The book, “Blessing of a skinned knee.” by Wendy Mogel uses Jewish teachings to raise self-reliant, optimistic and well-mannered children. This book shares key Jewish principles to teach your kids with the expectation that they follow them. Also, it’s better to allow your children to ‘skin their knee’ from the fall of their mistakes and shortcomings under your careful guidance at home versus navigating through as adults with their issues. 

I see a similar parenting approach in our Abba Father using our environments at home, work and in church to basically do the same thing as this book writes about. We are his children. I have to actively remember this when I’m going through a difficult situation or task and also remind myself that our God is a good Father. Ultimately everything works out for my good as long as I don’t give up, or lose my faith and hope.

What’s all this in-house training for? I believe it’s to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ with great anointing and power. As my small group is studying the book of Acts together, I see that there’s great opposition and persecution that come against great anointing and power of the Holy Spirit. Reading Acts 5 together opened my eyes that the apostles were considered rebels of their time. They rebelled against the powerful religious men in authority and were frequently thrown into jail. Despite this the apostles kept on breaking men’s rules to keep on preaching the good news of Jesus Christ. The apostles obeyed God and did not fear the threats of men even when publicly flogged. Wow! 

My Achilles heels (or weak, vulnerable spot) used to be fitting into a social group. This was very important to me for security and safety. It’s still a challenge for me but it is no longer an Achilles heels. My husband made some mistakes within our social groups and for that our family was booted out from their inner circles. Looking back I can see that all the social exclusions was for my own good. Those days were extremely hard for me and I would blame my husband for the painful ordeals. It would’ve been easy to get stuck there but by the grace of God through Jesus Christ I moved forward from the hurt by friends and from holding my husband accountable. 

Nowadays when the enemy tries to trip me by dangling the social exclusions right in front of my face, it no longer ruins my day or steals my peace. I’ve been set free from that bondage! I had to experience the skinned knee injuries in order to go to God for help and strength to overcome my Achilles heel. It was truly a ‘blessing of a skinned knee.’

These experiences prepared me for the social exclusions that is also found in the body of Christ. Not everyone can understand what God has placed in your heart and sometimes out of discomfort they may avoid you too. When such things happen, remember that they are your siblings-in-Christ. Do not harden your heart against them. Keep them in your prayers and be more humble, gracious and kind towards them. I find that this approach keeps my heart protected from any bitterness taking root in my heart. Besides when those that avoid you go through difficult times, they may come back to you for prayers if you’ve been humble and gracious to them. 

I know it’s hard to remember this especially when you are hurting from a ‘skinned knee’ but go to our Abba Father in prayer. God will comfort you and remind you that our enemy is not flesh-and-blood. Our enemy is satan. Earth is his only territory of influence. However Jesus has given us full victory so that none of satan’s schemes can harm us if we resist him with our faith and prayers. And never, ever give up. I’ll be praying for you. Please keep me in your prayers too. -From the heart with love. 

1 Peter 5:8-11New Living Translation (NLT)
8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.
10 In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. 11 All power to him forever! Amen.

Ephesians 6:12 (NLT)
12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Romans 8:28(NLT)
28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

P.S. I recently read a blog that a young lady wrote about how she’s tired of being a Christian. She mentioned all the hurts, pain and hypocrisy she experienced and saw in the church. Now she’s tired of being a Christian. I felt so sad for her. I can tell she really was searching for God and the ‘agape’ love our Jesus preached. I prayed for her, and that her faith and strength will be renewed as she waits on the Lord. I also pray that one day the body of Christ will be a powerful, and the most loving and safest place in our communities. 

Ephesians 1:18, 22 (NLT)
18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

22 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church.