The Full Armor of God

Armor of God
Ready for Battle

Your life is good. Everything seems to be going your way. God is answering all your prayers: a good job, healthy family, lots of friends. Until….now you want to question everyone and everything including God for what’s happening in your life. After all, God promised to take care of all your needs (Philippians 4:19) and answer all your prayers (Matthew 7:7). Now all you can think of is “where is God” during your hour of need?

In times such as these, we need to continue to focus on I Timothy 1:7: “God has not given us the power of fear but of a sound mind…” Ephesians 6:12 says, “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.” (NIV) It is at this time that we need to “ready ourselves for battle” against fear and self-doubt.

Ephesians 6:10-18 tells us to put on the full armor of God:

  • Belt of truth–buckled around your waist;
  • Breastplate of righteousness in place (protect the heart);
  • Sandals of peace–feet fitted with readiness;
  • Shield of Faith–extinguishes arrows of the evil one;
  • Helmet of Salvation–trust in Jesus’ death and resurrection; and
  • The Word of the Spirit–Word of God

THEN we must secure all of these with the Power of Prayer.

The enemy will use fear and self-doubt in trusting God’s Word when we are faced with unforeseen circumstances. We must BE ALERT and continue to trust in the Word of Truth and the leading of the Holy Spirit by putting on the full armor of God when we go into battle against the “powers of this dark world and spiritual forces of evil” which try to turn our eyes off Jesus and His love.

Trust your heart. Believe in the One who can comfort you, strengthen you, and guide you into all truth. Don’t believe in the lies and whispers. Put on the full armor of God and He will protect you from the enemy. God is the power we need to trust in and continue to believe in for everything that happens in our lives–both good and bad.

If you believe that Jesus died and rose again and that He is the source for you to rely on, then go to Him now and lay all your burdens at His feet. He will carry you just like the poem says in “Footprints in the Sand”.

May the Lord continue to help us as we ready ourselves for battle against the enemy today.

Blessings,

Yvonne

God’s Promises

God's promises
…every perfect gift is from above.

When I visit with my grandchildren throughout the week, invariably I hear the middle grandson saying “Nana, I pinky swear” after he asks for me to give him his last piggy back ride. We intertwine our small fingers and say “pinky swear” that this is the last piggy ride. Does this always work? Absolutely not–but it brings on the giggles–and then we talk about this gesture as a promise and what it means to promise another person something. Lesson learned perhaps for a brief moment but hopefully he will remember this as he gets older.

What is a promise? According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a promise is:

  • A statement telling someone that you will definitely do something or that something will definitely happen in the future;
  • An indication of future success or improvement (someone who shows promise);
  • Something will happen in the future.

We make promises to others throughout our lives whether it is to our children, spouses, teachers, bosses, and even to God. We agree to do “something for someone or that something will happen in the future” and give our word. When we make a promise, we need to also follow through on what we have promised. That, I believe, is the hardest part. Many of us have broken our promises to someone and in the end the broken promise has caused hurt feelings.

So what does God’s Word have to say about promises, and what does God’s promises mean for us?

Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (NIV) God promises to be with us now and in the future as we walk with Him.

Ephesians 3:14-16: “For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,,,,: *(NIV) God promises to strengthen us through the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Matthew 7:7: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (NIV) God promises to answer our prayers if we ask, seek, and knock.

Psalm 91:2: “I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (NIV) God promises to protect us–He is our shield and our fortress.

Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (NIV) God promises to give us rest from our weariness and our burdens.

Philippians 4:19: “And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” (NIV) God promises to take care of all our needs.

The Word of God is filled with many promises which declare God’s love for us. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (NIV) He promises to never change and to never withhold “that good and perfect gift from above.”

May the Lord help each of us to call upon and rely upon God’s promises as we continue to walk on our journey with Him.

Blessings,

Yvonne