DON’T take off your helmet when you go in your house.

DON’T take off your helmet when you go in your house.

SO WHY NOT take off my helmet? Just keep reading...

When I read and study my Bible, I’m usually focusing on a specific verse or group of verses. For instance, in my last blog post, the focus was on the armor of God, which Paul wrote about in his letter to the Ephesians (Ephesians 6:14-17). 

As I zero in on a selected passage, I also take a look at what is written before and after. This is what we call looking at a verse or group of verses in context. Looking at a phrase or sentence in context gives us a broader and more accurate sense of what the writer is trying to convey.

It’s interesting that in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, his instructions regarding the armor of God come right after his instructions regarding relationships. Have you ever noticed that?

In the verses prior, he teaches about walking in love, walking in the light of Christ and walking in wisdom (Chapter 5). He continues then, in that same chapter, to instruct regarding the marriage relationship. 

When we read all of Chapter 5 as a continuum, we see a beautiful picture of the husband and wife relationship within the body of Christ.

From there, in Chapter 6, Paul gives words of wisdom to children and to fathers in regard to child-rearing. He even addresses the relationship between the bond-servant and master. For us today, that would pertain to employee and employer. 

Then at this point in Chapter 6, Paul says, “Finally my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles (scheming, deceits) of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6:10-13). 

Paul then describes each implement comprising the armor of God. We addressed these in my last post. 

Consider what we have just read in verses 10-13 and again take note of its context in Paul’s letter—it immediately follows his comments about relationships.

His are strong words about serious matters—we’re talkin` demons and demonic activity!

Many of us may not have considered a need for armor when dealing with our family members. After all, they’re our most precious loved-ones. But think about it. Often the most frustration, harshest anger, most deep-seated bitterness, and deepest hurts are experienced in family relationships.

I believe we would all agree that our enemy, the devil, wants to tear apart families, especially Christian families. I’ve even heard people refer to their own home as a war zone. 

We need to recognize demonic influence and activity even within the walls of our own homes. We must put on the whole armor and war against wickedness and darkness that rises up against our spouse, ourselves, our parents and our children. 

Paul said, it’s not flesh and blood that we wrestle against, but spiritual foes that come against us in many forms.

Keeping Paul’s writing in context, let’s look also at what he stated after describing the armor. He says to pray always and to be watchful (Ephesians 6:18). 

In prayer, we cry out to the King of glory who the psalmist, David, called “the LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle” (Psalm 24:8). He is our fearless leader and our strength. He will go before us and even fight for us. Our battlefield should be on our knees.

When we are watchful, as Paul directed, we are awake, alert, and in tune to what is going on both in the physical realm and the spiritual realm. We need to guard our hearts and our tongues when battles rage. We need the help of the Holy Spirit to accomplish this. Also, the Holy Spirit can give us discernment and when we just don’t know what’s going on, we can trust that God knows ALL.

So, next time you find yourself cross-wise with a loved-one, whether it be a simple quarrel or a major brawl, step back and check yourself. Are you walking in love, in the light of Christ, and in wisdom? Are you wearing every part of the armor of God? Are you invoking the help of the King of glory and are you being watchful to be careful to handle the matter God’s way?  

 

Of course, we cannot control how the other person handles disagreements, but we can set an example and pray for that other person. God loves him or her and wants His best for them just as much as He does for us.

We may take off our clothes at the end of the day but we should never remove our armor, perhaps especially at home.

AND—don’t forget, when you read and study a passage of Scripture, check out the context in which it is used. 

If you have not read last week’s post about the whole armor of God, I invite you to do so. You’ll then have this whole message in context.

Thanks for stopping by. Your comments are welcome.

©Connie Wohlford 2016

Today’s Prayer for our Children and Grandchildren

Today’s Prayer for our Children and Grandchildren

            Why pray daily for our children... 

Have you prayed for your children (and grandchildren) today?

Here are some reasons we should pray daily for the children in our lives:

1. It’s our responsibility. As parents, we’re responsible for the spiritual growth of our children. It’s likely that no one else on the planet will be praying for our child every day. I knew that as long as my parents were alive and had presence of mind, someone was praying for me every single day. Though they’re now walking on streets of gold, I still appreciate that fact.

If you’re a grandparent and/or concerned adult, although you don’t have the responsibilities of parenting, you can and should still pray for the children you love, especially if the parents are not followers of Jesus. 

