Interview: T.D. Jakes on Faith, Family and the Scripture He Turns to in Difficult Times
DALLAS, Texas— Bishop T.D. Jakes of The Potter's House and CEO of MegaFest 2013 spoke with The Christian Post at the kickoff of the three-day inspirational festival about the importance of having a personal relationship with God. Jakes also explained why adults need to step up and set the example of making their Christian faith the foundation for the family to depend on through all of life's tragedies and disagreements.
The following is an edited transcript of that interview.
Why is it important for people to have a relationship with God, so they can then have a stronger connection and better understanding of those who are around them?
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Jakes: I think it is every person's responsibility to have a strong relationship with God, so that they will have the fuel that they need, the focus that they need, and the strength that they need to interact with other people.
I think that if you do anything at all in life you're going to deal with conflict. And you need to refuel so that you don't become depleted spiritually and emotionally, and prayer is the catalyst through which we regain our footing when life throws us off course.
Why is it important to have a Christ-centered family? With the millions of children who are being raised in fatherless homes, why is it important for an adult in the family to step up and teach the younger generations how to establish a strong faith in Jesus Christ?
Jakes: I think that Christianity for the Christian family becomes the ideal to which we aspire. And we grumble with the realities of being human, and having human children, and human relatives and human friends. And those are realities that we can't totally divorce ourselves from, but if we don't have a common ideal, then there's no cohesiveness to which we can galvanize a family and build your life around.
What scripture do you turn to during difficult times?
Jakes: Psalms 27. The whole chapter, but the first five verses have always been a strong part.
The LORD is my light and my salvation; of whom shall I fear? He is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Though the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
And this is what I really love: One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
I could quote the whole thing but I'll stop there.
