Thursday, April 19, 2012

Did you forget we are at war?

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  - Ephesians 6:12


So I forgot. I forgot for about an hour that we are in a war. You see, the momma bear came out last night as I listened to my daughter through tears tell me about her struggle with her teacher. I listened to my son last week through tears tell me about his struggle with his friends from the predominate religion here in Utah. I remembered with him, I forgot with her. 
As I laid my head down on my pillow last night I prayed through tears, I cried out to God to give my daughter favor,  I even prayed that the teacher would see my daughter's beautiful heart, the way she loves others, not her quirks. As I prayed, I began to realize that I  wanted her to feel accepted, liked by her teacher. I didn't want her to "struggle".
 I woke up this morning, knowing I was sending her off to the classroom she did not want to be in. Something arose inside of me, it was like an awakening, a lot like the momma bear instinct, but stronger and before I knew it, I was hearing Ephesians 6:12 in my head;
 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in heavenly realms.
We are not at war or struggling with her teacher, or with my son's friends, we are at war with this dark world! That made me want to "fight" differently. I was praying ( fighting differently) I was doing Ephesians 6:17,18! My friends were praying for my kids, we were fighting not in our flesh and might but God's! That is what Ephesians 6 is all about, its about how to fight while we are in this world that is ruled by powers of darkness. 
I realized that just yesterday morning I prayed that God would show me how to be a better parent, how to raise my children under his ways, for them to love Him and His Word. God reminded me through His Word, what I was up against and the solution. This was a moment of "practice what I preach", that is You have to be in the word daily to know Him and be fit for battle! He allowed me to recall His words and I had a weapon -Ephesians 6:17-21. Read it dear friends! It will rock your world, you will be suited up for the struggle, the war, the fight of your life and you have the victory- God's Word says so!  
So I went to my daughter before school and I told her I prayed for her and her teacher, I told her that she has nothing to worry or fear, that Jesus is on her side and people act in ways because they don't have Jesus. So today, I begin the most important job I have as a parent and that is showing the Word to my children, so they can grow to love it and know the great I AM and walk in a way that is worthy of their calling in Christ Jesus - Ephesians 4:1. We are at war until he comes for us, don't forget- this world and it powers of darkness haven't forgotten.

 Here are some additional verses that God was reminding me of:
John 15:18-25
John 17:6-26