Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: – 1 Peter 5:8
Our nation has seen many wars. There have been wars for land, for independence, for power, and for gold. But we are soldiers in the midst of a different kind of war: a war for souls.
In 1864, General Sherman’s infamous March to the Sea left much of Georgia in ruins. The march wasn’t a tactical move but rather psychological. He hoped to dishearten Confederate supporters by destroying their crops and their livelihood. Sherman didn’t invent psychological warfare. Satan has been burning and pillaging our families for centuries. Not only does he seek to dishearten Christians, he seeks to ruin. Ruin the picture of Christ as the loving bridegroom and the church His bride. Ruin the picture of God as a loving Father and us His beloved children.
He attacks us in many ways. Abortion. Abuse. Addiction. Adultery. These are what I call the 4 A’s. They not only affect our nation, they affect the very core of the family. Abortion is such a controversial issue that not only can it stop a family before it begins, it can also tear existing families apart. Abuse not only causes physical, emotional, and psychological wounds but also wounds the family unit. Addiction doesn’t just steal lives through overdoses, it steals priorities. Adultery doesn’t just break the marriage vows, it breaks trust.
But we’re not helpless. We can fight back. We must arm ourselves to protect our family. Not only must we don the armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-17), but we must also work. Work on marriages. Work on relationships with parents, children, and siblings. We need to show God’s unconditional love to wayward family, to offer forgiveness freely. We need to understand that our choices can affect others. We need to counterbalance society’s attitudes and point our families back to the Bible.
The most important mission field you will ever be in is your own home. We are often our family’s introduction to Christ. So we must examine ourselves by asking 3 questions:
- Am I fulfilling my role as God would have me?
- Is there any sin in my life that could negatively affect my family?
- Is there a family member who needs to see Christ’s love in me?
The fight is on, and it begins with us.
Join me in November and pray for the family, not just the nuclear family, but the spiritual family, as well. Let’s pray for the broken marriages and the wayward children. Let’s pray for for our own role in the family. Let’s pray we’ll be the best wives, sisters, daughters, aunts that we can be.
