We are not alone. Our God is a powerful God. He is at work for us always, guarding us and tending us, His sheep.
We understand that this world is a tough place and we need God. We need Jesus, who has gone before us and secured victory.
It’s easy to know and see that on this earth we have continual trials, from health to financial to relational. And it’s easy to get consumed in these things and more, the things we see with our eyes, things for which we want physical solutions.
We can read self-help books, we can get wise counsel, we can go to school, we can seek experts. God may lead us in any or all of these things.
But we may get so consumed by them that we forget a very real truth.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against…the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God…(Ephesians 6:12-13).
Our battle isn’t against things of this world. It’s against spiritual forces.
We can follow all the perfect advice out there, yet still find ourselves struggling. Sometimes, the more “right” things we do, the worse a situation gets.
Our struggle is not against the world. Using worldly solutions may never provide relief or any real victory.
Take up, or put on, the full armor of God.
Stand firm and put on Jesus (Ephesians 6:14). I need to clothe myself in Jesus, my Lord who already won. I know this by faith, not sight.
Gird your loins with truth (Ephesians 6:14). Jesus is the truth. I will gird myself with Jesus.
Put on the breastplate of righteousness (Ephesians 6:14). Jesus is my righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30).
Shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15). Jesus is my peace (Ephesians 2:14).
Take up the shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16). It’s my faith in Christ that brings salvation. It’s my faith in His truth, His promises, His love, His reality that will allow me to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. No matter what my circumstances look like, God doesn’t change.
Take the helmet of salvation (Ephesians 6:17). This one’s easy. Jesus is my salvation. He is my head.
Take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17). Jesus is the word of God. He fights for me. He commands His angels concerning me.
My armor is complete. It’s sufficient for me. Jesus is all I need.
