'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.' Eph. 6:16-17
The Shield of Faith: The shield referred to in this passage was about four feet high and two and a half feet wide. It was common for enemies to dip their arrows in pitch, light them, and then pelt the opposing soldiers with thousands of destructive, flaming missiles. So the Romans made their shields with iron and two layers of wood, wrapped them in linen, and covered it all with leather. But they would leave a gap between layers so flaming arrows could penetrate far enough into the shield to be quickly extinguished. One soldier is said to have come in from the battle lines with two hundred once-fiery arrows still stuck in his shield... The fiery darts of the adversary come in the forms of lies, temptations, schemes and attacks. His plan is simple: to get you to focus on something other than God and His purposes. Feelings of guilt, doubt, condemnation, discouragement, fear, or hopelessness are some examples of how the enemy tries to reel us in.
The Helmet of Salvation: The last piece of armor a soldier would put on was his helmet. It was made of bronze and leather and its importance was obvious: if you're hit on the head, you're out... Effectively wearing the helmet of salvaiton gives us the certainty of deliverance from sin and the protection of our minds in battle. It is, in effect, Romans 12:2: 'Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.'
When the enemy fires a dart at us, our most effective response is to put up our shield of faith by applying the specific truths of God's Word to the situation, and putting on our helmet of salvation by wallpapering our minds with the truth of God's Word. For example, if you are being bombarded with fear, quote aloud and memorize a dispelling verse: God did not give me a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind (2 Tim. 1:7). If you are bombarded with worry, memorize and say often: 'do not be anxious about anything, but in everything... (Phil. 4:6-7)'. Praying scriptures is an effective 'shield raising' tactic against launched darts. Praying with others is even more effective: 'Where two or three have gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them (Matt 18:20)'. I also find turning on praise and worship music to be helpful against the enemy's onslaught. The more you soak and saturate your life in God's Word, the more equipped your shield and helmet will be.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Just as You have a plan and a purpose for my life, so does the enemy. His plan is to confuse me, distract me, discourage me and busy me. He is working overtime to keep me from kingdom work. Keep me alert to his schemes, Lord! Specifically, I know that I am weak in the area of ___________________. Remind me today to sit down and write down specific scriptures for me to meditate on and wallpaper my mind with so that the enemy's lies cannot infiltrate. Lord, so many women are buried under and immobilized by the adversary's lies. I pray that Priscilla, Kay and Beth's messages will bring a breakthrough for them. I pray they will finally be able to break free on June 10-11. Strengthen their faith and their salvation on this day so that through your Word they will start standing firm and defending themselves...
Lord, may You remind me often that: You are who You say You are! You can do what You say You can do! I am who You say I am! I can do all things through Christ! Your Word is alive and active in me... I'M BELIEVING YOU!
In Jesus' name I pray,
Amen.
Showing posts with label armor of God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label armor of God. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
Day Sixty-three
'with the breastplate of righteousness in place and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace (Eph. 6:14-15).'
The breastplate of righteousness: A Roman breastplate was usually made of bronze and covered the midsection, from just below the neck to the thighs. It was called a 'heart protector' because it guarded the vital organ that keeps us alive. The type of righteousness in this verse is not talking about perfection. It is talking about submitting to the lordship of Christ; basically, not just talking the talk, but walking the walk.
The 'belt of truth' came first because it is foundational; you have to see God, yourself and others through the 'truth' lense. The breastplate of righteousness is the application of His truth. It's taking His truth and living it out. It's getting to the 'heart of the matter'. Does it mean you are perfect? No. It means you deal with problem areas in your life. If God has shown you that you spend too much time on the telephone, scale back. If He shows you that you have a bad habit with food, then break it. As Nike is fond of saying, 'just do it.' Regardless of your fear, take that first step of obedience. Once you do, God will step in with His grace. If He is showing you to change something, He is going to give you power and grace to do it. 'His grace will be sufficient for you.'
Feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace: Roman sandals were strapped up to the knee and tightly fastened to the soldier's legs. The soles had knobs and sometimes nails protruding from them, somewhat like athletic cleats. It gave soldiers firm footing so they could stand unmoved against their enemies.
Paul wants our feet to tbe planted with such certainty, too. The way we have our feet fitted with the 'readiness' that comes from the gospel of peace is by knowing the Gospel message inside and out, forwards and backwards. Knowing it so well you could share it at a moment's notice. It also means being well grounded in the mercy of God in Christ and being prepared to extend His mercy to others. The enemy is going to try to cast doubt on what you believe. Actively sharing your faith is a great faith builder and the best defense against doubt. Doing so will keep you from waffling and will plant your shoes firmly in the ground.
