The Warriors Behind the Warriors

I have found myself in the middle of a sermon series that includes a message on spiritual warfare, and I realized that the Sunday I'm scheduled to address this critical topic just so happens to be Mother's Day. Spiritual warfare brings images to my mind of fighting devils and demons, and frankly, it's an uncomfortable subject for me. Mother's Day messages are typically sweet, sentimental, and focus on love.

The two subjects seemed at odds with each other. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that it is possible to connect the two topics and that it’s profound.

Because when I think of some of the fiercest warriors in the Kingdom of God, I think of mothers. They have waged warfare in quiet, back bedrooms, kneeling and whispering names in the glow of bedside lights, pushing back against the darkness. And frankly, the spiritual influence of mothers has often shaped the course of history. 

Let me give you a few examples.

Warrior Mothers

Nancy knelt on a dirt floor beside her small son's bed. She prayed that he would grow into a man of great character and would become a leader. That little boy would one day become President of the United States during one of its most divided periods. Nancy's influence over her son likely defined that season of our nation's history.

The little boy’s name was Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, known for his leadership during the Civil War and the abolition of slavery.

A mother named Eliza sat in the light of an old coal lamp, holding her worn-out Bible. She prayed for her son, pleading with God that he would walk in the light and not be lost. She could not have known that the seeds of the Word of God she planted in his young heart would one day echo through crowded halls and bring sinners to their knees.

That little boy's name was Charles Haddon Spurgeon, known as the "Prince of Preachers." He filled some of the largest halls in London with the Gospel message. He once wrote of a prayer his mother prayed that was embedded in his memory: “Now, Lord, if my children go on in their sins, it will not be from ignorance that they perish, and my soul must bear a swift witness against them at the day of judgment if they lay not hold of Christ.”

A mother named Ann was seeing off her son, who was leaving to become a sailor. She urged him to promise to read his Bible and begin and end each day with God. He finally promised that he would. She kissed him on the forehead and said goodbye. Her son would later testify, ”It was that promise and that kiss that made me a Missionary."

His name was Robert Moffat, a missionary to Africa and the father-in-law of David Livingstone, who was known for his tireless work in Southern Africa.

A lady named Catherine was both a wife and a mother. Her husband had an incredible vision for mission and outreach. She caught his vision, influenced and supported him tremendously, and she committed to social justice and evangelism as she spurred her husband on to reach his goals.

Catherine was the wife of William Booth, the founder of The Salvation Army, a movement that has brought hope and help to millions worldwide.

Then there is the story of Susanna, a mother of 19 children! She was a pastor's wife who became known for finding a place to pray in the middle of the chaos of a large family by throwing her apron over her head as a makeshift prayer shawl. Those prayers impacted two continents because two of her sons would start a movement that would spread like wildfire and affect Christians for generations.

She once wrote a letter to her son John with these words: “No one can, without renouncing the world in the most literal sense, observe my method, and there’s few (if any) that would entirely devote above twenty years of the prime of life in hope to save the souls of their children.”

That devotion and prayer life created the atmosphere in which her sons, John and Charles Wesley, grew up. They founded the Methodist movement and wrote hundreds of hymns and sermons, creating a spiritual awakening on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

There is a lady named Polly, who was not a mother, but she was a sister. She was paralyzed and bedridden for decades. But she prayed for her brother that God would use his ministry to bring souls to Christ. Her intercession helped shape the man God would use to preach the gospel to millions.

Her brother was William Carey, the “Father of Modern Missions.” His missionary work in India laid the foundation for today's modern missionary movement.

A mother named Monica prayed for her rebellious son, who for years lived a terrible life of sin. She earnestly prayed for him, often weeping uncontrollably. Monica feared he would stray even further from the truth when he planned to move to Rome. She prayed that he would not make the trip when he planned to move to Rome, but he deceived her and went anyway.

It seemed that her prayers were not answered, but her son would later write:  “By her flood of tears, what was she begging of you, my God, but that you would not allow me to sail? Yet in your deep counsel, you heard the central point of her longing.”

That young man went to Rome and encountered a bishop whose teaching was critical in bringing him to Christ. The young man’s name was Augustine of Hippo, who became one of the greatest theologians in church history and whose works are still studied in seminaries worldwide.

Mothers Make Great Warriors

These are not just great stories from the past. They are challenges for us today. I have intentionally overloaded you with multiple examples of the power of praying mothers, sisters, and wives who fought for great men of Christian history—spiritual warriors at their finest.

So why do mothers – and women in general – make great warriors? I think we find several explanations in the Scripture.

Mothers Reflect God in Their Fight

Although God identifies Himself as our Heavenly Father, He is the Creator of every mother (Genesis 1:27). The patience, persistence, and unrelenting love demonstrated by mothers flow directly out of the heart of the Creator. When a mother steadfastly fights for her family, she is fighting in the manner of God Himself.

Mothers Pray Persistently 

Mothers are persistent, and when they pray, they pray persistently. Jesus told a parable in Luke 18:1-8 of a widow who would not give up until her request was granted. A mother's prayers are distinguished by their relentless, faith-filled persistence that refuses to give up no matter what.

Mothers Declare and Decree

Proverbs 18:21 reminds us that “the tongue has the power of life and death.” A praying mother knows how to speak life into her children, call out their purpose, and declare and decree the protection of God and the will of God for her children in His kingdom. They know how to use the right words.

More Warriors are Needed

While it is true that mothers make fierce warriors, spiritual warfare is not reserved for mothers alone. Every believer is called to take up the weapons of the Sword of the Spirit (Hebrews 4:12), the shield of the blood of Jesus (Revelation 12:11), and the lance of Spirit-filled prayer (Ephesians 6:18) and stand in the gap. You and I are recipients of the answered prayers of many mothers. It is time for us to move to the front lines and engage in the unseen battle, too.