Preparing For Battle

God wants our children to be as weapons in battle. They are to be arrows, shot from the bow effectively, powerfully, and precisely.

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth.
     ~Psalms 127:4

As a parent, I want my kids to be happy, protected, and safe. While this is natural and good...

there is a danger in these intentions if I do not also realize God's plan for my kids.

Our children our given to us to accomplish a purpose, to bring a vital blow to the enemy in the battle of good and evil. God does not intend  kids to live holed away from the battle, untrained and unprepared for the bigger picture and the role He has for them to play in it. He intends for them to be sharpened, shaped, and strengthened. We are to be training them for battle.

But the fact of the matter is...when it comes to the fight between good and evil, we are failing our kids.


It has been reported that children who have grown up in the church are making a massive exodus from the church. I've heard the statistic that 80% of kids growing up in church will leave and never return. There are many reasons given for this...one being that they are going to church, but not encountering God. But more importantly, it is reported, that when the pressures begin to mount in a young adult's life, they abandon their faith; seeking answers elsewhere.

Too many youth groups are holding tanks with pizza. There's no life transformation taking place, People are looking for a faith that can change them and to be a part of changing the world.

    ~Ed Stetzer, director of Nashville-based LifeWay Research

I sometimes want to turn a blind eye and pretend that evil will never come to my little neck of the woods. But this thinking among God's people is probably why there has been such a loss of spiritual ground in America.

That... and the false idea that the church's main purpose is to entertain, instead of equipping us to live a life of self-denial in a world that hates Christians.
 

If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
         ~John 15:19

In our quest to make our children happy, safe, and comfortable, have we given our children the tools they need to live life?  Life in a war zone? Looking at the world we live in, we see the spiritual forces at war for the souls of men. Are we preparing our children for this war?

As much as I may not want to face it, the fact remains: this world is not  home. We were not meant to hole up, hide out, and be as comfortable as possible until we die. Satan is on the prowl at all times. War has been declared on us as believers, whether we like to admit it or not. And I see it getting worse everyday.

God shot His son out, as a deadly arrow...purposefully, effectively, powerfully.

Would He expect anything less from us?

Always Seeking Higher Ground,

Nora