Dear Jehovah-Tsidkenu (the Lord our Righteousness),
As I continue to ask You to search my heart and show me my sin, I ask You to give me the ability to turn from that sin that you convict me of. I want to be sanctified through and through, Lord. I want to work out my salvation with fear and trembling. I want to wear my 'breastplate of righteousness' and wear it well! Your grace is sufficient for me! May I live this out! Lord, I also ask that I cast away all fear of sharing the Gospel message. Fear is from the enemy. You do not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind (2 Tim. 1:7). Your Word tells us to actively share our faith, Lord. Oh, give me the passion and burden to share, and share often. I specifically pray that I would share the Gospel with _______________________. If there is someone that I need to invite to Deeper Still, lay her on my heart. I pray I will follow through with asking her to go and that this conference will have a life-changing affect on her. I also pray that the Christian women coming to Deeper Still will be challenged to not 'just talk the talk', but live out their faith! May this weekend be one of change in all that attend.
In Jesus' name I pray,
Amen.
The breastplate of righteousness: A Roman breastplate was usually made of bronze and covered the midsection, from just below the neck to the thighs. It was called a 'heart protector' because it guarded the vital organ that keeps us alive. The type of righteousness in this verse is not talking about perfection. It is talking about submitting to the lordship of Christ; basically, not just talking the talk, but walking the walk.
The 'belt of truth' came first because it is foundational; you have to see God, yourself and others through the 'truth' lense. The breastplate of righteousness is the application of His truth. It's taking His truth and living it out. It's getting to the 'heart of the matter'. Does it mean you are perfect? No. It means you deal with problem areas in your life. If God has shown you that you spend too much time on the telephone, scale back. If He shows you that you have a bad habit with food, then break it. As Nike is fond of saying, 'just do it.' Regardless of your fear, take that first step of obedience. Once you do, God will step in with His grace. If He is showing you to change something, He is going to give you power and grace to do it. 'His grace will be sufficient for you.'
Feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace: Roman sandals were strapped up to the knee and tightly fastened to the soldier's legs. The soles had knobs and sometimes nails protruding from them, somewhat like athletic cleats. It gave soldiers firm footing so they could stand unmoved against their enemies.
Paul wants our feet to tbe planted with such certainty, too. The way we have our feet fitted with the 'readiness' that comes from the gospel of peace is by knowing the Gospel message inside and out, forwards and backwards. Knowing it so well you could share it at a moment's notice. It also means being well grounded in the mercy of God in Christ and being prepared to extend His mercy to others. The enemy is going to try to cast doubt on what you believe. Actively sharing your faith is a great faith builder and the best defense against doubt. Doing so will keep you from waffling and will plant your shoes firmly in the ground.
Dear Jehovah-Tsidkenu (the Lord our Righteousness),
As I continue to ask You to search my heart and show me my sin, I ask You to give me the ability to turn from that sin that you convict me of. I want to be sanctified through and through, Lord. I want to work out my salvation with fear and trembling. I want to wear my 'breastplate of righteousness' and wear it well! Your grace is sufficient for me! May I live this out! Lord, I also ask that I cast away all fear of sharing the Gospel message. Fear is from the enemy. You do not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind (2 Tim. 1:7). Your Word tells us to actively share our faith, Lord. Oh, give me the passion and burden to share, and share often. I specifically pray that I would share the Gospel with _______________________. If there is someone that I need to invite to Deeper Still, lay her on my heart. I pray I will follow through with asking her to go and that this conference will have a life-changing affect on her. I also pray that the Christian women coming to Deeper Still will be challenged to not 'just talk the talk', but live out their faith! May this weekend be one of change in all that attend.
In Jesus' name I pray,
Amen.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Day Thirty-four
'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.' Eph. 6:16-17
The Shield of Faith: The shield referred to in this passage was about four feet high and two and a half feet wide. It was common for enemies to dip their arrows in pitch, light them, and then pelt the opposing soldiers with thousands of destructive, flaming missiles. So the Romans made their shields with iron and two layers of wood, wrapped them in linen, and covered it all with leather. But they would leave a gap between layers so flaming arrows could penetrate far enough into the shield to be quickly extinguished. One soldier is said to have come in from the battle lines with two hundred once-fiery arrows still stuck in his shield... The fiery darts of the adversary come in the forms of lies, temptations, schemes and attacks. His plan is simple: to get you to focus on something other than God and His purposes. Feelings of guilt, doubt, condemnation, discouragement, fear, or hopelessness are some examples of how the enemy tries to reel us in.
