painful. But there is the need to be comforted, for us to make progress in our lives. Dear child, overcome the loss of a dear friend.
Jesus told the disciples that in His father’s house there are many mansions there. He also mentioned to them that He was going to prepare a place for them.
In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
John 14:2 (KJV)
Jesus left the earth so that He could make heaven ready for us. As Christians, who truly love and obey Jesus’ instructions heaven has been made ready for us and our loved ones.
Understand that you would meet them again. In heaven, you all would be together again. The bible tells us that in heaven there won’t be anything like disease or death.
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There won’t be death anymore. There won’t be any grief, crying, or pain, because the first things have disappeared.”
Rev 21:4 (ISV)
Thank God for this fact and let it be your comfort. Though the pain of the loss is still there, rest in the assurance that you will see them again.