2. Jesus set the example in praying for children (Matt. 19:13), as well as for His followers. We can read the account of His prayer for us in John 17:17.

3. We need to set an example for our children. Our children need to know that prayer is important to us and that we pray for them daily. Our personal example is our chief teaching tool as we instruct our children in all spiritual matters.

4. We need to pray that our children will have revelation understanding of their need for salvation and that Jesus is the Savior and the only way.  Even young children can comprehend this at a level that makes sense to them. The Holy Spirit knows how to work in each young spirit.

Growing up in an evangelical church, I knew at a young age, I needed the salvation that Jesus could give me. At nine years old, I had been pondering on this for months. I remember trying to mentally list all my sins which were in need of God’s forgiveness. Then one Sunday I decided it was time. I walked forward and gave my hand to Pastor Rushing and my heart to Jesus.

5. There’s a war going on and the lives and souls of our children are the spoils of that war. In the atmosphere around us, spiritual warfare is taking place between God’s angels and Satan’s demons. We and our children are often pawns in their activity. Rest assured, Satan is real and he wants our children. He desires to steal, kill, and destroy anyone he can (John 10:10a). That includes you, me, and the children we love. We can pray with confidence that our Heavenly Father wants our children too. In the second half of that verse, Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10b NKJV). Our children need to know these things.

6. Pray for wisdom in parenting. Our role as parent is our most important job. Job—yes—because it’s work! And when we do it well it pays great dividends. We’d be hard-pressed to be a great parent without divine wisdom and intervention. Consistence is key and if you’re like me, and most others, it takes a lot of effort to be consistent. Help from above is necessary.

Moses said it well, when he passed God’s instructions on to the Israelites after God had freed them from Egyptian slavery. Through Moses, God said, “And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the Lord your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, then I will give you ...” (Deut. 11:13-14q NKJV).

A few verses later, God got specific about passing the torch of His Word on to the children.  “You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, like the days of the heavens above the earth. For if you carefully keep all these commandments which I command you to do—to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, and to hold fast to Him—” (Deut. 11:19-22 NKJV). 

I’m sure we all agree that parenting is serious business. It’s a daily responsibility that requires daily invoking the help and power from our Creator. We can be confident that God, loves and wants the best for our children. It’s only with God’s help that we can truly “train up a child in the way he should go” (Prov. 22:6 NKJV).

SO—we need to pray! We need to pray big time—every day—for our children and for ourselves as parents.

I have seen the results of allowing children to figure out spiritual matters for themselves and it’s often not a pretty sight. When we sow to the wind, we often reap the whirlwind (Hosea 8:7a). It’s true that sometimes they find their way to God without parental involvement. Nonetheless, from what I’ve observed with acquaintances, the results of sewing to the wind in regard to a child’s spiritual upbringing has reaped the whirlwind indeed.

The examples I’ve witnessed have reaped addiction, sexual promiscuity and confusion, prison, mental and emotional insecurities, animosity toward God and toward parents, spiritual confusion, and all manner of chaos.
So, let’s pray. Let’s pray every day for our children and grandchildren. Their eternal destiny may depend on it.

A few months ago I began posting a brief daily prayer for children and grandchildren on my Facebook page. I would be honored for you to tune in to these prayers if you’re a Facebook user. Each one makes a good springboard for our appeal to God on behalf of the children in our lives.

Every morning, usually between 6 and 6:30 EST, I post a prayer for children. (If it doesn’t appear, there’s a good reason. I may be in need of prayer, myself. J)
In most of these prayers, I ask God to help the children in some area of spiritual growth. My two sons are in their forties and my grandchildren are teens and preteens. No child is too young or too old to not need prayer.

You can see the prayers on Facebook at this link: https://www.facebook.com/ConnieWohlfordAuthor/ .  If you “Like” my page and click on “Sign Up” the post should appear in your own FB News Feed each morning. Besides that, for you to Like my page would be a blessing to me. Thanks in advance!

Back to prayer. Think now—what is your greatest prayer for the children in your life? Tell God, right now. Release it to Him and take heart in knowing He hears! Thank Him and worship Him because He loves, He knows, He cares, and He can work in ways that will astound us.

Your comments are welcome. I and other readers would love to hear of your experiences in praying for children. And we can pray for one another in the family of God.

©Connie Wohlford 2016