The Helmet of Salvation: The last piece of armor a soldier would put on was his helmet. It was made of bronze and leather and its importance was obvious: if you're hit on the head, you're out... Effectively wearing the helmet of salvaiton gives us the certainty of deliverance from sin and the protection of our minds in battle. It is, in effect, Romans 12:2: 'Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.'
When the enemy fires a dart at us, our most effective response is to put up our shield of faith by applying the specific truths of God's Word to the situation, and putting on our helmet of salvation by wallpapering our minds with the truth of God's Word. For example, if you are being bombarded with fear, quote aloud and memorize a dispelling verse: God did not give me a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind (2 Tim. 1:7). If you are bombarded with worry, memorize and say often: 'do not be anxious about anything, but in everything... (Phil. 4:6-7)'. Praying scriptures is an effective 'shield raising' tactic against launched darts. Praying with others is even more effective: 'Where two or three have gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them (Matt 18:20)'. I also find turning on praise and worship music to be helpful against the enemy's onslaught. The more you soak and saturate your life in God's Word, the more equipped your shield and helmet will be.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Just as You have a plan and a purpose for my life, so does the enemy. His plan is to confuse me, distract me, discourage me and busy me. He is working overtime to keep me from kingdom work. Keep me alert to his schemes, Lord! Specifically, I know that I am weak in the area of ___________________. Remind me today to sit down and write down specific scriptures for me to meditate on and wallpaper my mind with so that the enemy's lies cannot infiltrate. Lord, so many women are buried under and immobilized by the adversary's lies. I pray that Priscilla, Kay and Beth's messages will bring a breakthrough for them. I pray they will finally be able to break free on June 10-11. Strengthen their faith and their salvation on this day so that through your Word they will start standing firm and defending themselves...
Lord, may You remind me often that: You are who You say You are! You can do what You say You can do! I am who You say I am! I can do all things through Christ! Your Word is alive and active in me... I'M BELIEVING YOU!
In Jesus' name I pray,
Amen.
The Shield of Faith: The shield referred to in this passage was about four feet high and two and a half feet wide. It was common for enemies to dip their arrows in pitch, light them, and then pelt the opposing soldiers with thousands of destructive, flaming missiles. So the Romans made their shields with iron and two layers of wood, wrapped them in linen, and covered it all with leather. But they would leave a gap between layers so flaming arrows could penetrate far enough into the shield to be quickly extinguished. One soldier is said to have come in from the battle lines with two hundred once-fiery arrows still stuck in his shield... The fiery darts of the adversary come in the forms of lies, temptations, schemes and attacks. His plan is simple: to get you to focus on something other than God and His purposes. Feelings of guilt, doubt, condemnation, discouragement, fear, or hopelessness are some examples of how the enemy tries to reel us in.
The Helmet of Salvation: The last piece of armor a soldier would put on was his helmet. It was made of bronze and leather and its importance was obvious: if you're hit on the head, you're out... Effectively wearing the helmet of salvaiton gives us the certainty of deliverance from sin and the protection of our minds in battle. It is, in effect, Romans 12:2: 'Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.'
When the enemy fires a dart at us, our most effective response is to put up our shield of faith by applying the specific truths of God's Word to the situation, and putting on our helmet of salvation by wallpapering our minds with the truth of God's Word. For example, if you are being bombarded with fear, quote aloud and memorize a dispelling verse: God did not give me a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind (2 Tim. 1:7). If you are bombarded with worry, memorize and say often: 'do not be anxious about anything, but in everything... (Phil. 4:6-7)'. Praying scriptures is an effective 'shield raising' tactic against launched darts. Praying with others is even more effective: 'Where two or three have gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them (Matt 18:20)'. I also find turning on praise and worship music to be helpful against the enemy's onslaught. The more you soak and saturate your life in God's Word, the more equipped your shield and helmet will be.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Just as You have a plan and a purpose for my life, so does the enemy. His plan is to confuse me, distract me, discourage me and busy me. He is working overtime to keep me from kingdom work. Keep me alert to his schemes, Lord! Specifically, I know that I am weak in the area of ___________________. Remind me today to sit down and write down specific scriptures for me to meditate on and wallpaper my mind with so that the enemy's lies cannot infiltrate. Lord, so many women are buried under and immobilized by the adversary's lies. I pray that Priscilla, Kay and Beth's messages will bring a breakthrough for them. I pray they will finally be able to break free on June 10-11. Strengthen their faith and their salvation on this day so that through your Word they will start standing firm and defending themselves...
Lord, may You remind me often that: You are who You say You are! You can do what You say You can do! I am who You say I am! I can do all things through Christ! Your Word is alive and active in me... I'M BELIEVING YOU!
In Jesus' name I pray,
Amen.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Day Thirty-three
'with the breastplate of righteousness in place and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace (Eph. 6:14-15).'
The breastplate of righteousness: A Roman breastplate was usually made of bronze and covered the midsection, from just below the neck to the thighs. It was called a 'heart protector' because it guarded the vital organ that keeps us alive. The type of righteousness in this verse is not talking about perfection. It is talking about submitting to the lordship of Christ; basically, not just talking the talk, but walking the walk.
The 'belt of truth' came first because it is foundational; you have to see God, yourself and others through the 'truth' lense. The breastplate of righteousness is the application of His truth. It's taking His truth and living it out. It's getting to the 'heart of the matter'. Does it mean you are perfect? No. It means you deal with problem areas in your life. If God has shown you that you spend too much time on the telephone, scale back. If He shows you that you have a bad habit with food, then break it. As Nike is fond of saying, 'just do it.' Regardless of your fear, take that first step of obedience. Once you do, God will step in with His grace. If He is showing you to change something, He is going to give you power and grace to do it. 'His grace will be sufficient for you.'
Feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace: Roman sandals were strapped up to the knee and tightly fastened to the soldier's legs. The soles had knobs and sometimes nails protruding from them, somewhat like athletic cleats. It gave soldiers firm footing so they could stand unmoved against their enemies.
Paul wants our feet to tbe planted with such certainty, too. The way we have our feet fitted with the 'readiness' that comes from the gospel of peace is by knowing the Gospel message inside and out, forwards and backwards. Knowing it so well you could share it at a moment's notice. It also means being well grounded in the mercy of God in Christ and being prepared to extend His mercy to others. The enemy is going to try to cast doubt on what you believe. Actively sharing your faith is a great faith builder and the best defense against doubt. Doing so will keep you from waffling and will plant your shoes firmly in the ground.
Dear Jehovah-Tsidkenu (the Lord our Righteousness),
As I continue to ask You to search my heart and show me my sin, I ask You to give me the ability to turn from that sin that you convict me of. I want to be sanctified through and through, Lord. I want to work out my salvation with fear and trembling. I want to wear my 'breastplate of righteousness' and wear it well! Your grace is sufficient for me! May I live this out! Lord, I also ask that I cast away all fear of sharing the Gospel message. Fear is from the enemy. You do not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind (2 Tim. 1:7). Your Word tells us to actively share our faith, Lord. Oh, give me the passion and burden to share, and share often. I specifically pray that I would share the Gospel with _______________________. If there is someone that I need to invite to Deeper Still, lay her on my heart. I pray I will follow through with asking her to go and that this conference will have a life-changing affect on her. I also pray that the Christian women coming to Deeper Still will be challenged to not 'just talk the talk', but live out their faith! May this weekend be one of change in all that attend.
In Jesus' name I pray,
Amen.
The breastplate of righteousness: A Roman breastplate was usually made of bronze and covered the midsection, from just below the neck to the thighs. It was called a 'heart protector' because it guarded the vital organ that keeps us alive. The type of righteousness in this verse is not talking about perfection. It is talking about submitting to the lordship of Christ; basically, not just talking the talk, but walking the walk.
The 'belt of truth' came first because it is foundational; you have to see God, yourself and others through the 'truth' lense. The breastplate of righteousness is the application of His truth. It's taking His truth and living it out. It's getting to the 'heart of the matter'. Does it mean you are perfect? No. It means you deal with problem areas in your life. If God has shown you that you spend too much time on the telephone, scale back. If He shows you that you have a bad habit with food, then break it. As Nike is fond of saying, 'just do it.' Regardless of your fear, take that first step of obedience. Once you do, God will step in with His grace. If He is showing you to change something, He is going to give you power and grace to do it. 'His grace will be sufficient for you.'
Feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace: Roman sandals were strapped up to the knee and tightly fastened to the soldier's legs. The soles had knobs and sometimes nails protruding from them, somewhat like athletic cleats. It gave soldiers firm footing so they could stand unmoved against their enemies.
Paul wants our feet to tbe planted with such certainty, too. The way we have our feet fitted with the 'readiness' that comes from the gospel of peace is by knowing the Gospel message inside and out, forwards and backwards. Knowing it so well you could share it at a moment's notice. It also means being well grounded in the mercy of God in Christ and being prepared to extend His mercy to others. The enemy is going to try to cast doubt on what you believe. Actively sharing your faith is a great faith builder and the best defense against doubt. Doing so will keep you from waffling and will plant your shoes firmly in the ground.
Dear Jehovah-Tsidkenu (the Lord our Righteousness),
As I continue to ask You to search my heart and show me my sin, I ask You to give me the ability to turn from that sin that you convict me of. I want to be sanctified through and through, Lord. I want to work out my salvation with fear and trembling. I want to wear my 'breastplate of righteousness' and wear it well! Your grace is sufficient for me! May I live this out! Lord, I also ask that I cast away all fear of sharing the Gospel message. Fear is from the enemy. You do not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind (2 Tim. 1:7). Your Word tells us to actively share our faith, Lord. Oh, give me the passion and burden to share, and share often. I specifically pray that I would share the Gospel with _______________________. If there is someone that I need to invite to Deeper Still, lay her on my heart. I pray I will follow through with asking her to go and that this conference will have a life-changing affect on her. I also pray that the Christian women coming to Deeper Still will be challenged to not 'just talk the talk', but live out their faith! May this weekend be one of change in all that attend.
In Jesus' name I pray,
Amen.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Day Four
'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.' Eph. 6:16-17
The Shield of Faith: The shield referred to in this passage was about four feet high and two and a half feet wide. It was common for enemies to dip their arrows in pitch, light them, and then pelt the opposing soldiers with thousands of destructive, flaming missiles. So the Romans made their shields with iron and two layers of wood, wrapped them in linen, and covered it all with leather. But they would leave a gap between layers so flaming arrows could penetrate far enough into the shield to be quickly extinguished. One soldier is said to have come in from the battle lines with two hundred once-fiery arrows still stuck in his shield... The fiery darts of the adversary come in the forms of lies, temptations, schemes and attacks. His plan is simple: to get you to focus on something other than God and His purposes. Feelings of guilt, doubt, condemnation, discouragement, fear, or hopelessness are some examples of how the enemy tries to reel us in.
The Helmet of Salvation: The last piece of armor a soldier would put on was his helmet. It was made of bronze and leather and its importance was obvious: if you're hit on the head, you're out... Effectively wearing the helmet of salvaiton gives us the certainty of deliverance from sin and the protection of our minds in battle. It is, in effect, Romans 12:2: 'Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.'
When the enemy fires a dart at us, our most effective response is to put up our shield of faith by applying the specific truths of God's Word to the situation, and putting on our helmet of salvation by wallpapering our minds with the truth of God's Word. For example, if you are being bombarded with fear, quote aloud and memorize a dispelling verse: God did not give me a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind (2 Tim. 1:7). If you are bombarded with worry, memorize and say often: 'do not be anxious about anything, but in everything... (Phil. 4:6-7)'. Praying scriptures is an effective 'shield raising' tactic against launched darts. Praying with others is even more effective: 'Where two or three have gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them (Matt 18:20)'. I also find turning on praise and worship music to be helpful against the enemy's onslaught. The more you soak and saturate your life in God's Word, the more equipped your shield and helmet will be.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Just as You have a plan and a purpose for my life, so does the enemy. His plan is to confuse me, distract me, discourage me and busy me. He is working overtime to keep me from kingdom work. Keep me alert to his schemes, Lord! Specifically, I know that I am weak in the area of ___________________. Remind me today to sit down and write down specific scriptures for me to meditate on and wallpaper my mind with so that the enemy's lies cannot infiltrate. Lord, so many women are buried under and immobilized by the adversary's lies. I pray that Priscilla, Kay and Beth's messages will bring a breakthrough for them. I pray they will finally be able to break free on June 10-11. Strengthen their faith and their salvation on this day so that through your Word they will start standing firm and defending themselves...
Lord, may You remind me often that: You are who You say You are! You can do what You say You can do! I am who You say I am! I can do all things through Christ! Your Word is alive and active in me... I'M BELIEVING YOU!
In Jesus' name I pray,
Amen.
