One value of ours is peace in the house. When the children were in the house they didn't tear around, use loud voices and cause commotion. They could go outside and hoot, holler and run around all they wanted. Fresh air meant a good night’s sleep!
However, we noticed that when we would visit certain families our children came home wired. Or if they watched certain programs on TV they would be hyper. They were not usually hyper in anyway nor did we encourage it. What we began to realize was that because the children were wide open to outside influences, their behavior mirrored the children we visited or the program they watched.
The solution to having the children back to normal is simple. We discovered the word “renounce”. What a great word!! The dictionary definition of renounce means to give up ownership of. In Matthew 16:24 Jesus said to his disciples that we should renounce self; in Luke 14:33 we are told to renounce all we have. We are to renounce ungodliness, shameful ways and all wickedness. Titus 2:11,12 says: “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.” The grace of God actually is training us to renounce. We need to train our children up in the way they should go and when they are old they will not depart from it!
Therefore, we would have the children renounce the children, or the TV program and the spirit of disobedience, rebellion and hype. Then we would bind the spirits and command then to leave the kids. Then we would loose peace and obedience and ask the Holy Spirit to fill them.
This practice became routine for us when the children were young. We would literally leave a place, get in the car and say to the children repeat after me..."I renounce...” Your children need you to protect their spirit, as you should your own. Children are vulnerable. Just like there are predators in the natural there are in the spirit. You want to maintain a clean and sweet spirit in your child, one that is open to the Holy Spirit working in their lives. If these thing are unchecked, your child can be harassed and be exhibiting behavior that is not normally who they are.
This principle of renouncing is true for people, places and things. Jesus said to his disciples that they needed to renounce themselves and follow him. What does that mean. How can I give myself up? You are giving up your desires, your life and saying God you know better than me what's best for me.
When we have moved cities or nations and left people and places we love behind how can we get on with what we are called to do in the new place? We renounce them as we leave. We thank God for each one and the wonderful blessing they are but then we renounce them, i.e., give up any ownership of them and give them back to God. We want God to work to will and do of his good pleasure in their lives and so we pray that.
One time one of our kids came home from university. After being back for about two weeks they spoke to us and said they were having real difficulty settling back into their home city, work and church. After praying they realized they had not renounced the city, university and church from the other city. Once that was done they were able to say now I take hold of everything God has for me here at this time. With that revelation and prayer the longing for the one place left and the joy of being home returned.
This is a powerful principle that Jesus taught his disciples. We use this truth most days of our life. We want people to be free from us and us from them. When we are grateful for who they are, bless them and give them back to God, we are free!
Jesus said to His disciples, "If any one desires to follow me, let him renounce self and take up his cross, and so be my follower.” (Luke 14:33) So therefore whomever of you who doesn't renounce all that he has, he can't be my disciple. (WEB ASV RSV)
However, we noticed that when we would visit certain families our children came home wired. Or if they watched certain programs on TV they would be hyper. They were not usually hyper in anyway nor did we encourage it. What we began to realize was that because the children were wide open to outside influences, their behavior mirrored the children we visited or the program they watched.
The solution to having the children back to normal is simple. We discovered the word “renounce”. What a great word!! The dictionary definition of renounce means to give up ownership of. In Matthew 16:24 Jesus said to his disciples that we should renounce self; in Luke 14:33 we are told to renounce all we have. We are to renounce ungodliness, shameful ways and all wickedness. Titus 2:11,12 says: “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.” The grace of God actually is training us to renounce. We need to train our children up in the way they should go and when they are old they will not depart from it!
Therefore, we would have the children renounce the children, or the TV program and the spirit of disobedience, rebellion and hype. Then we would bind the spirits and command then to leave the kids. Then we would loose peace and obedience and ask the Holy Spirit to fill them.
This practice became routine for us when the children were young. We would literally leave a place, get in the car and say to the children repeat after me..."I renounce...” Your children need you to protect their spirit, as you should your own. Children are vulnerable. Just like there are predators in the natural there are in the spirit. You want to maintain a clean and sweet spirit in your child, one that is open to the Holy Spirit working in their lives. If these thing are unchecked, your child can be harassed and be exhibiting behavior that is not normally who they are.
This principle of renouncing is true for people, places and things. Jesus said to his disciples that they needed to renounce themselves and follow him. What does that mean. How can I give myself up? You are giving up your desires, your life and saying God you know better than me what's best for me.
When we have moved cities or nations and left people and places we love behind how can we get on with what we are called to do in the new place? We renounce them as we leave. We thank God for each one and the wonderful blessing they are but then we renounce them, i.e., give up any ownership of them and give them back to God. We want God to work to will and do of his good pleasure in their lives and so we pray that.
One time one of our kids came home from university. After being back for about two weeks they spoke to us and said they were having real difficulty settling back into their home city, work and church. After praying they realized they had not renounced the city, university and church from the other city. Once that was done they were able to say now I take hold of everything God has for me here at this time. With that revelation and prayer the longing for the one place left and the joy of being home returned.
This is a powerful principle that Jesus taught his disciples. We use this truth most days of our life. We want people to be free from us and us from them. When we are grateful for who they are, bless them and give them back to God, we are free!
Jesus said to His disciples, "If any one desires to follow me, let him renounce self and take up his cross, and so be my follower.” (Luke 14:33) So therefore whomever of you who doesn't renounce all that he has, he can't be my disciple. (WEB ASV RSV)
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