It's more subtle...extremely devious and artful. It appears in your children and begins to rears its ugly head in yourself.
Discontentment. Disrespect. An argumentative spirit.
It's like the boiling frog who has no idea he is headed for his grave. It's so slow. It's scary slow. Out-of-your-control slow.
But that's the way he works. Sly. Deceitful. Clandestine.
Satan is good at what he does. He's been doing it a long, long time. We need to see the alarming warning signs. We need a Neighborhood Watch Program over our family and our personal soul.
2010 has been the most challenging year we have ever experienced. EVER.
Health issues, family matters, questioning weather we are still supposed to home school, managing two hormonal teenagers, constantly shelling out money for broken down items or things that were stolen in the middle of the night. Water leaks in two different parts of the house causing mold. Friends that have pulled away for various reasons. The weight of knowing you are the only child your parents have left...
The result? Feeling lost, lonely, uncertain and bewildered. None of these exemplify traits from the Holy Spirit.
Then comes the discontentment and confusion. First in you then in your children. It's like a butterfly dropping the pollen of disrespect to each person it touches. Unknowingly, you are affected and infected. Children who usually don't argue are forming a new art with it. Your teenagers seems to ignore all values taught to them their entire life and you disagree about everything. I mean everything.
What happened? I haven't a clue but I know that Satan was having a hay-day. He's after my children and my household. I even bought into the lie that maybe we weren't called to home school.
I have never felt the way I have these last twelve months. Completely at the end of myself...which is where God wanted me. Empty of myself and full of Him. My husband and I began passionately pursuing God. Separately and together, we anointed each bedroom and prayed fervently over our children. In our angered determination, we rebuked Satan and the horrid character traits that were transforming our home. We called on some special friends to join us in dedicating 2011 to the Lord and HIS calling. They came and prayed over each child and every room in the house. An hour an a half of incredibly peaceful anointings took place that day. They gave us a scripture verse that the Lord laid on their hearts for our family. Proverbs 14:26: Those who fear the Lord are secure; He will be a place of refuge for their children." WOW!
They spoke powerful words over each room as they prayed...unity, peace, the gift of discernment, valor of courage, focus, creativity, dreams, words of knowledge, clarity of mind, tranquility. We heard from the Lord that day as He poured out His peace and comfort to our hurting and exhausted souls.If you are experiencing any of these same delimas in your home, I encourage you to fervently seek after God and find a strong prayer partner that you and your husband can fully trust. Stand on God's word and His calling for your life. Do NOT buy into the lies of Lucifer. He wants your children so you must fight for them. With God on your side, the victory will be yours!
We are still home schooling and although the varied emotions of five different people living in the same household are still there, we handle them differently now. As I was typing this blog, two of my children were beginning to argue. I started to intercede and resolve the issue when my youngest said, "Mom, wait a minute. Let us try to work this out." And they did. No arguing. No hurtful words. It was peacefully over in less than a minute. Although it's not always like this, it is happening more and more. That disrespectful butterfly was crushed and instead of immediate condemnation and correction, we sit on the couch and talk about what just happened and how we can change for the better. My household is already different in just one month...oh, to be emptied of myself more often.
The signs are more obvious to me now and I pray they never again gain a foothold as they once did. He is a gracious, forgiving AND powerful God.
What always amazes me is that He loves my children even more than I do! Thank you, God, for doing what we could not.
Excellent blog post. I needed this. So much. Thank you so much! One can relate to this whether they home school or not -- for all different families and seasons of life (teen, young adult, young children) all can relate to this. Thank you so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful writing honey. Believe me, I know, those are very hard lessons to learn. I knew something was going on, you were so different. I'm so thankful that God works on all of us, everyday, if we let Him to make us better people.
ReplyDeleteI love you,
Mom
An excellent blog post, Rhonda. Thank you for sharing it ♥
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