"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” Ephesians 6:10 (NIV)

Being a mom is a high honor and precious gift. At the same time, being a mom is tough.

One of the hardest parts is helping our kids navigate issues they’re facing. Thankfully, God feels our pain and knows our sorrow, and He knows exactly how to encourage us through His Word.

Ephesians 6:10-12 tells us: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (NIV).

Based on these scriptures, here are three truths every mama should know today:

1. God has not left you to parent your children alone.
The Lord is not asking us to find power within ourselves to overcome the issues we face with our kids. We are in a battle of epic proportions, and He calls us to put on His armor. His weapons aren’t just silly little suggestions that might or might not work — they are certain. Ephesians 6:14-18 (NIV) describes them:

• “Belt of truth.” I must park my mind in the truth of God’s love for me and my child.
• “Breastplate of righteousness.” I must let God’s goodness guide my reactions.
• “Gospel of peace.” I must walk in the peace that even when I can’t see things changing, God is working on my child’s behalf.
• “Shield of faith.” I must have faith in God’s timing and His ways.
• “Helmet of salvation.” I must trust that God’s ultimate desire is for my children to have a close relationship with Him as their Savior.
• “Sword … which is the word of God.” I must read God’s love letter to me and hold Truth like a lifeline between God’s security and my shaky heart.
• “All kinds of prayers.” I must see prayer as the very thing God’s most courageous warriors turn to first.

With this armor in place, we’ll be able to stand as we tap into power beyond ourselves.

2. There is a bigger battle going on.
Some battles we face with our kids seem impossible. Satan twists the truth. He hides consequences. He designs schemes with our weaknesses in mind.

Therefore, we have to battle Satan. He’s the real enemy here. And because we are Jesus girls, we hold the power for victory.

3. You can fight for your family with praise and prayers.
Oh, how I want to fight my kids’ battles by using what I can see. But that simply isn’t enough. So I fight with the only things I have that can reach into the invisible heavenly realm: my praise and prayers. I praise God for who He is and pray for Him to remove Satan’s influence in dark situations. By praying and praising, we call on the power of God — we bridge the gap between feeling powerless and experiencing victory.

Yes, being a mom is tough, but God understands our struggles. Since He, the perfect Parent, has been leading and loving His children since the beginning of time … I think He has the best advice around.

Father God, thank You so much that You have perfectly equipped me to do battle for my children. Today I lift my prayers and my praises up to You, believing for a mighty victory in their lives. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

OUR FAVORITE THINGS

To the mama who is constantly pouring out: We created a day where all you have to do is show up and be filled. Join us for Reset: A Saturday To Tend to Your Soul on August 17, 2024, in Atlanta, GA! As you hear from speakers like Lysa TerKeurst, Dr. Joel Muddamalle and Ashley Morgan Jackson, you will experience undistracted time away from the stress of your daily life so you can hear from God, even if He’s felt distant lately. Register now!

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FOR DEEPER STUDY

Ephesians 6:14-18, “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers …” (NIV).

Which part of the armor of God do you need to remember to put on today? We’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments.

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