The Empire Doesn’t Care

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My husband and I were driving in the car one day. As we came up to a light, I noticed a bumper sticker decal on the truck stopped in front of us. It was a Star Wars theme.

There was a picture of one of those starfighter crafts swooping down from the sky and shooting at a stick figure family on the ground. The family clearly features a father and a mother with three children, including a baby in a stroller, and they are running away for their dear lives.

The decal also has a caption below the picture that reads: The Empire doesn’t care about your stick figure family.

Now, this truck driver is probably a Star Wars fan and wants to poke some fun at those stick figure family decals that other people put on their cars.

But with all jokes aside, wow, I was struck with the truth of that bumper sticker: There’s an evil enemy empire that doesn’t care about your family.

Marriage and family—it’s all God’s design. And the enemy has sought to tear it down from the beginning.

As parents, whether we like it or not, we cannot forget that we are at war in the spiritual realms. The enemy will gladly tempt and discourage us, seek to drive wedges in our relationships and bring chaos, poverty, or sickness.

Paul told the church in 2 Corinthians 2:11 that he was not unaware of Satan’s schemes. Is that also true of us?

Here at RockAware, we want to see the next generation raised up as God’s warriors.

As parents, we’ll want to teach them to close doors of access to the enemy and to pick up the spiritual weapons God has given us.

But first, we need to teach them to be aware of the war that rages continually and of the enemy that seeks to derail them.

So, here’s a challenge for the week. When you have a minute with your kids, you may want to go ahead and show them the decal picture. Ask them if they understand the enemy’s plan to kill, steal, and destroy.

See if they can identify any specific ways the enemy tends to attack your family or them personally.

You can remind them of two scriptures: I Peter 5:8 that the enemy is like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour, so we are told to be watchful.

And of Ephesians 6:18 that says to stay alert and always keep praying.

Challenge your children to be more prayerfully watchful of the enemy’s schemes this week. Do it along with them and find times to pray together, so that you may be able to stand firm and victorious in Jesus in all that you do this week!

Learn more about RockAware’s Guard Pillar.

Unseen: The Prince Warriors 365 Devotional
By Priscilla Shirer / B&H Kids

Are you ready to win life’s battles? These 365 devotionals written by New York Times bestselling author Priscilla Shirer, are strategies designed to enable you to recognize the enemy, fortify your defenses, and become the warrior of God who uses their spiritual armor on a daily basis. Each daily devotional is broken up into two sections: Reconnaissance, Recon, and Actionable Intel. This is so that it is easier for readers to recognize a situation and act towards the victory God has planned for them. Designed with children ages 8-12 in mind. 384 pages, softcover from B&H.

A Kid’s Guide to the Armor of God
By Tony Evans / Harvest House Publishers

As one of the country’s most respected evangelical leaders, pastor and author Tony Evans challenges tweens to explore what the armor of God is all about. He understands that Christian kids want to be stronger, more confident, and skilled at living an exciting God-centered life, and so he presents the unvarnished truth.

Evans gives kids a plan for success by explaining:

• Scripture reveals who’s behind the world’s traps and snares and how to resist him.
• God offers all Christians a powerful suit of armor and mighty weapons.
• The suit includes a belt of truth and helmet of salvation to wear and shield of faith to carry into the battle.
• When every piece of God’s armor is worn correctly, the enemy is defeated and Christians finish victorious.

By learning how to dress in the armor God provides, preteens are able to speak the truth, stand firm in the faith, and spread the Good News of Jesus Christ!