I don’t know about you, but the last seven days have been beyond rough for me. Anxiety has visited me more than I would like to publicly admit. I haven’t experienced warfare like this in a while! Marriage, parenting, health, and more have been attacked this week. The battles have been many. I’ve been uncomfortable with my mind. When will the fog be lifted?
I haven’t always dived straight into the scriptures when problems come my way but I am starting a new habit of trying. My way doesn’t work. I only have more anxiety when I try to control life.
A dear friend asked me the other day if I am covering myself in armor. I remember learning about the armor of God when I was small but I haven’t applied it to adulthood. Hmmm. I began to type in “armor of God” on my Bible app.
If you don’t have a Bible app on your phone I highly suggest it.
(Youversion & Verses are the two programs I’m currently using. Verses is great for scripture memory!)
Ephesians 6:10-20 NIV
“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.
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.
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 one.
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 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. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.”
Hmm. Did you read which piece of armor goes on your back? I didn’t either. It was brought to my attention that we aren’t supposed to run from battles. We are to press on. The victory is already ours! We are covered. In this life, we don’t have a choice to not be in battles. The enemy comes to kill, steal, and destroy.
I intentionally started listening and reading the passage below when I wake up and before I fall asleep. The battles fog up our mind but as you pick up your sword of the spirit the fog disappears. May I suggest if the battle you are facing seems bigger than your God, feed yourself on Jesus and His word.
He makes the darkness tremble! Declare it fearlessly!
Know that you have over a thousand brothers and sisters from Lifeway in battle right beside you.
You are NEVER alone!
You are victorious!
What a great word, Amanda. I felt the part about not running away from battles but pressing into them through God’s power and might was very insightful. And what truth it is that we can overcome when we rest and trust in Him