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I’ve been fighting a war since I became a mom. It isn’t against you or your methods of motherhood. It isn’t against myself; my should have’s and shortcomings. No, the war that is waging in my mind and my midst is with an enemy far more cunning than you or me.
This is a different type of mommy war; not one we fight against each other but rather one we should be fighting together against the real threat in our lives.
Daily, we fight God, our relationships, our children, each other and ourselves thinking these are our enemies. We try to figure out and fix why we lack peace, connection and the deep joy we thought would come with motherhood. And we’re left wanting. . .tired. . .so far removed from the woman we thought we’d be at this point in our lives.
Somewhere along the lines the real enemy uses his greatest weapons of deceit and confusion to create a feeling of apathy within us. Weary of religion and the super-spiritualization of every. little. thing, we become unable to recognize our true opponent. But God wants to wake us up and give us eyes to see the real battle we face every day of our lives. Priscilla Shirer writes in her Bible study, The Armor of God, “The battle is unavoidable.” Whether we like it or not, we’re in it. Our only option is to choose to engage or retreat.
God has used Priscilla’s passion and her words to wake me up to the war that is waging all around me {and I’m only two weeks into her study!}. He’s reminding me to dress myself in his armor, utilize prayer to activate the armor and choose to walk in the victory he’s already provided.
This is a different kind of mommy war.
It’s the only war we need to fight. But we need to be ready, each and every day, armed with truth and other weapons of our spiritual warfare.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Ephesians 6:10-13 ESV
Be aware. Recognize the true enemy. When I returned home from Bible study the other night, fired up to fight the enemy with the truth I’d learned, I immediately entered a battle of lies in the form of a silly disappointment with my husband. I recognized the situation for what it was and diffused what could have turned into a big fight by simply reminding myself that this is one of the enemy’s greatest tactics for wreaking havoc in our homes. Our awareness is the first strategy to naming and defeating our true enemy. When we see each situation for what it really is, we avoid the disappointments, bad moods and discord often caused by small circumstances.
Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints. Ephesians 6:14-18 ESV
Put on his armor. More important than our favorite pair of jeans or the perfect lip gloss. . .we are not ready to face the day if we are not wearing our armor. . .which Priscilla points out is HIS armor (Isaiah 59), one he lends with love to his warrior daughters.
Choose to engage. Apathy is one of the enemy’s greatest strategies and I believe he uses this tactic with moms because there are so many other things we are fighting each day. But apathy for our spiritual well-being and the culture of our homes. . .yeah, he’ll use that play over and over again until we’re completely numb to this life we live. But when we recognize our enemy, put on our armor and choose to enter the battle each day, we engage with guaranteed victory because we’ve already won.
A friend shared the other night that at times it’s God’s wisdom to stand behind our armor and be still while he works on our behalf. Sometimes our engagement ends with putting on the armor and committing to prayer, trusting God to go to battle for us, as Moses did when he and the Israelites faced the army of Pharoah – “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14 NIV
Ask for strategic maneuvers. Priscilla declares at the beginning of this study on the The Armor of God, “Prayer activates the armor.” This is our first strategic maneuver in which we can ask for more tactics for the situation at hand. It’s the wisdom of heaven that reveals to us in the moment which move to make. We discover the wisdom by turning to God in prayer. At times he’ll show us how to fight and at times he’ll lead us toward peace.
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. James 3:17-18 NIV
Join a sisterhood of warriors. When we recognize our battle is not with each other, we tear down the walls of comparison, judgement, insecurity and difference and we join together as a sisterhood of warriors ready to fight the real mommy war that threatens our well-being, marriages, children, homes and communities.
This is a different kind of mommy war.
It’s a war I don’t want to fight alone. I’d like to go to war with you, my sisters, so that together we can win each daily battle and claim the victory already provided for us by the work of Jesus.
Do you feel like you face a war each day? What can you do today to arm yourself with truth and prepare yourself for battle?
Ahhh…SO good my friend! Thank you for this! It goes right along with so many things that Jesus has been speaking to my heart lately. Your paragraph on engaging — how satan so often uses apathy to derail us is so good. Thank you so much for this!!! And…would love to hear more about that Bible Study – was considering leading it at church sometime.
Amen. Love this, Jessica! Thank you for speaking such beautiful and needed truth into our hearts and minds. I constantly remind myself my battle isn’t against “flesh and blood” … these people in my life are not the enemy!