Draw Near

“It’s so important that we teach our children to be on guard, recognize how the enemy works against us, and know what to do when it happens.”

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4:8 ESV

Starting something new, whether it’s marriage, motherhood, a job or a new role, or even a child starting a new school year, always brings new challenges, new routines and a lot of unknowns. There are always so many emotions - nervousness, excitement, worry. In my experience, that’s when the devil likes to creep in, grab hold of those emotions and run with them. He takes mild anxiousness and turns it into endless intrusive thoughts and lies that are difficult to see around. 

Have you been there, mama? Have you seen this happen in your children?

The only way to combat these lies and attacks from the devil is to go to our God, who fights these battles against the enemy. In our verse, James is urging us to submit to God, draw near to God, cleanse our hands, and purify our hearts. Why? To resist the devil. The enemy will flee from us as we draw closer to God.

As we start a new school year, this is such an important verse to teach our children too. Our children will experience the same challenges and emotions, and they are not immune to the schemes of the devil. It’s so important that we teach our children to be on guard, recognize how the enemy works against us, and know what to do when it happens.

Encouraging your child to have a relationship with God, a foundation that’s already there when the devil starts to creep in, is the best way we can teach this. 

Mama friend, what changes, challenges or new routines are happening in your life? Resist the devil during these emotional transitions by going to God, who loves you more than you could ever know and wants to be in a relationship with YOU. 

Action Steps:

• Make a plan to teach your children to draw near to God. What will that look like for your family and your children? 

  • Including your children in your morning time with God, or teaching them to have their own?

  • Being purposed to have more prayer in your house? Praying before school every single day?

  • Checking in with your children, asking how their relationship with God is going?

  • Reminding them every day that God loves them?

• Listen to “Draw Near” by Bethel Music and Jeremy Riddle

Prayer: God, I fully submit to you, and resist the devil. I want to draw closer and closer to You, God, so I can be on guard against the lies and schemes that are not coming from You. As I lay the foundation of a relationship with You for my children, help them continue to build and build upon that foundation. I ask that their school year be so full of Your Holy Spirit that others can literally see You pouring out of them. In Your name I pray, amen. 

Written by Cathrine, mom of 2 school aged children, and 2 littles

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