Spiritual Warfare

With all that is taking place in our country and around the world, I have to speak out. As a former teacher, this is more of a plea than a devotion. School is out and summer is heating up, literally. We as parents and grandparents have to be vigilant in the raising of our children. When we don’t raise them, someone or something else will. As much as I love a device with buttons and screens, I know that it is simply a tool for me. Something that helps make what I do a bit easier or quicker. Children do not have the wisdom or self-discipline to guard themselves against Satan and his warriors, especially when it comes to electronic devices. Yes people, the Bible clearly calls Satan, the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2), and that he comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). Our phones, tablets, computers, and TV’s are all over the air. There is a spiritual war taking place and it sneaks in unaware. Our children simply cannot discern how Satan slips in and takes over. Children need to be children but they also need structure, limits, boundaries. They need to know what is acceptable and unacceptable. And yes, I am probably speaking to the choir, because we have some pretty great kids but we cannot sit back and say it will all be okay. Our children are the future if Jesus tarries.

When I was growing up there was never talk of spiritual warfare. That was a taboo topic. It was as if you spoke it, then things would happen. I gained a better understanding of what spiritual warfare was after reading three novels by Christian writer, Frank Peretti: “Prophet”, “This Present Darkness”, and “Piercing the Darkness”. I’ve actually read them several times. They are realistic, scary, and yet they leave you with a renewed hope of things to come. But, what I took away from them most is that these stories could be playing out in any town anywhere without anyone ever noticing.

I am not judging or condemning anyone. When you are stuck in a car with tired, irritable children, you will do almost anything to arrive safely and sanely at your destination. What I am saying is don’t hand over devices unattended, ever! Don't use them as babysitters. If you can lock it down, do it. If you can put parental guards and controls as to what is accessible, do it. If you are paying for it then you have every right to know what is being said, what is being accessed and how it is being used. Now the same applies to adults, including myself. We can get sucked in just like the kids if we aren’t careful of our time and example we are setting.

However, spiritual warfare is much more complex than just electronics. We must guard our thoughts and conversations such that our own thinking does not become skewed. We must not allow outside forces to convince us that we are wrong and they are right and dare I say, we must be careful of not becoming “woke”. We must become knowledgeable in God’s word and how it should be applied to our daily lives. Say the blessing, read the Bible, get outside, find some shade or play in the water, give them some chores, and then let the kids be kids. It is totally ok for them to be bored. It grows their imagination. Pray with them and pray for them. When they don't have open access to Satan's armory, then Satan cannot slip in unaware.