Dear Ones,
Hope you had a great weekend!  Exciting to watch the Olympics! We are in for more hot temperatures with predictions to be in the 80’s all week. I plan to do food prep and go to Aldi’s and exercise class this morning.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
I was reading from Hebrews 12 about how we are God’s children, and he trains us, disciplines us, and corrects us because He loves us. We are to also be responsible parents and teach and discipline our children and do what is best for them so they can mature in their relationship with God and live His best for their lives.

Sadly, there are delinquent parents who are shirking their responsibilities and giving their children up to our culture that does not want their best but is boldly leading them astray. Right after reading scripture, I read an article by Alicia Searl on Crosswalk.com who writes about how Satan is after our kids and confusing them about love, sex, their identities etc. and we need to fight back. In our Bible study group, many are grandparents and see the confusion in their grandkids hearts and praying much for them to see the truth. We need to fight back in prayer and use every opportunity to speak into their lives.

Alicia shared areas the enemy uses to bring confusion to the young people. First of all, he tries to confuse them in their identity and uses social medial, books, movies to deceive them. But Psalm 13:13-14 speaks about how wondrously we are made from our mother’s womb and God doesn’t make mistakes. The enemy also attacks our children’s innocence and rather than honoring their bodies, he raises up questions about their gender, sex outside of God’s plan of marriage etc. It seems like much of society pays no attention to God’s rules and children see these examples. Satan also attacks God’s purpose for them, and they become complacent and passive. Their faith is attacked, and their minds and hearts get swayed toward selfish wants instead of going God’s way. Their friends can either lead them away from the Lord or encourage them in the Lord’s ways, so it is important who they have for friends. With one of our kids was a teenager, we had to limit activity with a friend as they came home like a different person, and not in a good way.

Whether we have young children or older grandkids, we need to fight for them by praying daily and diligently for them. They are accosted with so much evil every day that is far from what the Lord wants for them, and they need grace to stand against what the enemy is sending. Let us not be negligent but diligent in prayer.

Challenge for today: Spend some time praying for your children and grandchildren and when led send and text them words of encouragement.
Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy