The Dream
A couple of nights ago, my husband had a dream that shook him to the core. In it, our son had been kidnapped. Alex went after him, desperate to bring him home. But when he pulled out the gun he had, it didn’t work. The man holding our son laughed in his face.
So, my husband did what any father would do—he fought. Fists flying, heart pounding, determined not to give up.
And in the middle of it, the man looked at him and said, “You teach him good, but I will teach him evil.”
Can you even imagine something like that?
My husband woke up frantic. Was this just a nightmare? Or was it spiritual warfare? He couldn’t shake it. He couldn’t leave it hanging like that.
Alex didn’t just roll over and go back to sleep like nothing happened.
No—he prayed.
He called on the name of Jesus. And then he went back to that dream to rescue our son. And this time, God gave him what he needed.
He saved him.
(The hymn ‘Victory in Jesus’ is playing in the background of my thoughts as I write this!)
Psalm 145:18–19
“The LORD is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does. The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”
My Own Dream
And here’s the wild part: this isn’t the first time.
Ten months earlier, I had a dream of my own. A man with the mafia was trying to recruit Jase. He handed him a pink card with a name on it.
I confronted him, yanking the card from Jase, and said, “You can’t have my son.”
Later, someone we knew from his previous school had keys to his room. They had come to steal something for the mafia and leave the pink card. I followed them inside, but I grabbed the card from them, took a photo, and stuffed it in my pocket. I stole back the keys.
I said again, “He will not have my son.”
They pleaded with me out of fear of the man, but I stood my ground and forced them out, locking the door behind me.
Do you see it? Two dreams. Ten months apart. Both of us—Alex and I—are fighting in the night for our son.
Our kids may not understand this. They think spiritual warfare isn’t as “cool” as physical warfare because you can’t see it. But we know better. We are fighting for them in ways they don’t even realize.
1 Peter 5:8
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
The Armor-Wearing Parent
Recently, Alex and I started doing a morning Bible study together on the Bible app. We just finished one on marriage, and as I was scrolling for the next plan, I stumbled across one called The Armor-Wearing Parent.
Day 1 was about putting on the armor of God for your home. I’d always thought about the armor as something for fear, but this was different. It was about protecting our kids, standing guard, taking our place in the fight.
Still, I wrestled. I told Alex I’d been seeing videos saying not everything is spiritual warfare. That maybe we give Satan too much credit sometimes. Demons aren’t omniscient. Do they really spend this much time attacking us?
What if this isn’t actually warfare?
Ephesians 6:10–12
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 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.”
The Phone Call
And then—the phone rang.
It was Alex’s mom.
Before he even answered, I was grinning ear to ear, because I KNEW what this was about.
She told us she wanted to call the night before, but it was too late. That morning, God put it on her heart not to wait any longer. She had to call.
Her words? Anoint your son. Pray over him for protection.
I about lost my mind, y’all. I was throwing my blanket on the couch, smacking it like a victory drum, jumping around the room, shouting what probably sounded like a war cry.
Meanwhile, Alex just sat there calmly, listening with a small smile.
But me? I was cheering like my favorite team just won the Super Bowl.
MY GOD WORKS.
MY GOD HEARS.
Isaiah 65:24
“Before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear.”
The Takeaway
God is listening. Always. (Psalm 139:4)
Spiritual warfare is real. While it may not always be the root of our troubles, it does happen.
Parents—be the ones who boldly step back into the nightmare to fight for your kids. (2 Cor. 10:3–5)
Anoint your children. Pray over them daily. Put on the full Armor of God and protect them.
Don’t fight alone. Call on Jesus. (James 4:7)
Prayer
Lord, we come before You this morning to thank You for moving on our behalf before we even ask for anything. You know of our needs and our troubles before we do. You see the fight in another realm that is happening, and You empower us to stand against the enemy. You call on us to put on Your armor and fight for our children so that they may have a place in Your kingdom. Thank You for listening, for being faithful, and for giving us all that we need to stand strong when our foundation is built on You. We lift up our children to You. Protect them from the enemy’s schemes, cover them in Your peace, and draw their hearts closer to You each day. In Jesus' name. Amen.