(Question at the end about the picture).Life is not a vacation. We are in a battle between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness. We face challenges and battles each day in our daily lives. Praise God, He doesn’t leave us weaponless. He gives us many weapons to face the enemy.
We have our sword which is the Word of God, the same weapon Jesus used to defeat Satan (Matthew 4:1-11 and Ephesians 6:17).
We have the power of prayer that can annihilate hundreds and thousands of enemies (Leviticus 26:7, 8 and Ephesians 6:18).
We have the power of the blood and the name of Jesus from which the devil flees (Revelation 12:11).
But do we use our weapons? Psalm 78:9 tell us about the Ephaimites who “being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.” Isn’t that amazing? They had their armor on and their weapons with them, but they didn’t use them. They weren’t skilled and practiced with their weapons and therefore they were fearful when facing the battle.
We’ve got to get familiar with our weapons. They’ve got to become part of us. Remember when King Saul gave David his own armor and a sword? When David tried to walk, he was not comfortable because he hadn’t proved them, and took them off (1 Samuel 17:38, 39).
If we are not familiar with our weapons, we won’t be ready to use them when the need arises.
LET’S GET PRACTICED and LET’S TEACH OUR CHILDREN HOW TO USE THE WEAPONS GOD GIVES US!
We have a responsibility to daily fill them with God’s Word. God’s powerful words must get into their mouths (Isaiah 59:21). Let’s teach them how to pray. The way we do this is pray! Never let a day go by, morning and evening, without praying together with your children. Teach them the power of the blood of Jesus and how to use the name of Jesus against the enemy (James 4:7 and 1 John 3:8).
By the time your children leave home and go out into this world they should be so proficient at using their armor that they are ready for any battle they face, and they will face many. Our military don’t go into battle until they are proficient with their weapons! We, and our children, must also become skilled.
Let’s be “warfare ready” families in this hour.
Be encouraged.
Nancy Campbell
Picture: Which one do you think looks ready for war? The roaring bold lion or the one who is pretending to be a lion?
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Nothing in this life comes easy. Nor does motherhood. It’s the greatest career God has given to women. It’s fulfilling. It’s filled with joys too big for the heart. It’s our DNA. It’s what we are born for.
Writing about parenthood, the great preacher and writer, J. R. Miller says: “Duties cannot be transferred.” I happen to agree with him, although many modern Christians would not.
What do you do when someone hurts you or says something that cuts deep into you like a knife? How do you feel when it is someone very close to you, perhaps your husband? Maybe you retreat into a shell with self-pity and bitterness. Or you shout and yell. You want to pay them back.
A Facebook question popped up on my Facebook awhile back: “What do yo think about having a male friend apart from your husband? Vice versa too? Can it be a purely platonic relationship?”
I love this old painting. I just Had to share it has it brings back such memories. This is how we used to roll a hank of yarn into a ball. My father often held the yarn for my mother as she rolled the wool into a ball. We children also had to take turns of holding the wool for her. This dear old husband has drifted off to sleep. But if he was awake, he would be holding his hands in place and keep the wool tight to make it easy to roll without getting tangled. Is there anyone else old enough to have these memories?
David said in Psalm 4:6: “There are many who say, “Who will show us any good?” In other words, ”Where can I find true happiness?” Some look for happiness in material things, pleasures, entertainment, prestige, or the favor of people around them. David answered his own question. He replied that he found his happiness in knowing the presence of God and His friendship. The GW translation says: “Let the light of your presence shine on us, O LORD.” It is only God who can truly satisfy the longing and deepest desires of our heart. You cannot find it in “things.” You cannot even find it in your closest friend, your husband. Only in God.
The devil wants our children. He will take the souls, minds, and hearts of our children if we let him. He wants to take them down his road of destruction. We cannot give him an inch or he takes a mile. We must be fierce guarders!
Can you imagine what the world would be like if God’s people had not limited their families? The land would be filled with righteousness and the image of God. We would have a landslide for righteousness at voting time. 
I hope you picked up some ideas from yesterday’s post, BLESS YOUR FAMILY. Here are a few more ideas for you today.
I wonder what you have planned for your family meal table tonight? It’s good to hink of different ways you can bless and encourage your husband and children. One nice idea is to get your children to write a card to their father with all the great things they love about him. They can also draw a picture and make it very special. If you have little ones who cannot write yet, get them to draw a picture for daddy. You can then put them by his plate when he comes to the evening meal. During the meal he can read them aloud. The children will be excited to hear him read them and your husband will be blessed.
Have you, or are you planning to have a “Color Night” at your table. Yesterday I shared about a Red Color Night. Today, I am sharing a testimony from Val Stares about when she planned a “Green Color Night” at her table. Val Stares is the Director of Above Rubies in Australia. Val has been with me in the vision of Above Rubies from its very inception when we began in New Zealand over 43 years ago. She and her family moved with us to Australia and after 10 years when we moved on to live in USA, she took over the managing of Above Rubies in Australia. Val is now a great-grandmother like me, and this story happened a number of years ago. But I am sure you will enjoy it.
We talked yesterday about making every meal a love affair. This won’t just happen. You need to take time to think about your family meal table. Think about creative things you can do to bless the children. When raising our children, I tried to do something different at the meal table at least one night a week. One of the things our children loved when growing up were COLOR NIGHTS. For example, I would choose a color and put up a notice:
There used to be an old saying: “Children should be seen and not heard” I don’t agree with this statement. I believe the table is place for not only eating, but fellowship. Food and fellowship go together. They are TWINS.
What’s the atmosphere like in your home? What’s it like at meal times? Do you gather together around your table? Talk and fellowship together? Open God’s Word and pray together? Do you do dishes and clean up the kitchen together? Or is Mom left with the mess and everyone goes their merry way?
Of course you do. When you become a mother you can hardly grasp how you can love someone so much.
Are your family mealtimes often chaotic? Sometimes you want to throw up your hands in despair! The following are some ideas that I have found helpful in maintaining togetherness at our family meal table. Even as you establish these ideas, don’t despair if everything is not perfect. It takes time. But as you keep training you will eventually reap the fruit of glorious times around your table.
“You are our letter, known and read by everyone” (2 Corinthians 3:2). In our homes and everywhere we go, we should reveal the character of Jesus for people are reading us. And how do they read us? Through our faces. Let’s not hide the glory of God.
Oh how true. To gather family and friends around your table is one of the most enjoyable things in life. How wonderful to share, fellowship, discuss, tell stories, laugh, and even cry together. My favorite times of every day, especially as we end our meals with reading God’s Word and praying together.
Are you off to church today? We need one another more than ever, don't we?