The Shield of Faith: The shield referred to in this passage was about four feet high and two and a half feet wide. It was common for enemies to dip their arrows in pitch, light them, and then pelt the opposing soldiers with thousands of destructive, flaming missiles. So the Romans made their shields with iron and two layers of wood, wrapped them in linen, and covered it all with leather. But they would leave a gap between layers so flaming arrows could penetrate far enough into the shield to be quickly extinguished. One soldier is said to have come in from the battle lines with two hundred once-fiery arrows still stuck in his shield... The fiery darts of the adversary come in the forms of lies, temptations, schemes and attacks. His plan is simple: to get you to focus on something other than God and His purposes. Feelings of guilt, doubt, condemnation, discouragement, fear, or hopelessness are some examples of how the enemy tries to reel us in.
The Helmet of Salvation: The last piece of armor a soldier would put on was his helmet. It was made of bronze and leather and its importance was obvious: if you're hit on the head, you're out... Effectively wearing the helmet of salvaiton gives us the certainty of deliverance from sin and the protection of our minds in battle. It is, in effect, Romans 12:2: 'Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.'
When the enemy fires a dart at us, our most effective response is to put up our shield of faith by applying the specific truths of God's Word to the situation, and putting on our helmet of salvation by wallpapering our minds with the truth of God's Word. For example, if you are being bombarded with fear, quote aloud and memorize a dispelling verse: God did not give me a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind (2 Tim. 1:7). If you are bombarded with worry, memorize and say often: 'do not be anxious about anything, but in everything... (Phil. 4:6-7)'. Praying scriptures is an effective 'shield raising' tactic against launched darts. Praying with others is even more effective: 'Where two or three have gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them (Matt 18:20)'. I also find turning on praise and worship music to be helpful against the enemy's onslaught. The more you soak and saturate your life in God's Word, the more equipped your shield and helmet will be.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Just as You have a plan and a purpose for my life, so does the enemy. His plan is to confuse me, distract me, discourage me and busy me. He is working overtime to keep me from kingdom work. Keep me alert to his schemes, Lord! Specifically, I know that I am weak in the area of ___________________. Remind me today to sit down and write down specific scriptures for me to meditate on and wallpaper my mind with so that the enemy's lies cannot infiltrate. Lord, so many women are buried under and immobilized by the adversary's lies. I pray that Priscilla, Kay and Beth's messages will bring a breakthrough for them. I pray they will finally be able to break free on June 10-11. Strengthen their faith and their salvation on this day so that through your Word they will start standing firm and defending themselves...
Lord, may You remind me often that: You are who You say You are! You can do what You say You can do! I am who You say I am! I can do all things through Christ! Your Word is alive and active in me... I'M BELIEVING YOU!
In Jesus' name I pray,
Amen.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Day Three
'with the breastplate of righteousness in place and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace (Eph. 6:14-15).'
The breastplate of righteousness: A Roman breastplate was usually made of bronze and covered the midsection, from just below the neck to the thighs. It was called a 'heart protector' because it guarded the vital organ that keeps us alive. The type of righteousness in this verse is not talking about perfection. It is talking about submitting to the lordship of Christ; basically, not just talking the talk, but walking the walk.
The 'belt of truth' came first because it is foundational; you have to see God, yourself and others through the 'truth' lense. The breastplate of righteousness is the application of His truth. It's taking His truth and living it out. It's getting to the 'heart of the matter'. Does it mean you are perfect? No. It means you deal with problem areas in your life. If God has shown you that you spend too much time on the telephone, scale back. If He shows you that you have a bad habit with food, then break it. As Nike is fond of saying, 'just do it.' Regardless of your fear, take that first step of obedience. Once you do, God will step in with His grace. If He is showing you to change something, He is going to give you power and grace to do it. 'His grace will be sufficient for you.'
Feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace: Roman sandals were strapped up to the knee and tightly fastened to the soldier's legs. The soles had knobs and sometimes nails protruding from them, somewhat like athletic cleats. It gave soldiers firm footing so they could stand unmoved against their enemies.
Paul wants our feet to tbe planted with such certainty, too. The way we have our feet fitted with the 'readiness' that comes from the gospel of peace is by knowing the Gospel message inside and out, forwards and backwards. Knowing it so well you could share it at a moment's notice. It also means being well grounded in the mercy of God in Christ and being prepared to extend His mercy to others. The enemy is going to try to cast doubt on what you believe. Actively sharing your faith is a great faith builder and the best defense against doubt. Doing so will keep you from waffling and will plant your shoes firmly in the ground.
