Craig Groeschel, a pastor and popular author has written a new book for men entitled, “Fight: Winning the Battles That Matter Most.”  In an interview for the Christian Post he said something that got my attention.  He was asked, “What are some of the weapons that God has equipped men with to become warriors?”  This is part of what he said.  “…. we could also pray and as men that’s sometimes  harder to do for whatever reason but we can learn to fight on our knees in prayer, that’s the strongest place we can fight.  Sometimes, the strongest thing we can do and the best weapon you can have is to show unconditional love to someone and to apologize and ask for forgiveness when we’ve wronged someone…”

I agree with the focus on prayer, along with love and forgiveness.  When men are told they need to be warriors and fight, they often think of physical action and confrontational  behavior.  That is not how we are to fight as men. Paul warns us, “We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do.  We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the stronghold of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments'” (II Cor 10:3-4).  In Eph 6:12 we are told that “we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies…”   Paul talks of “weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense.” (II Cor 6:7)   Phillips translation reads, “Our sole defense, our only weapon, is a life of integrity.”  That says it well.  We are to be warriors who live with integrity as our greatest weapon.

Godly men are ready to fight for their families and other who are dear to them. In Nehemiah we read, “Don’t be afraid of them.  Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”  (Neh 4:14).  Men, we do this by prayer and our example of love and forgiveness  (“a life of integrity”).  Nothing is more powerful then integrity in your family. With integrity you fight in prayer by naming and remembering your loved ones.  I do this continually throughout the day as I remember my children and their families.  I cannot stress how vital your prayers are in the spiritual realm.  Don’t ever minimize your prayers. Your family needs your prayers.  You are the spiritual priest in your home.  No one can take your place.  Take you place in integrity

Furthermore, your example of love and forgiveness will send shock waves throughout the spiritual realm.  This is not the way men should fight.  But there were times  raising my family, when we were under attack spiritually, we needed to let some spiritual “air conditioning” into our family.  This happened when I took the lead by humbling myself and asking for forgiveness for my attitude.  Men, we fight by have a genuine heart of love and forgiveness for those closest to us.  Listen again to Jesus instruction to us in Mark 10.  “Whoever wants to be great must become a servant.  Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave.  This is what the Son of Man has done: he came to serve, not to be served – and then to give away his life in exchange for many who are held hostage.”  We are to be servants in our families, not overlords or absent, passive fathers.