The Secret Enemy Every Dad Needs to Know About!

You can’t win the battle if you don’t know you’re in one.

This week on Father Like the Father, Alec kicks off our new Armor Up series with a challenge from Ephesians 6: stand firm.

Because fatherhood isn’t just raising kids.
It’s spiritual warfare over their hearts, their minds, and their future.

📖 Ephesians 6:10–13

“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.”

This episode is for dads who:

• Feel distracted and worn down

• Want to lead their family spiritually

• Need to wake up to the real battle they’re in

Ask yourself: “Where have I given up ground?”

Name it.
Write it down.
Pray: “God, help me stand firm here.”

Because you can’t fight what you won’t name.
And the first step to winning is refusing to quit.

You don’t have to fight alone.
Rooted in Brotherhood is our free community of faith-filled dads who are growing together, getting real about the battle, and leading with purpose.

👇 Click here to join:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/282732511309028

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
You can't win the battle if you don't know you're in one.
Hey guys, this is Alec, and welcome back to Father Like the
Father. This is our new series called
Armor Up. Let's start this off by being
real for a second. You can't win a battle if you
don't know you're in one. I think a lot of us dads are
walking around unprepared. We know we want to protect our

(00:20):
families. We want to lead well, but we
forget that there's an enemy whowould love nothing more than to
see us give up, drift, get lazy,get distracted, or feel
defeated. In Ephesians 610 through 13 it
says, finally, be strong in the Lord and his mighty power.
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand

(00:42):
against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against
flesh and blood, but against therulers, against the authorities,
against the powers of this Dark World, and against the spiritual
forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Therefore, put on the full armorof God.
Paul knew this when he wrote Ephesians.
He didn't say just do your best.He said put on the full armor of

(01:04):
God. Paul wasn't talking to pastors
or theologians. He's talking to ordinary
believers, dads, husbands, workers, people just trying to
figure life out. He's telling us that we're in a
fight that we might not even see, you know?
And that's so real for us. We think our battles are with
our schedules. We think our finances are

(01:24):
married. Conflicts are our kids tantrums.
But Paul says the real struggle is spiritual.
There are schemes, lies, temptations, things specifically
designed to knock you off your course.
As a dad, I don't want to scare you with this, but I want you to
wake up because the enemy doesn't have to destroy you
outright. He just has to convince you to

(01:45):
lay down your armor and stop fighting, to stay silent when
your family needs you to lead. You know, I think of all the
times that I've gotten distracted, like things like I
let my phone win instead of paying attention, I lose my
temper. And so showing grace times, I
don't want to pray because I feel unworthy.
And you know what? Those moments weren't just bad

(02:07):
habits. They were battles that I was not
ready for because I was not armored up.
We try to fight spiritual battles with our own strength
and we're losing. God does not expect you to be
the perfect dad, but He does expect you to be a present one,
an equipped 1A spiritually awareone.
Paul says be strong in the Lord and his mighty power.

(02:30):
The armor isn't yours, it's his.But you do have to choose to put
it on. You do have to choose to show up
and you do have to choose to stand.
Your family doesn't need a superhero.
It needs a dad who refuses to back down.
This week, your challenge is, I want you to ask yourself, where
have I given up ground? Is it your prayer life, your

(02:52):
marriage? How you talk to your kids?
What are your watching and consuming?
Name it, write it down. Pray God help me stand here
because you can't fight what youdon't see and what you don't
name. And the first step in winning is
refusing to quit. Listen, if this hit home for
you, you don't have to fight alone.

(03:13):
We've built rooted and brotherhood.
So dads like you can get real, get equipped and get connected
with other men who want to lead.Well, it's free, it's real, and
you are invited. So click the link in the show
notes. Let's armor up together.