What is a Battle Habit?

BATTLE…a sustained fight between organized armed forces who fight or struggle tenaciously to achieve or resist something. HABIT…a settled or regular practice that becomes automatic.

So…regarding Battle Habits, it’s a term I’m using because it makes sense to me.

Battle Habits – values encompassing habits that we build into the fabric of our family life, with conviction, to engrain in our family the processes that we believe will give them the best chance at victory and reveal Jesus, even in the toughest moments, so they are not a slave to circumstances, and they see life through the filter of Christianity, not being easily swayed by what the world does around them.

I’d rather not think of my family as part of a battle, but if I’m being honest, that’s exactly where I know we are and what I know, as a follower of Jesus, it is my job to prepare them for. We are reminded in Ephesians 6:12 that WE WILL struggle, “for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” I don’t like the sound of that, but it leads me to ask myself “how am I preparing my children for this struggle with the world?”

• What am I doing to help them to not be conformed “to the pattern of this world, but (instead) be transformed by the renewing of their minds” so they might actually be able to know “what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:2)?”
• How am I preparing them to just be sober-minded and watchful (1 Peter 5:8) since we are clearly told that our adversary, satan, “is prowling around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour?”
• How am I modeling and teaching Jesus in our home, with a balance of truth and grace, so that the fruits of the spirit might end up surfacing as part of this ambitious family struggle?
• Am I modeling the love of Christ both in and out of my home so love can find it’s place at the top of our battle plan? Lots of questions here…I’m asking them to myself, and I’m asking them to you.

Click HERE to read WHY IS A CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW IMPORTANT? at FocusOnTheFamily.com.

Simply stated, Battle Habits are how we are intentionally leading our families to not conform to the ways of the world, while leading them with structure, strength and love.

It takes solid family habits to battle against the long list of challenges Christian families are facing and fighting today (feel free to list what’s hitting you right now in Comments) – which leads me to ask you to think about your own family’s battle habits. Here are a few more questions to help you further evaluate being a BATTLE HABIT FAMILY:

• Is your family an “organized armed force” when faced with situations that challenge your beliefs or are you generally disorganized in regards to intentionally and proactively leading your family through the tough challenges that are facing Christian families today? (Please don’t be ashamed if you are the later. It has sometimes been all of us – and it’s happening to way too many families today.)
• Does your family have a vision, plan, or values that if your children were asked about, they would know what their family stands for and has a heart for? Do you see yourself being willing to “fight or struggle tenaciously” to keep your family aligned with this?
• What would you be willing to do in your “tenacious fight” to resist what is opposing your family vision or values?
• Now think about family habits, those “settled or regular practices” that would organize and discipline the LITTLE ARMY God gave you into a small force of unashamed, fierce and dependable warriors. Maybe you already have some great ones, like a weekly family prayer time, or reading and talking about scripture together (I have to mention those because they are so important!).
• And does your family ever have FUN together, so they will actually want to be there in the first place?

A new generation of courageous leaders who follow Jesus and serve Him well…this is our goal! It starts with us – when we lead our homes with a balance of truth and grace that stems from knowing and following God’s Word, the ripple effects are endless. They will touch a day we can not see.

For more direction on setting great family goals that can help establish a WORLD-CHANGING legacy, take a look at my Impact of Habits and a Family Vision Path post HERE.

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“Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in ones’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.” Psalm 127: 3-5