Consecration Day 16: Sept 18 (Wednesday) 🙏🏾

A Message from Our Leader 🗣️

Bishop Jefferson reminds us that this is a time of divine separation, a time to humble ourselves and seek God’s face with a spirit of expectation. As we do, we can trust that God will meet us in a profound way, healing our hearts, renewing our minds, and positioning us to carry His fresh anointing into the next season of our lives. Let this be a time where we set aside every weight that so easily besets us, where we turn away from distractions and press into the presence of God with fervency and faith. ✨

📍Intercessor: Evang. Autumn Tisdale

🙏🏾Prayer Point:  Father, break addictions off of ur youth!

📖Scriptures:1 Corinthians 10:13

📌Deliverance for the Next Generation: Breaking Addictions with God’s Power

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV) “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

📍Initiating Conversations with Love and Compassion

Start by creating a safe space for your youth to open up about their struggles. Addiction often thrives in secrecy and shame, so it’s crucial to approach the topic without judgment.

Tips:

• Pray before speaking: Be wise, discernment-driven, and mindful of the words you use.
• Express love, not condemnation:Regardless of their struggles, let them know they are loved by God and by you.
• Share your testimony if applicable: When they know you have overcome similar challenges, they may feel less isolated.
• Use scripture: Gently remind them that temptation is common (1 Corinthians 10:13), but God always provides a way out.
• Listen more than you speak: Create an open environment where they feel heard, not judged.

📍Steps to Breaking Addictions

In order to overcome addictions, it’s essential to combine spiritual, emotional, and practical steps rooted in Christian principles. Here’s what a godly approach looks like:

• Acknowledge the Problem:
• • Honesty before God and self: To help them overcome their addiction, encourage them to confess it in prayer (James 5:16). Admitting the problem leads to healing.
• Repentance and Turning Away:
• • Pray for a heart of repentance: Assist them in requesting God’s strength to stop their addiction (Acts 3:19).
  • Renounce the addiction: It is imperative that you encourage them to speak life and renounce any strongholds that the addiction may have over them in Jesus’ name (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).
• Seek Accountability & Assistance:
• • Find spiritual mentors: You can help them by connecting them with a pastor, youth leader, or trusted Christian mentor to support them on their journey (Proverbs 27:17).
  • Stay accountable: Keep in touch regularly, pray together, and remind them of God’s grace when they are weak.
• Use the Word of God as a Weapon:
• • Scripture memorization: It is helpful to help them memorize scriptures that speak against addiction and temptation, such as 1 Corinthians 10:13, Psalm 119:9, and Philippians 4:13.
  • Daily prayer and worship: Develop their prayer lives, asking God to give them strength to resist temptation (Ephesians 6:10-18).
• Address Practical Steps:
• • Eliminate triggers: Provide them with assistance in removing things from their lives that could lead them back into addiction (Matthew 5:29).
  • Engage in positive habits: You can help them to fill their time and energy constructively by introducing them to new hobbies, interests, or sports.

📍 Filling the Void After Deliverance

A person’s recovery from addiction leaves a void that must be filled with godly things in order to prevent relapse. In the absence of guarding, the enemy often tries to fill it with other temptations (Matthew 12:43-45). Encourage them to cultivate Christ-centered relationships and activities in their lives.

• Focus on Spiritual Growth:
• • Develop a strong prayer life: Practice daily prayer, focusing on surrendering fully to God’s will (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
  • Study the Bible regularly: Lead youth Bible study groups, hold family devotions, or have them read the Bible on their own.
  • Worship regularly: Worship is a powerful tool for strengthening faith and remaining focused on God.
• Surround Them with Godly Community:
• • Join a youth group: Youth can build healthy, godly relationships by being surrounded by other believers (Hebrews 10:25).
  • Fellowship with positive role models: Get them involved in activities that can positively affect their spiritual journey.
• Find Purpose in Serving God:
• • Engage in ministry or volunteer work: Volunteer work can help people shift their focus from their addiction to their God-given purpose (Matthew 20:28).
  • Teach them about their identity in Christ: Explain that they are no longer defined by their past but by Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Prayer Example for Youth Overcoming Addiction: “Father, we thank You that no temptation is too great for us to bear, and You always provide a way out. We ask for Your strength to break the chains of addiction. Holy Spirit, empower [name] to walk in freedom and fill them with Your presence. Surround them with godly influences and help them to stand firm in Your word. We declare that they are a new creation in Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”