The Battle

My post a few days ago revealed a side to me most of you don't get to see or hear about. I, too, have days that are stressful and disheartening with respect to my children. But my sweet husband reminded me of

Ephesians 6:12

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

There are days we feel we are fighting our children. But in reality we are fighting FOR our children. We are in a battle with the rulers of darkness who want nothing more than for us to give up, give in, cop out! And that makes me angry! That fires me up! That gets me going!

God gives us our children as blessings. And with our children comes the responsibility to guide and shape them into warriors for His Kingdom! It is NOT easy! It is not a task for the fainthearted or lazy! But it is worth it.

We will be held accountable for what we do with the lives of these little ones. Sure they have free will and will do what they want with what we give them. So, what they do with their lives one day is between them and God. But what we do now and invest in now is what we will give account for.

Cece often says, "The value of anything is the price it pays in eternity." Education, in and of itself, has no value in eternity. What we do with that education does. Talents and gifts alone have no value unless used to glorify and honor the King of kings. If any of these things are cultivated and groomed for approval of men, they are worthless.

Galatians 1:10

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

So, let's step it up. What fills our days that is worthy of bringing before the throne? What things have we labeled "important" that really aren't?

In Mark, someone asked Jesus which commandment was the most important. Jesus told him,

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

We fight the enemy when this is what is fostered, nourished, encouraged, praised and exalted as significant in our lives and our children's lives.