Believe and Enter Rest

Believe and Enter Rest TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Now we who have believed enter that rest… Hebrews 4:3, NIV. TODAY'S WORD: God desires for you to live in peace and rest no matter what is happening around you. When you believe God, you enter into His perfect rest. But if you are controlled by your circumstances, if you’re up when things are up and down when things don’t go your way, then life is going to be a roller coaster. God’s plan is for you to be stable, consistent, not moved by any of these things. Anytime you face adversity or hit a tough time, one of the best things you can do is simply stay calm and keep your peace. When you’re in peace, that’s a position of power. You’re saying with your actions, “God, I trust You. I know You are still on the throne. This may be difficult, but I know You are fighting my battles.” That’s what faith is—believing that God is who He says He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. When you believe God, you enter into rest and walk in peace and joy no matter what is happening around you. PRAYER FOR TODAY: Father, thank You for peace and rest as I put my trust in You. Today I declare that You are my King. I declare that You are faithful. I declare that my faith and trust is in You, knowing that You have a good plan in store for my future in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Trust Your Kids with Responsibility by Rick Warren "Whoever can be trusted with a little can also be trusted with a lot. If you cannot be trusted with things that belong to someone else, who will give you things of your own?” (Luke 16:10a, 12 NCV) Kids need experiences that stretch them, reveal their talents, and develop their shape for ministry. They need challenges where they develop responsibility. One of the most important life skills that all of us have to learn is how to be responsible. How do you teach responsibility to your children? There's only one way. Give them the opportunity. Trust them with responsibility. Will they make mistakes? Absolutely. You did, too, when you were growing up. Will they sometimes be irresponsible? Yes. But if you hold on to responsibility, you're actually hurting your children. The goal of parenting from the moment they're born is to move them from parent control in the early years to self control in the middle years to God's control over their lives. That means you have to give up control! From the moment they're born, you've got to start working on that. When we take responsibility for people, we take it away from people. If you treat your children as babies and you don't let them grow up, you'll have to diaper them the rest of your life. And, you're filling the world with another co- dependent person. Many parents have said, "If I had it all to do over again, I'd do less for my children and teach them to do more for themselves.” The only way we grow is by being given challenges that stretch us, develop us, and build responsibility in our lives. The Bible says, "Whoever can be trusted with a little can also be trusted with a lot. If you cannot be trusted with things that belong to someone else, who will give you things of your own?” (Luke 16:10a, 12 NCV) Kids respond to responsibility. Having talked to many parents over the years and seen this in my own life, I believe that it's far better to err on the side of giving too much responsibility than not trusting your kids enough. They’re going to make mistakes either way! Your goal is to produce a person who walks not just under his own self control but also under God's control. Talk It Over What is the difference in what you trust your kids with and what you were trusted with when you were their age? What about society keeps us from more easily trusting our kids with responsibility?