The armor is your greatest defense!
“A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle, you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the 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 addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers...” Ephesians 6:10-18
We are in a battle. Whether we realize it or not, the enemy is always at work to discourage and distract us. I want to be clear—he does not have the power or authority to stop the calling of God on your life. But he can lie to you in hopes that you will agree with it.
According to verse 11, the enemy has a strategy for you, your life, and your relationships. And like a chess player, we have to be aware of what is happening in the game. Some of his moves are obvious, some are complex, some are going on right in front of us and we may not even see it happening. We wonder where discouragement is coming from. Why are we feeling so much fear? It can even seem like everyone is against us at times.
God tells us to “put on” the armor because it’s a choice. When we choose to put on the armor of God, we are intentionally protecting ourselves where we are most vulnerable.
One of the hidden assaults is the “fiery arrows” that come our way. The arrows are personalized with your name on them. The enemy doesn’t fight fair. He knows how to reach you in your place of pain and unless our shields are up, we will be targets.
The shield is a weapon of intention. We have to choose daily to pick up our shield knowing in advance the arrows will come. If an arrow comes through insult, we can choose to forgive right away. If we feel an arrow of fear, we can put our trust in God.
Verse 18 says to pray in the Spirit and at all times, and in every occasion. Paul is saying this so we stay alert and persistent because we know the enemy certainly is.
I want to encourage you today to be alert to the battle we are in. There is a battle for your relationships, your future, and your peace. But, God has said ‘greater is HE that is in you, than he that is in the world’. We are more than conquerors with Christ, but we have to engage the battle. The sword is not a weapon unless we use it. The shield will not protect us unless we hold it up.
Remember the tactics of the enemy are often meant to be subtle and unnoticed. Today, ask yourself—if I were to be attacked, where would that be? If you have an answer, be on guard for that area. We not only can protect ourselves against the enemy – we can also PUSH him back by using our sword (the word of God). You will win because God is on your side.
Put on your armor today ladies and stand firm!!
By Pastor Cari Stewart