These are Andrea’s words…my close friend and sister in Christ.  She shared this wise guidance with me a few week’s back when I brought a soul-searching and mind busting question to her.  Hah! Such truth shared with me – you know the “mentor” of teenage girls (who when it comes to applying my own truths to my circumstances couldn’t see my way out of a proverbial closet…).  Physician, heal thyself first…

I was at such a quandry with a personal issue.  She told me straight.  She spoke quietly…and she said it perfectly.  I can’t solve all the problems in the my life by my shear will or force of personality.  So bring it to God.  Bring THEM to God.  The prayers.  The concerns.  The people in my life.

Pray

…over them for as long as it takes…for as much as is needed….then do it again.

Love them

…without condition, just as Jesus Christ loves us….no matter what has been said or done.

John 15:12 This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

1 John 3:20 For whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Teach them

…with patience, give them God’s truths and model it for them.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek

1 Peter 2:21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

Matthew 7:12 So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

Be REAL

…don’t pretend you haven’t “been there or done that” yourself. Help them to reach a point of understanding and/or repentance.

 Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness

Romans 8:34, Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died – more than that, who was raised – who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

James 3:2 Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.

Psalm 103:1-3a Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits – who forgives all your sins…

Romans 6:1-2, What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

Then, she added – leave it in the hands of Jesus.  After all, His plans for your children are better than yours any day of the week.

Isaiah 1:8, Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

Zephaniah 3:17 The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.

Thank you Andrea…and more imortantly, THANK YOU Father God for sending me your answers through the clear and succinct words of “sisters” like Andrea.  Please continue to guide us all to have wisdom, discernment and to seek you in all things.

Amen and Amen.