Prepared

 

 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: ~I Peter 5:8

Have you ever been to a reenactment? On the first weekend in October at Walnut Grove Plantation there is a reenactment of a revolutionary battle in which Bloody Bill Cunningham was killed. He massacred many patriots in the weeks before. No one seemed to know he was near Walnut Grove. The children were playing in the yard when the alarm sounded that the British were coming. People ran to get the children to safety. The British stormed the house where a patriot was being treated. Militia filled the yard along with British soldiers and a battle ensued.

What if no one warned the children? What would the enemy have done to them? The patriots didn’t just rush in and shoo the children to safety. They stood their ground and fought against the invaders. They didn’t just rush in untrained. There were sessions to drill the men in resisting the enemy. The children and wives were at the training drills as well. It was almost a social day. Everyone watched and prepared to meet the enemy. Even the little ones played militia games.

Have we trained ourselves in God’s Word to stand against the Devil? Are we training our little ones? Do we rush our little ones to safety and stand our ground in defense of our families and our country? As one of the men in the film “Courageous” says, “Where are we men of courage?” And might I add, “Where are we women of courage?”  The enemy walks about even now seeking whom he may devour. Our enemy is not the British. The enemy is Satan himself. He will devour our children, our homes, and our country if we are not vigilant in watching and training our children to watch as well. They innocently play while Satan uses every means available to reach into their hearts and minds to destroy.

Where does the enemy lurk? 

• Do we need to change the TV channel often? 
• Do we need to monitor the music our children hear? 
• Do we need to monitor our children's social media and web history?
• Are we having trouble finding modest clothes? 
• Are the popular clothes covered with worldly or demonic symbols? 
• Are we aware of the books our children read or have read them in school? 

Heavenly Father, help us be aware of the enemy surrounding our families. Show us how to live in the world but not be of the world. You have given us the most precious gift in our families. Help us defend it by being vigilant in training them to be aware of their surroundings and resist the devil's attempts to capture their hearts and minds. In Jesus's name. Amen 

Hey Kids:

One of the things I noticed when attending the Walnut Grove Reenactment was how the training was for the whole family and it seemed like a social event. How could you and your family participate in training to confront the enemy while still having fun as a social event?

At my church, we have a packing party for Samaritan's Purse. 

Every month we choose something for families to bring for shoeboxes. 

We store them until November.

Then we bring snack foods for a social event as we pack the boxes.

It's not just about toys and socks. We also teach others that the most important thing Samaritan's Purse will include in the boxes is a gospel booklet in the child's language. They get to bring the booklet to training sessions in their village or town. After the completion of the classes, the children receive a Bible in their language. Siblings, parents, aunts and uncles also benefit from the children's shoeboxes. The children take the gospel home to their families! 

Whole families and their communities become prepared to meet the enemy with the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Is your family prepared?