Ready, Set, Defend Your Kids

The scariest war around us is that for our souls. We are in the midst of a battle every day even though we cannot physically see it.

We are all born with gifts given to us by our Savior, planned for us before we were even conceived. With any struggle, the stronger your gifts are the more the enemy will want to take them.

John 10:10 clearly states, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.”

As I began to write this blog, I quickly realized it was a dream come true. When I was a teenager, I felt that God spoke to me about becoming a part of CBN and the ministry they do. The vision that God gave me was strong and I would tell people that someday I would help others. I should have understood that I needed some serious armor and that my life would be under a major attack, but I was not at all prepared for what was in store and sadly my defenses were down.

I have been under a major spiritual attack since I began to share my joys, mistakes and understanding of motherhood publically through this blog. My family fell apart, my marriage was attacked, and friendships and valued relationships became strained. I feel as if I am finally coming home after being in a war zone.

A counselor at a local church I saw this past week asked me, “Don’t you see? The enemy wanted to take God’s plans for you and ruin them.” And he nearly did. 

The situations and struggles I have faced in the past four years have caused much pain and confusion. My faith has been tested. My love has been tested. My sanity and security have been tested. God’s plan for my life was nearly sabotaged. The shame I have felt for falling and failing prevented me from doing what I must as a mother and woman of God.

Our Lord wants to restore us. Despite our sins and mistakes, He wants us to know that every day is new and every mistake is washed clean. It’s a hard concept to grasp. We can feel so low that we want to hide, but God tells us to come out of hiding and to know that we are not only forgiven but that the past is behind us.

From great destruction God can rebuild us to be even stronger and wiser than we were before. He knows our hearts and He understands that we will fall short. Still, He never leaves us alone.

The counsel I had recently made me think about my own children and the purpose that God has for them. I have battled the enemy and I know all too well the challenges that we can face when we give our hearts and lives to God. We must set up strong defenses in their lives.

When I was a freshman, I was the water girl for our high school football team. I would run water out to the players during the timeouts. I got a front-row seat to the games and saw up close how they strategized their plays. They would set up defenses for the player who was meant to catch the ball and the whole offensive line played a part in the planned-out move.

In a similar way, the “team” surrounding your child is vital to their success. We cannot help our children if we do not realize that they will face opposition in this life.

Prayer is our greatest defense. But what about a strong support system for them to talk to and turn to when they may face temptation?

Our goal as parents is not just to raise happy children or to get them through adolescence. It is to prepare them and to help them achieve God’s plan for their lives.

If your child is talented musically, the enemy of their heart will tempt them. Think of all of the famous young people in the music industry and how they easily fall into a wayward lifestyle. It can be astounding that someone with so much talent and opportunity can ruin it by doing drugs and other self-destroying behavior.

Every life matters to God. We were not put here to just survive, but to be a part of a much bigger plan.

Who is in your child’s huddle? Who is set up to help them win?

Next week, I am going to talk about strategy for the battle in our children’s lives and how we as parents must understand our role in all of this. I would love to read your thoughts and hear your own stories. Engage with me in the comments section below.