Yesterday I shared about one parent’s regret and that ultimately it was the battle we face between good and evil. The common misconception is that we need to fight that battle on our own. That simply is not true, and when we try to do that, that is when we fail.
Let’s take a brief look at David. Throughout his young life, God was with David helping him do several things. David knew that he could not fight the battles alone. This is evidenced in 1 Samuel 17 when we see David preparing to do battle against Goliath. All of the trained soldiers feared their enemy, but the faith of young David was strong. He knew God was with him in the battle. He told the Philistines and everyone that “…all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give you into our hands.”
When we face struggles and battles with the enemy (Satan), we need to have God with us. We can not face the battle on our own. And we also need to know that “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)
God is with us in the battle, sometimes it’s taking the escape route He has provided, sometimes it’s allowing Him to use a smooth stone that we sling. We must put on the armor of God and do what God would have us do. David did not say that God would slay Goliath and then just stand there and wait, he gathered the stones and slung one. Just like David slung the stone, we need to do our part, what God would have us do, and then let Him work through that.
Battles can come in many forms and we need to be prepared for them by walking with the Lord, letting Him fight the battle for us.
For many families, as I mentioned yesterday, the battle is praying for their children who have walked away from the Lord. They are relying on the Lord to bring them back to Himself. Other families are facing other battles. Let us, as Awana – and other children/youth ministry – leaders walk alongside them in these battles – while being vigilent in the battles we face as well.
