We Have Armor


I’m sad.  I’m just sad.

I’m sad because we live in a fallen world.  I’m sad because I don’t know how to live a life that is well-informed, but where I’m also guarding my heart and mind.  I’m sad because I know that for all that we face now, unless we see a revival my daughter will face worse, because our society is waltzing its way down history-lane to places such as ancient Rome, Nineveh, and Sodom & Gomorrah.

My bubble has to be popped…and I’m terrified about that.  There are scary people in this world that do scary things.  There are heartbreaking stories out there of people suffering in the worst of ways.  I do not know how to handle that!  And God knows I don’t know how to raise a daughter to handle that!

Proverbs 4:23 gives the declaration: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

But how do I guard it?  How do I expose myself to the worst of this world and keep my heart pure?  Or my mind??

Take heart!

I love that phrase.  Isn’t it beautiful?  You know there’s some troubling news that precedes that statement, but it offers such comfort while inspiring courage.  In John 16:33, we find Jesus telling his disciples, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Then Philippians 4:7, we read Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi, encouraging them with these words: “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Sisters, (and any brothers reading this too), these words are for our good too!  And this is good news.  Really good news!  Yes, this world is fallen.  Yes, there is sadness and evil.  And yes, Jesus has it under control!  Praise be to Him!!!

He has overcome the world!!!

I don’t need to know how to guard my heart…God’s got that covered.  I just need to take it all to Him.  Not just that, but I can have peace in Him!  And that’s the end of it.  Jesus did it.  It is done.  And yes, we can end it right there.

But, ya know, there’s another bit of scripture that comes to mind.  A bit that reminds me that not only can we have peace in Christ, and not only will He guard our hearts and minds, but our God does not leave us empty handed!  Our God is a proactive God, and He equips us with everything good {Hebrews 13:20-21}.

We have armor.

“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 on.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”  {Ephesians 6:13-17}

We have a full set of armor given to us.  Armor that we are given with the intention of us using it!  We’re in a war, waged on earth between heaven and hell.  The Bible doesn’t make light of this, but we are oh-so-good at ignoring that.  But we can’t.  Not any more.

“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.  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.” {Ephesians 6:10-12}

 We live in a fallen world.  There is sin and evil running rampant.  It is imperative that we remember who our enemy is, the reason we have been given our suit of armor.

So yes, I may be sad, but I will not be idle.  I will put on my armor.  I will pick up the sword Christ has given me – the Bible – and I will learn to use it, and use it well.  And with God’s help, I will teach my daughter to do the same. Because I’m in the Lord’s army! (Yes sir!)

 

A She Speaks Pondering:

As you know, I attended the She Speaks 2015 conference at the end of July, (and I am still working on the blog about it!).  At the conference we were each given a verse.  This was my verse:

“Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, And he saved them out of their distress.  He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, And broke their chains in pieces.  Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!” {Psalm 107:13-15}

I don’t think it was happenstance that this was the verse given to me.  God knows my heart, (as He knows yours), and I believe He is equipping me for His work.  I give Him thanks, for preparing me and for whatever lies ahead.


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