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Do My Children Need To
Put On Armor?
Christian thoughts on every day parenting.
by Donna Shepherd
All materials copyrighted
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Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.
-- Ephesians 6:11 niv
I received Jesus Christ as my Savior at just eight years of age. I went to Sunday School and found a substitute teacher doing the best
he could to teach a rowdy bunch of third-graders. Instead of sticking to the lesson plan, he decided to share the plan of salvation.
Although I do not know his name, I will be forever grateful to him that he followed the Holy Spirit’s leading. For some reason, that
morning something ‘clicked.’ I got it. I understood my need and accepted God’s provision for my soul.
So, I know that children, sometimes at a very young age, can understand spiritual matters. How does Satan attack God’s people? Through
deceit, destroying lives, persecuting the saints (Rev. 2:10), planting doubt (Gen. 3:1-2), provoking anger, bringing pride, worry, and
self-reliance. Satan comes against our young people in every way possible. Christians of all ages need to put on the whole armor of God
to stand and to withstand the wiles of the devil.
How can we help our children when they face spiritual battles? Teach your children to put on the armor of God, and understand that our
warfare is not earthly, but spiritual. Just as nations do not go into battle with the thought of losing, but with a level of respect for
the enemy and a battle strategy, we need to do something very similar as we engage in spiritual warfare.
The apostle Paul said we should put on the whole armor, all the pieces. The Greek word, “enduo,” means to put on the armor of a soldier.
Paul based his descriptions of the spiritual armor on the armor of a real Roman soldier. Looking at Ephesians 6, in verse 14, we are
instructed to “stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place.” Truth
is our foundation. The Word of God is truth. That’s why I stress that we parents read, memorize, and recite the Bible daily. If our
children know the truth, they won’t be swayed by the counterfeit.
The belt holds the breastplate in place protecting the heart. In the spiritual battle, we need to be sure our hearts are directed by God
and not relinquished to Satan. If your heart is not right, then the rest of your life will not be right either.
In verse 15, Paul says we are to have our “feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.” These shoes are made to
stand. The soldier is prepared to witness. With this equipment, the believer is ready to bear the good news of the Gospel. Are you ready?
Are you teaching your children how to stand up for their Christian beliefs and share the Good News with others?
Next, we take up the shield of faith. Without faith, we cannot please God. Faith is the impregnable shield that extinguishes all of
Satan’s flaming arrows. What are Satan’s flaming arrows? They are the spiritual devices Satan uses to make us question our faithfulness
to Christ.
Our last defensive piece is the helmet. In our spiritual warfare, the head of the believer does not speak of his brain, but rather the
mind or understanding.
“For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.” - 1 Corinthians 2:16 niv
Be careful what your children watch, listen to, and read. Let’s renew our minds according to God’s Word.
Apostle Paul says to take the offensive weapon of the “sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (vs. 17). Jesus used the Word of
God against the devil’s wiles.
Matthew 4:10 – “Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only
shalt thou serve.”
After we have put on the complete armor, the apostle says we are to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and
requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints” (vs. 18).
Let us stay alert and on guard, consistently praying for God’s help and guidance for our own lives and for the lives of our children. We
need God’s help, and with His help, we can withstand the enemy’s attacks and stand in victory!
BUSY Parents Tip
Because my Sunday School teacher followed the Holy Spirit’s leading, I heard about Jesus at a crucial time in my life, and I enlisted in
God’s service. Be sensitive to the spiritual needs of your children. Pray for them. Perhaps now is a crucial time in their spiritual
development. Have you talked to them about Jesus?
About The Author:
Donna J. Shepherd is the author of Topsy Turvy Land
and a contributing author to Anytime Prayers for Everyday Moms.
From bird watching to the Beatitudes, her writing touches the heart with wisdom and humor while feeding the mind with
daily portions of God's Word. Read more of her writing at Donna J. Shepherd.
Information provided in this column is for entertainment purposes only.
The information in this column is not meant to be taken as legal, medical, or professional advice.
Read legal disclaimer.
* This column is available for your publication, for a F-E-E.
This column may NOT be reprinted without monetary compensation and written permission from the author.
For reprint rights or comments/questions about this article, please contact the author.
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