A Child's Best Defense
Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.
Matthew 19:14
I am often asked if little children can come under demonic attack. The answer is yes. Three of my seminary students have told me about strange behaviour patterns in their respective children. At times each of these kids stepped out of character and misbehaved. No attempts at discipline seemed to work. I encouraged my students to ask their children if they were having thoughts that provoked them to misbehave. In all three cases they answered yes. When these parents dealt with the deception instead of the misbehaviour, the discipline problems cleared up.
One young boy who was caught lying and stealing from his parents said, "Daddy, I had to do it. Satan said he would kill you if I didn't." The boy's father later told me that if he hadn't heard me speak about the battle for the mind, he would have severely disciplined his son for trying to blame the devil for his actions. Instead, he confronted the enemy's lie and hugged his son for trying to save his life. The lying and stealing stopped immediately.
Proverbs 23:7 says, "For as he thinks within himself, so he is." Unfortunately, we see the behaviour and try to change that. We need to find out what is going on inside. No one does anything without first thinking it; whatever controls the mind controls the behaviour.
A child's best defense against demonic attack is his simple, trusting faith. Children are quick to believe, and they usually understand far more than we parents give them credit for. Furthermore, your children have the added protection of being under your authority. As you carefully and prayerfully guard and nurture your freedom in Christ, chances are that your children will walk in freedom also.
Let’s Pray: Loving Father, help me to establish in the minds of my children simple trusting faith that is based on Your eternal truth.
Neil T. Anderson is the founder of Freedom in Christ Ministries. He began the ministry in 1989 and continues to spread the message of freedom to this day.