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. Ephesians 6:13-17
I have been working my way through the Pauline epistles and today was the end of Ephesians. While reading and meditating on this final chapter on my way to work, God spoke some things I would like to share for today's WFW.
We are encouraged in these verses to put on all the armor of God that is available to us. As soldiers in a battle we know that if we put on some of our armor and leave off some, we are open for attack in certain areas.
Paul says, "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist". You and I know the truth, we know what a belt is for, but what good does that do us if we don't use it? Many times we go shopping and my daughter would say my pants is dropping off mom. My question is always the same,"Are you wearing your belt?" Nine times out of ten the answer is no. If we don't have that belt of truth, which is the truth of God's word buckled around our waist, our spiritual pants are sure likely to fall off. We need the word of God deeply entrenched in our beings. It's not good enough to just know where the verses are or just what they say, we really really need to cement His word deep inside of us. Have the belt of truth buckled, don't just wear it, make sure it's buckled for the times when harsh cold reality of life comes at us, it's only the truth of God's word that will keep us.
He also went on to say, "have your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace." The peace that comes from God word, keeps us prepared. If we have turmoil and frustration in our lives all the time we will never be ready and prepared to go places with the gospel. Feet that are fitted properly can walk purposefully. I think one of the most uncomfortable feelings is wearing shoes that are not fitted, either too big or too small. Ugggghhhhh!!! It's a terrible feeling. Shoes that slip off as well are just as bad. How can we walk out the purpose God intended for us if we are not prepared and ready with the gospel? I don't want to drag my feet anymore in doing God's work. I want to have the peace that passes all understanding so I can be ready in body and spirit to do His will. Otherwise I won't be able to stand.
Finally I thought about the next two urgings that came from Paul. He said, "Take up the shield of faith." I have faith, we all have faith, because the word says God has deposited a measure of faith in each of us. That's a start for us all. God gives us something to build on, He hasn't left us defenseless. We have to take up the shield of faith Paul says. Move it from where it has been lying dormant. Activate the faith that God has given you. Use it to extinguish the flaming arrows that the enemy is throwing your way. This is such a challenge to myself as well to take up my faith and use it for the building of the kingdom. Stop using it as a decoration Vickie.
Take up the helmet of Salvation and the sword of the spirit. Get a new attitude of mind, through the word of God. Change your thought patterns and change the world around you. Jesus did a finished work on Calvary. He has placed all the tools and weapons we need to make it. Everything that we have ever needed to make it and to make a difference has already been provided. We just need to take up and put on our gear and get ready for the battle. Why be afraid? We already know the outcome. We are victorious..
Blessings,
Have a great day in the Lord.
Don't forget to visit WFW right here.
Vickie
I have been working my way through the Pauline epistles and today was the end of Ephesians. While reading and meditating on this final chapter on my way to work, God spoke some things I would like to share for today's WFW.
We are encouraged in these verses to put on all the armor of God that is available to us. As soldiers in a battle we know that if we put on some of our armor and leave off some, we are open for attack in certain areas.
Paul says, "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist". You and I know the truth, we know what a belt is for, but what good does that do us if we don't use it? Many times we go shopping and my daughter would say my pants is dropping off mom. My question is always the same,"Are you wearing your belt?" Nine times out of ten the answer is no. If we don't have that belt of truth, which is the truth of God's word buckled around our waist, our spiritual pants are sure likely to fall off. We need the word of God deeply entrenched in our beings. It's not good enough to just know where the verses are or just what they say, we really really need to cement His word deep inside of us. Have the belt of truth buckled, don't just wear it, make sure it's buckled for the times when harsh cold reality of life comes at us, it's only the truth of God's word that will keep us.
He also went on to say, "have your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace." The peace that comes from God word, keeps us prepared. If we have turmoil and frustration in our lives all the time we will never be ready and prepared to go places with the gospel. Feet that are fitted properly can walk purposefully. I think one of the most uncomfortable feelings is wearing shoes that are not fitted, either too big or too small. Ugggghhhhh!!! It's a terrible feeling. Shoes that slip off as well are just as bad. How can we walk out the purpose God intended for us if we are not prepared and ready with the gospel? I don't want to drag my feet anymore in doing God's work. I want to have the peace that passes all understanding so I can be ready in body and spirit to do His will. Otherwise I won't be able to stand.
Finally I thought about the next two urgings that came from Paul. He said, "Take up the shield of faith." I have faith, we all have faith, because the word says God has deposited a measure of faith in each of us. That's a start for us all. God gives us something to build on, He hasn't left us defenseless. We have to take up the shield of faith Paul says. Move it from where it has been lying dormant. Activate the faith that God has given you. Use it to extinguish the flaming arrows that the enemy is throwing your way. This is such a challenge to myself as well to take up my faith and use it for the building of the kingdom. Stop using it as a decoration Vickie.
Take up the helmet of Salvation and the sword of the spirit. Get a new attitude of mind, through the word of God. Change your thought patterns and change the world around you. Jesus did a finished work on Calvary. He has placed all the tools and weapons we need to make it. Everything that we have ever needed to make it and to make a difference has already been provided. We just need to take up and put on our gear and get ready for the battle. Why be afraid? We already know the outcome. We are victorious..
Blessings,
Have a great day in the Lord.
Don't forget to visit WFW right here.
Vickie
9 comments:
Vicki,
Thank you for visiting my blog today!
Praising Him for your completed poetry book!
May you be blessed today!
Jill
Happy WFW! :)
Vickie, this is a FANTASTIC post! Great wisdom and imagery here! Isn't it awesome that He does give us the tools we need to make it through this life? Now it's just up to us to use them. Blessings!
"It's not good enough to just know where the verses are or just what they say, we really really need to cement His word deep inside of us."
This is so true! I really need to work on this area of my Christian walk. I need to memorize Bible verses in areas I need to work on and then each day use them as a situation presents itself where I could use that verse. That way I don't just know the verse, I live it! :) Great post!
PS Thank you for the kind post to on my blog, it really touched my heart :)
Feet that are fitted properly can walk purposefully.
Yeehaw...I loved your statement!
GLORY TO GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!
I also so agree with "activate the faith"....apply God's word.
Sister, this so speaks to my heart.
Lovingly,
Yolanda
Amen, what a powerful word!!
Really enjoyed this today.
Blessings to you and so nice to meet you~
This is one of my favorite scriptures! Thank you for it today. I need to take up my shield of faith even more!
Hi Vickie, Have you tried Dayspring and Lawson Faille for cards? I know a writer who had several accepted at Dayspring and Blue Mountain. Glad to see you moving forward!
Vickie,
You are real and authentic and what glory that gives to The King, Our Father!
I love your posts for being full of HIS Spirit and "unveiled" before HIM.
Thank you for commenting encouragement on that tough post on my blog. That was actually a dream, but in truth, it wasn't all that different.
I will never forget how my wandering from the straight path, led me to the cliff edge of a pit that I fell into. It's the worst thing and the best thing. If not for that pit, I would not know HIM or love HIM as I do now.
I don't recommend a season in the darkest places to fall in love with Sunshine...but you never take it for granted ever again.
Be Blessed Dear One,
Teri
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