Dear Jehovah-Tsidkenu (the Lord our Righteousness),
As I continue to ask You to search my heart and show me my sin, I ask You to give me the ability to turn from that sin that you convict me of. I want to be sanctified through and through, Lord. I want to work out my salvation with fear and trembling. I want to wear my 'breastplate of righteousness' and wear it well! Your grace is sufficient for me! May I live this out! Lord, I also ask that I cast away all fear of sharing the Gospel message. Fear is from the enemy. You do not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind (2 Tim. 1:7). Your Word tells us to actively share our faith, Lord. Oh, give me the passion and burden to share, and share often. I specifically pray that I would share the Gospel with _______________________. If there is someone that I need to invite to Deeper Still, lay her on my heart. I pray I will follow through with asking her to go and that this conference will have a life-changing affect on her. I also pray that the Christian women coming to Deeper Still will be challenged to not 'just talk the talk', but live out their faith! May this weekend be one of change in all that attend.
In Jesus' name I pray,
Amen.
The breastplate of righteousness: A Roman breastplate was usually made of bronze and covered the midsection, from just below the neck to the thighs. It was called a 'heart protector' because it guarded the vital organ that keeps us alive. The type of righteousness in this verse is not talking about perfection. It is talking about submitting to the lordship of Christ; basically, not just talking the talk, but walking the walk.
The 'belt of truth' came first because it is foundational; you have to see God, yourself and others through the 'truth' lense. The breastplate of righteousness is the application of His truth. It's taking His truth and living it out. It's getting to the 'heart of the matter'. Does it mean you are perfect? No. It means you deal with problem areas in your life. If God has shown you that you spend too much time on the telephone, scale back. If He shows you that you have a bad habit with food, then break it. As Nike is fond of saying, 'just do it.' Regardless of your fear, take that first step of obedience. Once you do, God will step in with His grace. If He is showing you to change something, He is going to give you power and grace to do it. 'His grace will be sufficient for you.'
Feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace: Roman sandals were strapped up to the knee and tightly fastened to the soldier's legs. The soles had knobs and sometimes nails protruding from them, somewhat like athletic cleats. It gave soldiers firm footing so they could stand unmoved against their enemies.
Paul wants our feet to tbe planted with such certainty, too. The way we have our feet fitted with the 'readiness' that comes from the gospel of peace is by knowing the Gospel message inside and out, forwards and backwards. Knowing it so well you could share it at a moment's notice. It also means being well grounded in the mercy of God in Christ and being prepared to extend His mercy to others. The enemy is going to try to cast doubt on what you believe. Actively sharing your faith is a great faith builder and the best defense against doubt. Doing so will keep you from waffling and will plant your shoes firmly in the ground.
Dear Jehovah-Tsidkenu (the Lord our Righteousness),
As I continue to ask You to search my heart and show me my sin, I ask You to give me the ability to turn from that sin that you convict me of. I want to be sanctified through and through, Lord. I want to work out my salvation with fear and trembling. I want to wear my 'breastplate of righteousness' and wear it well! Your grace is sufficient for me! May I live this out! Lord, I also ask that I cast away all fear of sharing the Gospel message. Fear is from the enemy. You do not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind (2 Tim. 1:7). Your Word tells us to actively share our faith, Lord. Oh, give me the passion and burden to share, and share often. I specifically pray that I would share the Gospel with _______________________. If there is someone that I need to invite to Deeper Still, lay her on my heart. I pray I will follow through with asking her to go and that this conference will have a life-changing affect on her. I also pray that the Christian women coming to Deeper Still will be challenged to not 'just talk the talk', but live out their faith! May this weekend be one of change in all that attend.
In Jesus' name I pray,
Amen.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Day Two
'Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist...' Ephesians 6:14
If we are going to 'stand firm' in our armor, then we need to understand the importance of each piece. Over the next few days we will look at each of the defensive pieces in more detail. Much of what I share with you is taken from Chip Ingram's book, 'The Invisible War'.
The first piece we will discuss is the belt of truth. It is not surprising that Paul mentions this piece first because the Roman soldier's belt was the piece of armor that all of the other pieces somehow hooked onto. Thus, it was the most critical piece of armor since it was central to every other piece.
