Never ever forget: if you’re a dad, you’re at war. You have one job: protecting your family against the enemy. When you lose sight of this, you’re in trouble. Are you battle ready? The best-selling book and blockbuster film American Sniper tells the tragic and riveting story of U.S. Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle. Kyle was arguably one of the most effective snipers in United States military history with one of the largest numbers of confirmed and unconfirmed kills.

A highly decorated warrior, Chris Kyle served four different tours in Iraq between 1999 and 2009. During this period, Kyle worked hard, suffered immensely (being shot multiple times and surviving six different IED detonations), and left a legacy as one of the most fearless and courageous soldiers in our nation’s history.

Kyle was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy in 2009 and retired to live out the rest of his life in a quiet town in Texas with his wife and daughter. But that’s not where the story ends.

 

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.”
—1 Peter 5:8-9 ESV

 

 

Do you have a wartime or peacetime mentality?

In February 2013, Kyle had taken a trip to a local gun range as part of a community service he had developed to help rehabilitate combat veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. One of the beneficiaries of this service named Eddie Routh had accompanied Kyle to the gun range that day to spend time learning from and getting to know the decorated veteran as part of his rehabilitation process. Police reports indicate at some point during their visit to the gun range, Routh opened fire on Kyle and another veteran friend killing them both. What a tragic end to such a momentous life. But this tragedy can be somewhat instructive for us as dads.

You see, Kyle was a highly skilled and decorated warrior. Kyle had been in combat situations the likes of which few (if any) other military personnel had ever seen, and lived to tell the tales. Facing dangers on every side nearly every day for over 10 years of his life, and completing his military career with distinction.

But at some point there was a shift in his thinking—from a wartime mentality to a peacetime mentality.

wrong enemy

For the Christian dad, you’re always at war.

When Kyle visited the gun range that day, he was not expecting a firefight. He found himself caught off guard and even such a mighty warrior fell. It was not a mistake in Chris Kyle’s situation to shift to a peacetime mentality. After all, he was now back at home in peace. But, as Christians, we don’t have that luxury. There is no honorable discharge from the Lord’s service. There is no retirement from the spiritual battle Christ has called us to.

There is no such thing as spiritual peacetime for Christian dads until our Lord returns. This is why many of the commands in the Bible related to spiritual warfare contain phrases like “be awake” (1 Thess. 5:6), “be sober” (1 Thess. 5:8), “be alert” (1 Peter 5:8), and “Be very careful, then, how you live” (Eph. 5:15).

Being alert and on guard is half the battle in guarding ourselves against the enemy and his devices. We must realize we are in a battle at home and in life, or else we will be consumed by the battle. Hiding our heads in the sand and pretending  there is no battle  will not keep us from attack. It will only make us and our families more vulnerable to defeat.

We have an enemy. But we also have an ally.

So, let’s hear the warnings breathed out to us by the Holy Spirit about our enemy, the devil, who would seek to sift us like wheat (Luke 22:31). But, let’s also hear the confidence and assurance given to us by our Lord Jesus who send us out into the world like sheep amongst wolves.

There will be attacks. There will be snares. There will be nakedness, danger, and sword. The enemy comes at us with any and every combination he can muster of the world, the flesh, and the devil. But we do not go alone. We have this promise: “I am with you” (Matt. 28:20) by the One who said, “Take heart, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Question: What are some things distracting you from the reality that you are in battle? Do you have safeguards set up on those things?

 

 

More resources for protecting your family

Want some additional help related to this topic? Check out these posts and resources for more insights.

 

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