Most of us would not consider leaving home without being fully dressed. As children, many of us were told of the importance of wearing clean underwear!
However, do you also make sure you’ve got all of your spiritual clothes on, at all times?
What people may notice first is our outer wear — our clothes and our body. But there is more to us than that. We have vital “inner wear!”
In Ephesians 6:10-20, Paul warns us that there is a big bully called the devil, who is going to try to fill our days with evil. Fortunately we don’t have to go up against him in weak human flesh alone. Our Father God is with us at all times.
The devil fights on the spiritual level. So can we! Our part is pretty simple. Be sure we have all of our spiritual inner wear on, stand firm and watch God fight for us.
Paul says to put on “the whole armor of God.” So be sure you’ve got it all firmly in place.
Have The BELT OF TRUTH buckled around your waist. Your belt keeps your pants up! Keep that belt buckled up. Know what is God’s Truth and what is a lie of the devil.
Put on THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. The Breastplate protects your heart and other vital organs.
The devil will try to quote scripture to you. He will say to you, “There is no one righteous, not even one.”
Romans 3:10
Don’t let him throw you. You are not standing in your own righteousness. You get The Breastplate of Righteousness from God the same way Abram did.
“Abram believed The Lord, and He credited it to him as Righteousness.”
Genesis 15:6
Get your shoes on. Be sure your feet are fitted with the READINESS that comes from THE GOSPEL OF PEACE.
Know God’s Word ahead of time, so you will be ready.
Know that His Gospel is a Gospel of Peace. Receive His Peace, so it will radiate from the inside of you, as you stand firm.
Be ready to move when God says move. Be alert to His Command. Be ready to go when it’s time.
Take up THE SHIELD OF FAITH with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Know Who God is. Believe His Word, even as the flaming arrows of the enemy are headed your way. Have faith that God knows The Plan and He is in charge. The battle belongs to The Lord!
Put on your HELMET OF SALVATION. Your helmet protects your brain and all the vital organs of your head and face. One of the devil’s biggest attacks will come against your mind. If he can get into your mind, he is on his way to victory.
Focus on God’s Peace. But get out your sword. What? You just said to be at peace! That’s right. You will be using a different kind of sword.
You will be using THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, which is THE WORD OF GOD!
Hold fast to God’s Word. It is The Truth in every situation. When you start to feel confused or unsure in the heat of battle, quote The Word out loud. You will hear it. The devil will hear it. And God’s Words of Salvation have a Power all their own.
God’s Words are God Himself!
In the beginning was The Word, and The Word was with God, and THE WORD WAS GOD!
John 1:1
Listen to how powerful God’s Word is!
“For The Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12
So are you ready for battle? Not quite. You might know The Mission, you might be trained, you might be dressed, you might be armed, but if you are not in constant communication with your Commander, the battle may still be lost. How do you stay connected?
Paul tells us.
“And PRAY in The Spirit on all occasions and with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert, and always KEEP ON PRAYING for all The Lord’s People.”
Remember to wear all of your inner wear all of the time. When the devil comes, just smile, stand and watch God run him off!
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
James 4:7
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