What a beautiful week it has been. The leaves are popping out at our place, I have some flowers planted, there have been some nice rain showers and everything is so green. These are the perfect setting for enjoying my time with my Lord on the front porch. I treasure my God, Jesus and Holy Ghost time. In this season of my life, I cannot afford to skip one morning of intimate time in His presence. There are too many distractions in life and I must guard my heart of confusing thoughts.
This is Memorial Day weekend. The children have been learning about the Armor of God and I thought it was something important to look at today. Just as those serving our country have been trained in battle and were taught the right equipment to protect their lives, the Lord has given us a plan that protects us against the wiles of our enemy, the devil. In the last couple years, the Lord has enlightened my eyes to see these verses different than I ever did before. They are about my identity and knowing who I am in Him. I am sharing these verses in Ephesians 6: 10-20 from the Passion Translation… You can also look them up in other translations. These verses are so vital right now as the enemy is doing his best to destroy but how awesome that our Father gave us a plan 2000 years ago!
“Now my beloved ones, I have saved these most important truths for last: Be supernaturally infused with strength through your life-union with the Lord Jesus. Stand victorious with the force of his explosive power flowing in and through you.
Just these verses alone can change your whole life!
Put on God’s complete set of armor provided for us, so that you will be protected as you fight against the evil strategies of the accuser! Your hand-to-hand combat is not with human beings, but with the highest principalities and authorities operating in rebellion under the heavenly realms. For they are a powerful class of demon-gods and evil spirits that hold this dark world in bondage. Because of this, you must wear all the armor that God provides so you’re protected as you confront the slanderer, for you are destined for all things and will rise victorious.
Put on truth as a belt to strengthen you to stand in triumph. Put on holiness as the protective armor that covers your heart. Stand on your feet alert, then you’ll always be ready to share the blessings of peace.
In every battle, take faith as your wrap-around shield, for it is able to extinguish the blazing arrows coming at you from the evil one! Embrace the power of salvation’s full deliverance, like a helmet to protect your thoughts from lies. And take the mighty razor-sharp Spirit-sword of the spoken Word of God.”
Pray passionately in the Spirit, (vitally important part that gets ignored a lot) as you constantly intercede with every form of prayer at all times. Pray the blessings of God upon all his believers. And pray also that God’s revelation would be released through me every time I preach the wonderful mystery of the hope-filled gospel. Yes, pray that I may preach the wonderful news of God’s kingdom with bold freedom at every opportunity. Even though I am chained as a prisoner, I am his ambassador.”
The belt of truth isn’t as much about not being a liar and not being truthful even though that is vital, it’s about speaking the truth of who I am in Him. Speaking words of life and not choosing to speak words of death, hopelessness, condemnation, quitting, discouraged, depressed and being useless. What has He said about me – you? These are the words I am to speak. “Your words are so powerful that they will kill or give life..” Proverbs 18:21 – Passion
The Breastplate of Righteousness protects my heart from those words and feelings of condemnation, pain, confusion that I speak, think and own at times. When I know I am righteous in Him I can do all things in Him and be who He has called me to be. I don’t have to protect my own heart with a wall that shuts His Life out but I can guard my heart and minister His love. “So above all, guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you are. Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for from there flows the wellspring of life.” Proverbs 4:23
Then there is having your feet shod with the Gospel of peace. When I walk in conflict and stress in my life, in my mind and heart there is no peace. His peace is not ruling my life. I have chosen to choose peace over stress. It’s a daily choice and sometimes minute by minute but the greatest choice I can make every day. I can share His love with others going through hard times and they don’t know He is the answer. “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!” Romans 10:15
The Shield of Faith saves our lives. I can get exhausted from trying to fight through deception, lies, offenses, hurts and cares of this world on my own. When I let down my shield of faith things can seem almost impossible. Walking in His faith protects my heart from the lies of the evil one and I go forward knowing who I am in Him and knowing in His faith I am “able to extinguish the blazing arrows coming at you from the evil one! “
Put on the Helmet of salvation. This isn’t just receiving the Lord as your Savior but we have to protect our thoughts and remember who we became when He became our Lord and Savior. “So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always.” Philippians 4:8
The Sword of the Spirit is His Word. My intimate time with Him and in His Word is one of the most powerful times of my day. His Word is alive and Truth. As I hide His Word in my heart, I am able to go forward in what He has called me to do knowing I am everything He says I am.
I don’t have time to drop my guard. There are too many lives that need to know Him and His love. I am thankful He never leaves me but keeps whispering, keeps loving, keeps showing me the way. I’m praying the Lord will show us ways to minister to other hurting people that are sometimes harder to reach. The time is crucial to go forward preaching His Love and Good News. The enemy wants to keep us disillusioned and wavering. There is no time for that!
Be supernaturally infused with strength through your life-union with the Lord Jesus. Stand victorious with the force of his explosive power flowing in and through you. AMEN