Unmasking the Enemy’s Schemes

In the heat of parenting battles—tantrums, defiance, rebellion—it’s easy to mistake our children for the enemy. But we must remember that we do not fight the way the world does.

Your struggle isn’t against flesh and blood. You are not fighting against your strong-willed toddler, moody teenager, distant adult child, or even your child’s friend whose influence concerns you. The real Enemy is far more insidious, and he targets the minds and hearts of our children.

Today, practice shifting your perspective. When frustration rises, pause and ask yourself what is really going on. Are you seeing normal developmental behavior, or is there a spiritual stronghold at work? Are you dealing with your child’s immature impulses, or has the Enemy planted a lie that needs to be uprooted?

This discernment is crucial in warfare parenting. It allows us to respond with wisdom rather than react in anger. It helps us see past the surface issues to the root causes so we can address the spiritual needs behind our children’s behavior.

Remember that your child is not the enemy; they’re the prize Satan is fighting to win. Your role is to stand as a guardian, wielding the weapons of God’s love, truth, and grace to protect their heart and mind.

Pray for spiritual insight today. Ask God to help you identify any strongholds in your child’s life—patterns of thinking or behavior that don’t align with God’s truth. Then, armed with love and the power of the Holy Spirit, strategically tear down those fortresses, replacing lies with truth, fear with faith, and rebellion with a heart soft toward God.

Your battlefield is primarily spiritual. Fight wisely, fight lovingly, and watch God work miracles in your family.

Action Step: The next time your child exhibits challenging behavior, resist the urge to react immediately. Instead, take a moment to pray silently, asking God for discernment. Ask yourself, is this a discipline issue, or is there a deeper spiritual need? Write down your observations and any insights you receive. Then craft a response that addresses the behavior and the underlying spiritual problem. This practice will help you develop a more strategic, spiritually-minded approach to your parenting challenges.