EVEY PROBLEMS HAVE A WAY OUT

GENERAL PROBLEMS BUT NOT ALL WHO ATTEND AUTHOR MAKINA BLACKSON --- THE WAY BACK - GOD’S ANSWER God never leaves us in stage 3. 1. _1 John 1:9_ - “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us” 2. _Joel 2:25_ - “I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten” 3. _Psalm 51_ - David’s repentance after sin 4. _Prodigal Son - Luke 15_ - The Father runs to welcome you back 3 Keys to reverse the stages: 1. Respect: Honor God, parents, yourself _Exodus 20:12_ 2. Boundaries: Flee, don’t flirt with sin _2 Timothy 2:22_ 3. Accountability: Confess to God and trusted godly people _James 5:16_ --- If you or someone you know is thinking of hurting themselves, please reach out right away to a trusted pastor, parent, counselor, or local helpline. In Zambia you can contact Lifeline/Childline. You are loved and there is hope. verses two That’s a real one — "night time" hits different for a lot of people. What happens in your brain + body at night 1. IN THE BRAIN - *Less logic, more emotion* Your prefrontal cortex — the "decision/ self-control" part — gets tired at night. The emotional/ reward parts like the amygdala and dopamine system get louder. - Dopamine + Oxytocin spike with thoughts Thinking about someone you like releases dopamine "feel good" + oxytocin "bonding". At night with no distractions, those thoughts loop. - Loneliness feels bigger Cortisol stress hormone is often higher at night. Your brain craves connection to calm it down. So you think of "opposite s*x" for comfort. - Less filters Phones, darkness, privacy = your brain says "no one’s watching". Temptation feels stronger because consequences feel far away. 2. IN THE FLESH/BODY - Testosterone peaks at night for guys, especially early morning. That increases s****l thoughts/ urges. - Estrogen/progesterone cycles for girls also affect desire and mood. - Body is rested but mind is active - no work, no school, so energy turns to thoughts and feelings. - Less physical activity= all that energy sits in your body. That’s why many people say "the devil comes at night" — biologically + spiritually, your guard is down. How to overcome those emotions/temptations at night 1. GUARD YOUR INPUTS - _Matthew 5:28_ - Sin starts in the mind. Don’t scroll, watch, or text things that feed it before bed. - Put your phone across the room. Delete contacts that pull you backward. 2. FILL THE VOID - Boredom + loneliness = temptation*. Have a night routine: Bible, journal, music, prayer, reading, workout. - _Philippians 4:8_ - "Think on these things..." 3. ACCOUNTABILITY + BOUNDARIES - No late night "deep talks" with opposite s*x that lead somewhere. - Tell a trusted friend/pastor: "Pray for me at night, this is when I struggle." - _1 Cor 6:18_ - "Flee". Sometimes fleeing means sleeping early or logging off. 4. RENEW YOUR MIND - Spirit: Pray before bed. _Psalm 4:8_ "In peace I will lie down and sleep" - Truth: You’re not desperate. God made you for more than a moment. Real love waits and protects. - Identity: You’re not your urges. You’re a child of God. 5. PHYSICAL TIPS - Exercise in the day so your body is tired at night - Avoid caffeine late, avoid sleeping on your phone - Cold shower if urges are strong Truth to hold: The feeling is real, but it’s temporary. It peaks, then it passes — usually in 10-20 minutes if you don’t feed it. _Galatians 5:16_ "Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh." times wherever you might be or culture "s*x before marriage is SIN" Verses 2 TWO We must ignore shame, but we must NOT ignore the lesson. Here’s the balance: 1. IGNORE THE SHAME & CONDEMNATION* When you do wrong, the enemy wants you to sit in guilt and say "I’m useless, I’m a failure." That voice keeps you stuck. _Romans 8:1_ - "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." God says: Repent, get up, and move. Don’t live in the pit. 2. BUT LEARN FROM WHAT YOU DID WRONG Ignoring the mistake completely is how we repeat it. _Proverbs 24:16_ - "For the righteous falls seven times and rises again" The key is: he RISES + he learns why he fell. Ask: - What led me there? - People? Phone? Night time? Boredom? - What boundary did I break? - What will I do different next time? That’s wisdom. That’s growth. NOT EVERYTHING YOU DO IS WELL OR BAD Life is training. If you only focus on "well"If you only focus on "bad" You become proud You become ashamed You stop growing You stop trying You hide mistakes You’re defined by mistakes God’s way: _Philippians 3:13-14_ - "Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead" Forget the shame. Keep the lesson. Run forward. 3 Steps when you mess up: 1. Acknowledge it- "God, I was wrong. Forgive me" _1 John 1:9_ 2. Extract the lesson- What did this teach me about me, people, boundaries? 3. Ignore the voice that says "stay down"- Get up and apply the lesson. You can’t become wise without making wrong choices first. Even David, Peter, Paul all failed big. But they learned and became great. So yes: Ignore the shame. Learn the lesson. Keep going. That’s how a "bad" becomes the reason for a future "well". What’s one thing you learned recently from something you did wrong? Talking it out helps it turn into wisdom instead of just regret. Verse five You’re speaking real wisdom right there. Don’t bow to money. Bow to truth. Why rich people can take advantage 1. They use money as pressure- "If you don’t do this, I’ll cut you off" 2. They make you feel small - So you stay quiet and accept bad deals 3. They test if your character has a price tag But money doesn’t make someone right. It just makes them loud. How to face them with THE FACT, not with what THEY HAVE 1. KNOW YOUR VALUE ISN’T FOR SALE _Proverbs 22:1_ - "A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches" You might not have their money, but you have integrity, skill, time, and God. That’s leverage too. 2. SPEAK THE FACT, NOT THE FEAR Fear says: "They have money, I better keep quiet" Fact says: "This deal is unfair. This behavior is wrong. I won’t agree to that." Don’t argue about their cars, houses, or connections. Argue the principle. _Ephesians 6:14_ - "Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth" 3. SET BOUNDARIES EARLY - "I appreciate the opportunity, but I don’t do business that way" - "I respect you, but I won’t be disrespected" - "Money won’t make me compromise what I believe" Rich people actually respect people who have backbone. The ones who say yes to everything get used. 4. REMEMBER: GOD IS THE REAL PROVIDER _Psalm 24:1_ - "The earth is the Lord's and everything in it" Their money is borrowed. Your peace, your name, your future with God — that’s yours. When you’re not desperate, you can’t be manipulated. 3 Things rich people can’t buy from you: 1. Your conscience - Don’t sell it 2. Your time - Don’t waste it chasing their approval 3. Your dignity - Stand tall even with empty pockets The truth: Poor people and rich people both need respect. You don’t need to fight them. You don’t need to beg them. -Face them with truth, with calm, and with boundaries. _Micah 6:8_ - "What does the Lord require of you? To act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God." ANY QUESTIONS YOU ARE WELCOME LINE 0770738268 THANK YOU