Armor of God

In the past few years, we have all had to deal with hard times in one way or another, especially in Michigan, and everyone has dealt with those challenges differently.  I have often been taught that as Christians, we should be even more ready to deal with anything this world may throw at us.  However, I have also been taught that Christians will have a harder time in the world because we are followers of Jesus Christ.  This has always seemed like a paradox to me. Christians are going to have a harder time and they are supposed to be even more prepared and ready.  Sounds like fun, right?

Unlike many parts of the Christians life where people want to know the secret to success when there isn’t one other than faithfulness, for this, there is one – or at least that is what I like to think.  The secret to making this paradox of a harder time and being even more ready is found in Ephesians 6.  It is there we find the Amor of God.  In this armor we have the belt of truth, the breastplate of salvation, feet fitted with the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and sword of the Spirit.  This is how we are able to stand our ground in faith.  It is actually an amazing list of how God will protect us against the flaming arrows the world can throw at us.

We are not called to go out there and suffer on our own for Christ.  We are given armor to help and protect us.  We have armor to protect our hearts and minds, and to help us stand strong.  With God’s armor we can handle anything that world may throw at us because it has the power of God.  The problem is that many times, we don’t actually put this armor on.  We don’t spend time in prayer or God’s word.  We try to battle everything we face with our own strength and broken tools and wonder why it doesn’t work.  I know there have been times in my life that I can look back and see that I left the armor of God at the door and walked in on my own, with a less than happy results.  There are other times where I mentally put the armor of God on before I walk into tough situations asking God to protect my heart, my head, my steps, and everything that I am doing.

Know that no matter what you may face in this world; God has given us His armor that we be able to stand firm for Him.

“10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 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. 13 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. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”  Ephesians 6:10-18

God bless, Rev. Liz Arakelian, www.LivingHopeEC.org