I used to love playing dress up when I was a child. Oh, the imaginations we had! We could find just about anything to make ourselves into super heroes. We would use a pillowcase & a clothespin to make a super hero’s cape and aluminum foil to make the very cool and powerful bracelets like “Wonder Woman”. It was so much fun! Now I get to see my kids play dress up. Let me just say for the record, that Ben no longer plays dress up, only Callie and Caleb! But there was a time when Ben was little, that he had some very cool super hero costumes! Lol! Just the other day, Caleb came downstairs with a blanket tied around him for a cape, his blue laundry basket over his head for his helmet, and of course, let’s not forget the neon light up sword that he got in Disney World. He was a super hero armed and ready to fight the “bad guys”.
It really got me thinking about how I go through my day. When we wake up in the morning we usually have our “to-do” list in full steam ahead and are planning for a busy and productive day. We know that in order to be ready for the day, we have to get our shower, get dressed, eat breakfast, brush our teeth, and head out for the day. Not a lot of thought about those things, they are the normal activities that are ingrained in us. But are we armed and ready for what lies ahead? In a super hero movie, you have the brave super hero trying to fight off the evil villain that causes so much harm and they do so using the special powers they were given. In all movies I have seen, good defeats evil every time! Same is true with our Christian lives. Satan is a very real presence and can cause much chaos and turmoil. He is real and he is active, but the great news is we have everything we need to fight him off. We have the power of God and he has given us clear direction in fighting the battle.
Ephesians 6:10-18 “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. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
I just love my Jesus! During difficult times, and trust me I have had some in the last several months, his word provides my list of armor to help me through. How can I go about my day without putting on the full armor of God? If I want to fight the battle that Satan dishes out I have to be prepared. Notice how it says in verse 13 “when the day of evil comes”, not “if”. So my dear friends those days will come and we have to be prepared. Reading this passage and feasting on it lately has made my perspective so different. I have heard this passage many times in my life, but how urgent it has become. Just look around and see what is going on in the world and it is time to be strong in the Lord and HIS mighty power!
So before my feet hit the floor in the morning, I am arming myself with the full armor of God; belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, footgear to spread the good news, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and using the sword of the Spirit all day long. Prayer and God’s word are what we need more of! I am so grateful for my God and how he equips us to fight this battle. We don’t have to go it alone. I challenge you all to read and feast on this passage as well and see the urgency to be always in the full armor of God. Awesome things will be witnessed as we see God’s people fully armed and ready to stand against the devil’s schemes!
Blessings~
Allison
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