Sunday, 24^th July, 2022

Bible Reading: Psalm 144: 11-15

Memory Verse: Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV)

Once upon a time, there were two neighbours living next to each other. One of them was a retired teacher and another was an insurance agent who had a lot of interest in technology. Both of them had planted different plants in their garden. The retired teacher was giving a small amount of water to his plants and didn’t always give a full attention to them, while the other neighbour interested in technology gave a lot of water to his plants and looked after them. The retired teacher’s plants were simple but looked good. The insurance agent’s plants were much fuller and greener. One night, there was a heavy rain and a wind due to a minor storm.

Next morning, both neighbours came out to inspect the damage to their garden. The neighbor who was an insurance agent saw that his plants came off from the roots and were totally destroyed. But, the retired teacher’s plants were not damaged at all and were standing firm.

The insurance agent neighbour was surprised to see it, he went to the retired teacher and asked, “We both grew the same plants together, I actually looked after my plants better than you did for yours, and even gave them more water. Still, my plants came off from the roots, while yours didn’t. How is that possible?”

The retired teacher smiled and said, “You gave your plants more attention and water, and because of that they didn’t need to work themselves for it.  You made it easy for them while I gave them just an adequate amount of water and let their roots search for more. And, because of that, their roots went deeper and that made their position stronger.  That is why my plants survived”.

Lesson:  This story is about parenting where children are like the plants.  If everything is given to them, they will not understand the hard work it takes to earn those things.  They will not learn to work themselves and respect it.  Sometimes it’s best to guide them instead of giving them.  Teach them how to walk, but let them discover God’s path for their lives.

Quote:  Children are not things to be molded, but are people to be unfolded – Jess Lair.

Prophetic Decree: The activities of destiny changers shall not prosper over your children, in Jesus name. 

Prayer Focus

1. Thank you Father for the fruit of marriage.

2. Oh Lord, help me to be free and firm as a parent, in Jesus name.

3. I break the hold of Satan over the heart of my children, in Jesus name.

4. O Lord, please disconnect my children from unfriendly friends, in Jesus name.

5. We stand in the gap for all those waiting on the Lord for the fruit of the womb. By this time next year, they shall testify of their own children, in Jesus name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  Isaiah 35-36