Standing on God's truth regarding who we are in Christ is also central to our Christian walk. We must choose to put on the belt of truth and train ourselves to see God, ourselves and others as His word exhorts us to. It is important to realize 'training ourselves' is not something that happens overnight. It is a process that takes time and only results from spending significant amounts of time in God's Word and in prayer.
It is also not surprising that the enemy's first assault against mankind was against the belt of truth. He slithered into the garden and deceived Eve with a lie sprinkled with a bit of truth. His age-old tactics are still in full-force today...and our responses still involve hiding, blaming and denying.
Truly, our only defense against being deceived by the enemy is praying to the Lord as David did: 'Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me...' We must render ourselves bare and honest before the Lord, asking Him to reveal the truth about our sin. We must put on the 'belt of truth' and allow it to penetrate our heart so that it can break our heart. Only a heart of brokenness can become a transformed heart.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I pray that I will stand firm on your truth. May I believe that: I am a child of Yours; I am redeemed; I stand holy and pure on the cleansing blood of my Jesus. Thus, when You look at me You no longer see my sin but You see Your son in all His holiness. Thank you, Lord, for all of these truths! May I find my security in them! Lord, I also know that as long as I am a sojourner of this world, I will sin. However, if I confess my sins, You are faithful and just and will forgive me of my sins and purify me from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Thus, Lord, I must continually be coming to You asking You to open my eyes to my sin. So I ask You right now: 'search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me (Ps. 139:23-24). I want to be a Christian who takes her sin seriously. I want to have a heart like David's heart--a heart that can see my sin and truly be broken and repentant over it. May I buckle the belt of truth securely around my waist and wear it as You have designed me to. I pray that right now You are preparing the women's hearts that will be at Deeper Still. Soften their hearts so that they can hear Your truths, accept Your truths as their own, and see the truth regarding their own sin. Keep the 'father of lies' away from their ears; do not let him come in to steal, kill and destroy. Instead, may your truth reign once and for all!
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
Note: I have an amazing story to share with you regarding persevering in prayer! Be watching for this post later today or sometime over the next few days...
If we are going to 'stand firm' in our armor, then we need to understand the importance of each piece. Over the next few days we will look at each of the defensive pieces in more detail. Much of what I share with you is taken from Chip Ingram's book, 'The Invisible War'.
The first piece we will discuss is the belt of truth. It is not surprising that Paul mentions this piece first because the Roman soldier's belt was the piece of armor that all of the other pieces somehow hooked onto. Thus, it was the most critical piece of armor since it was central to every other piece.
Standing on God's truth regarding who we are in Christ is also central to our Christian walk. We must choose to put on the belt of truth and train ourselves to see God, ourselves and others as His word exhorts us to. It is important to realize 'training ourselves' is not something that happens overnight. It is a process that takes time and only results from spending significant amounts of time in God's Word and in prayer.
It is also not surprising that the enemy's first assault against mankind was against the belt of truth. He slithered into the garden and deceived Eve with a lie sprinkled with a bit of truth. His age-old tactics are still in full-force today...and our responses still involve hiding, blaming and denying.
Truly, our only defense against being deceived by the enemy is praying to the Lord as David did: 'Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me...' We must render ourselves bare and honest before the Lord, asking Him to reveal the truth about our sin. We must put on the 'belt of truth' and allow it to penetrate our heart so that it can break our heart. Only a heart of brokenness can become a transformed heart.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I pray that I will stand firm on your truth. May I believe that: I am a child of Yours; I am redeemed; I stand holy and pure on the cleansing blood of my Jesus. Thus, when You look at me You no longer see my sin but You see Your son in all His holiness. Thank you, Lord, for all of these truths! May I find my security in them! Lord, I also know that as long as I am a sojourner of this world, I will sin. However, if I confess my sins, You are faithful and just and will forgive me of my sins and purify me from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Thus, Lord, I must continually be coming to You asking You to open my eyes to my sin. So I ask You right now: 'search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me (Ps. 139:23-24). I want to be a Christian who takes her sin seriously. I want to have a heart like David's heart--a heart that can see my sin and truly be broken and repentant over it. May I buckle the belt of truth securely around my waist and wear it as You have designed me to. I pray that right now You are preparing the women's hearts that will be at Deeper Still. Soften their hearts so that they can hear Your truths, accept Your truths as their own, and see the truth regarding their own sin. Keep the 'father of lies' away from their ears; do not let him come in to steal, kill and destroy. Instead, may your truth reign once and for all!
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
Note: I have an amazing story to share with you regarding persevering in prayer! Be watching for this post later today or sometime over the next few days...
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