Armor of God (Part I)...

May 14, 2009

Danielle Joyner Kelley

Growing in your faith and learning to recognize God’s truth and the power of the Holy Spirit is the key to happiness and fulfillment. It is also a challenge, and God knows that. You not only have to battle yourself and your own ways, but you have to battle your enemy who has woken up to attack you because you are taking up a walk with God.

Therefore, you will need the keys to beat the odds stacked against you. Luckily enough, God is there to help you with His word, His Spirit, His salvation, His truth, His peace, His glory, and His righteousness. But remember you have to be active in seeking them. “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13.

We are told in His word that they are the key to the battle you have walked into. They are the new clothing you will wear on your walk with God no matter what the circumstances are around you. “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.” Ephesians 6:10-11.

Be strong in Him and wear your full armor. Life will throw you so many challenges, and Satan will make them much bigger than they normally would have been. However, you can be strong because you are dressed for the occasion. You did the work to prepare for battle.

No one should go to war without training, and no one should go into battle without the proper equipment. We dress appropriately for where we are going. We don’t wear suits to go fishing, and we don’t wear bathing suits to church. And we do not go into battle without armor.

“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.” Ephesians 6:13-18.

Now that you have grown stronger in the Lord, you are to stand firm. If the ground is shaking you do not move. If it is raining you do not run away. Lightening does not scare you. You are firmly planted and safe. He is holding you.

How do you do this? You have the pieces of armor on listed above. Note that the first three are items that you have on at all times, whether engaged in battle or not in order to be ready when the time comes. The last items are used in the battle itself.

Time to get prepared…