"Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, it there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy meditate on these things." Phil 4:8

June 17, 2011

It's a battle: Got Armor?

“Give ear, O my people, to my law;
Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings of old, which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. 
We will not hide them from their children,
Telling to the generations to come the praises of the Lord,
And His strength and His wonderful works that he has done.
Psalm 78:1-4

Well it is day 10 of the 21 days of Prayer for Sons which I have been participating in.  While I have been so blessed by the encouragement and wise words that Brooke Mc Glothlin has shared in her ebook Warrior Prayers, I have to confess that it has not been a cake walk.  The enemy has been on the prowl discouraging me in so many ways and by reminding me of my failings and causing me to doubt that anything good will happen from this.  He has even used the voice of earthly people in my life to make me doubt what I am doing.  However, I know this must be the enemy, because what I am doing is what God has encouraged us to do as parents…pray for our children and raise them up in HIS WAYS!

One example happened today when we were with some family and the boys were interested in watching a movie, and when my son asked my permission I had to tell him “no”.  It was difficult to stand up for what I believe is right for my children, especially when it makes them stand out as “different”, or as “a party pooper”.  It was bothering me all the way home.  Then while I was making dinner, my daily encouragement from A Heart at Rest devotional flip calendar by Nancy Leigh DeMoss was as follows:

As easy as it is to shift blame to peers, entertainment, or secular culture, the fact is parents are accountable for the spiritual condition of the flock God has given them to shepherd.”

And the scripture that was referenced was

 “I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them”
1 Samuel 3:13

Why did this encourage me that what I was doing was right?  Because I am responsible for my children’s spiritual conditions and I need to guide them through this world protecting them from things that will corrupt them and teaching them what is right in God’s sight.  I trusts that the Lord will help them understand in time so that when we (their parents) are no longer there, that they will choose what is best according to the Lord.  This is certainly my prayer.

Then I read my daily devotional by Charles Stanley of In Touch Ministries and he referenced Psalm 78 which talks about how gracious and kind God is in continually providing for His people, taking us back and loving us in spite of our rebellious ways.  Several places he talks about how we need to make known to our children and other generations of His commands to us.  For example:
“For He established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers, That they should make them known to their children; That the generation to come might know them, the children who would be born, that they may arise and declare them to their children, that they may set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments; and may not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that did not set its heart aright, and whose spirit was not faithful to God.” Psalm 78:5-8

So I continue on in this battle with the enemy of our souls for the heart of my children.  When we were on our way to spend time with family today, I was thinking about this prayer experience and the following picture came to my mind.

When there are battles, soldiers are called to battle.  If you are in the frontline or on the battlefield, the fiery darts come at you and you are prepared with all your armor and your weapons, because you are expecting them.  If you are on the side lines, you are less likely to expect a dart to hit you, although there is a chance that that will happen.  So as I look toward the next 11 days on this journey, I am securing my armor and taking up my weapons and will be battling for the precious hearts of my

Please share with me your thoughts or encouragement by commenting on this post.  I would love to hear from you!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you're doing exactly what God's telling you to do! Keep on keeping on.

Anne said...

And the truth is, as Christians, we are never on the sidelines. We are always on the front line. We are always in battle - even when we *think* we're on vacation or in down time. That's why putting the armour on and standing firm daily is so important.

Denise said...

Anne, that is the truth, we always need to be ready for battle! Glad you are here.
Blessings!