Put on the Whole Armor of God

Although I've read these verses time and time again, this morning they seem to bear so much more meaning and understanding to me.

"Be strong with the Lord's mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the devil. For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms."

"Use every piece of God's armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the sturdy belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News, so that you will be fully prepared. In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by satan. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere."

To withstand the attacks on the church, Paul is saying the "whole" body, every believer needs to be armed and ready to fight against the evils of this world. Our battle isn't against people, it's against satan.

So, how are we to be prepared?

Standing Firm, together, against satan's attacks.

Using God's Word to guide us, faith to shield us, salvation to protect us, and prayer as our constant and daily strength!

I've found, in my own personal life, that I'm turning to God's Word more and more because I want to be ready for these attacks and I want to know what His Word says to be true. As Christians, if we don't know what His Word says, how can we be prepared? How can we really "know" what His truth is? How can we possible fight the battles without a shield?!

Its becoming increasingly more clear to me, in these last days,

that we can't fight these battles on our own.

We have to put on the Whole Armor of God.

I encourage you to dig deep in His word!

Really study and absorb it more than you ever have before.

Be ready and armed to stand firm when it's time for battle!

Lastly, I'll leave you with this...

Paul ends this letter with this...

"And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words as I boldly explain God's secret plan that the Good News is for the Gentiles, too. I am in chains now for preaching this message as God's ambassador. But pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should."

Eph 6:19-20

Those last few words are amazing to me...

Paul is in prison for preaching the Word of God.

In chains, he asks for prayer...

Not that he would be released from the chains, or set free from prison,

but so that he can keep preaching, boldly,

the message of God, as he should.

So many times we ask to be "released" from our situations, or to be set free...

"Even as we pray for a change in our circumstances, we should also pray that God will accomplish his plan through us right where we are."

The Battle as already been won!!!

Love ya'll! Strive to be Different!