In Old Testament times, the Israelites built hedges (or walls) around their vineyards to protect them from being attacked.
Psalm 80:12-13 "Why have you broken down her hedges, so that all who pass by pluck her fruit? The boar out of the woods uproots it, and the wild beast out of the field devours it."
In our society, families are under major attack, and we would be wise to build hedges around the most important "crop" in our nation: our precious families.
More than 1/2 of all Christian marriages end in divorce, and scores of others are heading in that direction. Over 1/2 of American children live in single-parent homes. Many well-meaning Christian parents are losing their children to the world.
So how can we "build hedges" to protect our families? Pray!! Ask the Lord to protect our families from the enemy and evil influences of this world.
John 17:15 " I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one."
The Lord put a hedge around Job and his family to protect them the enemy's attacks. (Job 1:10)
Another way to protect our families is by using "border control". So many Americans are concerned about illegal immigrants crossing our borders and entering our country. But how concerned are we, as parents, about border control around our families? Do we have strong borders for protection against the "adversary who walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.."? (1 Peter 5:8)
We need to ask ourselves........
- is there border control concerning which TV programs and movies we watch? What about the video/computer games our children play? Are we monitoring what our children are doing on the Internet and the books they're reading?
Psalm 101:3 "I will set no evil thing before my eyes.."
- is there border control concerning our children's friends? Do they have godly friends?
1 Corinthians 15:33 " Do not be deceived: evil company corrupts good habits."
We must take control of anything that would spoil the godly atmosphere of our home.
We cannot let the enemy get a foothold. He takes great pleasure in attacking and destroying families. We must "resist him", and be "steadfast in the faith" (1 Peter 5:9), guarding and protecting our families at all costs.
And our nation is only as strong as the moral values of our families.
So friends, "watch, stand fast in the faith" (1 Corinthians 16:13), and keep building those hedges!
Have a blessed day,
and @ Domestically Divine Homemaking link-up @ http://jasmine-aboverubies.blogspot.com
and @ http://likeabubblingbrook.com
and @ http://raisinghomemakers.com
