This past weekend, the ladies of our church loaded up the bus and headed to the Women of Honor Ladies Conference. And WOW, did we have a great time!
As soon as we walked into the Cabarrus Arena, the atmosphere, alone, let you know you were with God's people. Just as I was realizing that feeling, I could hear others saying what I was thinking. They were feeling it too.
The theme this year was In It, To Win It. There were vendors with all kinds of wonderful things to sell from Christian literature to baby bows. There was tremendous singing from the Simpson family and other groups from their churches. And there was a line up of godly women there that the Lord used to help us grow closer to Him and to stand up on our battle field and fight to win because we are in it to win it!
It was a blessing to be there this weekend and I gleaned so much that my heart and mind are still sorting it all out.
But this morning, as I was pondering on the theme, I couldn't help but think of our children. Mrs. Ava had posted something on our church's facebook wall that just really aligned up with what my heart is feeling.
Listen, the devil wants nothing more than to snatch our children away from God. He will do whatever he can to steal them away. We are in a race to keep them away from him. He's been the devil a whole lot longer than we've been parents. And he's the best player on his team. So never underestimate him. If we are going to WIN our children to the Lord, we better listen to our Coach!
The first thing we need to do is PRAY. John Wesley once said, "God does nothing on earth save in answer to believing prayer." We have got to get on our knees for our children and pray the devil off of them. Pray that hedge around their minds and their hearts and their lives, that the devil can not get in and destroy them. The Bible says in II Timothy 2:22, " Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." One good way to help our children FLEE from their youthful lusts, is to set the example of following righteousness, faith, charity, and peace with a pure heart...and PRAY for them to know the difference. The devil is very cunning and a great imitator of the things of God. Pray, pray, pray for our young people to see the true things of God in their lives and not fall for Satan's deception.
The second things we need to do is PERSEVERE. Don't be so naïve to think your child is perfect. Trust me, they're not. There will come obstacles and trials in your children's lives that may leave you wondering where God is or if He even knows what you're facing with your child. He knows. And He has a plan. But He wants us to persevere. Don't throw your hands up in the air and walk away from your child. The Bible says in Galatians 6:9, "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." You will become weary at some point or another in your parenting. But don't give up! Persevere! The time will come when you will reap from your perseverance and prayers. Just hold on and continue fighting to win that child for Christ.
When I was thinking of another "P" word, I had to use the Thesaurus. I'll admit that I have never seen or heard this word before. But I liked it as soon as I saw it. Plus it's just fun to say. We must have PUGNACITY! In other words, we must have a STRONG desire to fight and be combative. As I thought about it, I pictured us as parents in the boxing ring with the devil. We have to be pugnacious in our fight. A right hook, left hook, to the stomach, the head...anywhere and everywhere, even below the belt. When it comes to fighting Satan, there are no rules to hold us back. JUST FIGHT! The lives of our children are at stake here! We are the vessel God is using to bring our children to Him. Fight for them to go to Heaven. Fight for them to live godly lives, according to the Word of God. To set all other things below Him. To focus on the Spiritual goal ahead of them. FIGHT to keep the devil away from them as they run the race, because he is doing everything in his power to trip them. Pugnacity. FIGHT to WIN because you can't win if you give up.
If we are faithful in prayer, continue to persevere, and are pugnacious in our fight...we can PREVAIL. There is no promise from God that the lives of our children will become what we desire. But there are promises to us that the seeds we plant in the heart of our children will take root and they will always remember their upbringing.
Mamas, "...be strong and of good courage..." "Fight the good fight of faith..." and keep on, keepin' on! Because we are IN IT TO WIN IT!
