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.”