Wednesday

02.02.11: Be Encouraged, Part Three

BE ENCOURAGED & PUT YOUR ARMOR ON EVERY DAY

Go over to Ephesians 6 and get started RIGHT NOW!!
Why put it on? v.11 - so “that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Just so ya know, no power of hell, no scheme of man can EVER pluck you from His hand...you need to repeat that and commit it to memory - NO power of hell, NO scheme of man can EVER pluck you from HIS hand. 
Who are we fighting? v.12 - “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against power, against the rulers of the darkness of this age (and remember that they will only rule in THIS age and not the age to come), against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Their powers are only good on Earth. So do you know that God is light (good), and when God is present, darkness (evil) can not exist - it’s an impossibility. So when you call out the Word of God - when you believe it & speak it out loud  the gates of hell shake and the Enemy runs for cover. Did you know that??
What happens when I put it on? v.13 - you can “withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Not “you might be standing”. Not “so that you can get up afterwards”. It’s so that you can WITHSTAND & REMAIN standing. There’s this whole “moving from glory to glory” thing that I don’t fully understand, but I believe it relates to this verse and supports that moving (requires action on our part) from glory (success in GOD’s EYES) to glory is how we are to LIVE. How we are to LIVE our DAILY lives. How we are to live moment to moment, hour to hour, day to day, year to year. It’s supposed to be a constant state of being.  
So every morning when you get up say each part. In essence you are getting into a position to be spiritual covered in your thoughts and words and actions - thinking, speaking and walking in love...a very powerful love at that!!
v.14 Belt of truth & breastplate of righteousness - “Stand your ground, putting on the sturdy belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.”
v.15 Shoes of peace - “For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News, so that you will be fully prepared.” 
v.16 Shield of faith - “In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan.’
v.17 Helmet of salvation & the sword of the Spirit - “Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.”  

We are to know his word and hide it away in our hearts so that when trials come (and they will!) we can shield ourselves and say - this is what God’s word has to say about that and I believe His word to be true and this runs contrary to His word so it is false and straight out of the pit of hell and it has no power over me.
Scripture is such a great way to protect and arm yourself with who God says you are in Him - Him living in us through the Holy Spirit. We can think so little of ourselves and that can bring us down so incredibly fast. When we see ourselves as a child of God, then our perspective shifts from being incapable, to being MORE than capable. MORE than conquers. We speak and act from GOD’s LOVE and GOD’s ABILITIES, not our own. 
When you wake each morning ask God what He’s doing and ask where (not IF, but WHERE) you can join Him. I just can’t say it enough - expect to hear from Him!! When you’re asking God to show you how to love on the people He created OF COURSE He’s going to show you!!!!

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