Completing the Armor of God

This will be the last entry in the Armor of God series.

Lets look at the scripture once again.

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." Ephesians 6:10-18

Watch Your Head! 

We have to protect our minds from the enemy. The childhood song lyrics "O be careful little eyes what you see..." come to mind. I know how easy it is to get sucked into what passes for entertainment these days. I have an obsession with reality TV. I used to watch housewives, stars in rehab, and the "un"real world. Though I drew the line on all things jersey. 

I understand how easy it is to veg out in front of a TV and do nothing for a while. But too much of anything can be a bad thing, and when we are not paying attention because we are 'Vegging Out", the enemy can be laying the groundwork for his next attack. 

Our minds are battlegrounds in and of themselves. When we are under attack it is difficult to win unless we have the mind of Christ. 

2 Timothy 1:7 says this: 

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind"

Anyone who rides horses can tell you this: where the head goes, the horse follows. We are no different. If Satan can win the battle for your mind, then your life will follow. Guard yourself. Put on the helmet of Salvation.

That Thing is Sharp! 

Brain surgery requires a sharp cutting tool. As Christians, we often need to allow God to perform surgery on our minds. We must cut away our old way of thinking and allow Him to teach us a new way to think.

How do we do this? By the Word of God, which is sharper than any two-edged sword.

Romans 12:2 says this: 

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

By reading and memorizing the Word of God it gets in us. It begins the work of renewing us from the inside out. It begins to correct us, instruct us, and show us the goodness of God. It tells us how God operated and helps us learn to recognize His Spirit at work in our lives.

The Christian Soldier is a Duel Sword Warrior

Okay, so I got a little video-game-geeky when I wrote that subtitle, but it is true nonetheless. We must be able to wield not only the Word of God, but also the Sword of the Spirit.

We have all met those Christians that can fire off in rapid succession scriptures to back up their point of view. This quick-fire method may be good going up against the enemy, but deadly when pointed in the direction of people.

This is why listening to the Spirit is so important. Sometimes, what we see as an opportunity to show how much scripture we know, is really an opportunity to just shut up and listen to someone. This gentle response allows the Spirit of God to work in the situation rather than us stumbling around randomly swinging hoping we do not cut too deeply.

This does not only apply to how we treat others, but also how we respond to ourselves. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in "being our best" that we forget to rest in the Grace of God. There is no condemnation (accusatory attitudes and prosecution of sin) in Christ: He paid the price for you already. The Spirit of God will correct you, but be careful you are not allowing your ideas of what God expects to begin to bludgeon you into  an emotional and spiritual basket case.

There will be times when God gets right to the meat of a matter, and then there are times when He woos us with His grace. We must learn to yield to both the Sword of God (BIBLE) and the Sword of the Spirit (Holy Spirit). Both are vital, and both can be mishandled.

Keep the Lines of Communication Open

In any battle scenario, the lines of communication must remain open between the front lines and the command center. If these are interrupted, the battle will go sideways very quickly. It may still be won because training kicks in, but casualties will be high, and the overall objective of the battle may not be won.

Our relationships with God are no different. He is in Command. We are on the front lines. We must pray and have open communication as we face our enemy. We cannot see the whole battlefield. He can. He can direct us, and help us guard one another's flank to keep us from defeat!

Prayer allows for instantaneous change of heart and directions. Prayer allows for God to speak directly to us and give us the edge we need when we square off toe to toe with out enemy.

Post Battle Report and RNR

Do not forget, that after battles, soldiers need some Rest-n-relaxation (RNR). Get with God and get the download on how the battle went. Ask about what you could have done differently and then, just rest in His presence. Get some RNR. This time will help fuel you and prepare you for the next battlefield, and help you to train other soldiers that are watching your example. 

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Join the Conversation: 

What part of the armor of God do you still have questions or comments on? Share with us, and join the conversation. 

Developing Your Automatic Truth Response!

My Heart Broke

Recently I spoke to someone who described themselves as unhappy. This was a believer, and a strong woman of faith. She is more than unhappy, she is depressed. I heard her pain, and that is real, but I believe there is a way through. After all, we serve a BIG God! 

I Understand 

My husband and I both have battled depression. This is something that I can spend quite a bit of time talking about. I believe that  depression for the Christian does occur, but there is a way to conquer it and never have to deal with it again.

We get depressed when circumstances and fear exalt themselves above our trust in God. Our doubt allows us to become overwhelmed and over-taken. When this happens, we often do not see any way out. 

A Matter of Perspective 

Let’s look at the 12 spies that went into the Promised Land. (Numbers 13-14) Per God’s instructions Moses sent out 12 spies and they all saw the same things: giants, and milk and honey. In other words they all saw obstacles/circumstance and they all saw God’s promises, but 10 came back choosing to focus only on the circumstances and 2 came choosing to focus on God’s promises. The fate of a nation was delayed 40 years because they had their focus in the wrong place.

We are three parts. God likes threes. God - The Father, The Son, The Holy Spirit. See? Three. We are a spirit, we live in a body and we have a soul which is made up of our mind, will, and emotions. 

Depression is a soul issue.

Dictionary-Online defines depression as this: ‘sadness, gloom, dejection’ and goes onto define it as a ‘condition of general emotional withdrawal’. All of these things are a part of the soul, our mind, will, and emotions. (Remember, that we have talked about condition versus position before, and for more on that click here.)

Romans 12:2 says we must renew our mind. We must think and dwell on the things God says, not the lies we allow in our lives, those lies we tell ourselves, and that the enemy, Satan, the father of lies, tells us. Meditate day and night.

The Practical Application of the Spiritual Message

So let’s talk about how we do that. First, get the word in you. Read and listen to the Word daily. Faith comes by hearing and hearing and hearing and hearing…..get the point? Then we must remind ourselves what the Word says throughout our day to day walking around life: our feed the baby, shop for groceries, and drop kids off at the mall- life. This is how you meditate on the Word day and night.

For me it is like a vitamin I take daily to build up my immunity. We boost our immunity physically by feeding our bodies good things and taking care of it regularly, right? And when our body is in working order and a foreign virus enters we have an automatic response to get rid of the thing that does not belong. We must be the same when we have encounters with lies. I call it an Automatic Truth Response  or ATR. 

LIE or CIRCUMSTANCE	WHAT GOD SAYS- the ATR
YOU ARE SICK	GOD IS HEALER
YOU ARE UNABLE	GOD IS MORE THAN ABLE
YOU DON’T HAVE ENOUGH	GOD IS MORE THAN ENOUGH

What God says is what we should say, believe, act on, and walk out in our lives daily. It should become our ATR. Focus on God more and the problems less.

Let’s look at what happens when we DON’T develop this ATR.

A thought (idea) becomes a high thought (something we think about with regularity) then we begin day dreaming about the thought, playing out scenarios in our heads (Imaginations) and before you know it we are in a strong hold of the enemy, all brought on by a little thought we did not take captive in the first place. We have given a foothold to the devil. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

Now we feel like we are helpless in our circumstances. We would rather disobey God’s will for us and wander in a desert for 40 years, barely existing, than battling through our circumstances and enjoying the milk and honey. Now we are depressed and taking a pill to get through the day and we don’t seem to know how we got here.

We need to WAKE UP! For a lack of knowledge God’s people perish (die!!!!).

2^nd Corinthians 10 is clear! We must cast down anything that exalts itself above God.  Proverbs 23:7 says as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.  “Cast down” in Strong’s Concordance (2507) means pull down, lower, and to take authority over!

A Real-time Example of Authority

Recently a friend of mine told her six year old about authority. After having a bad dream that scared the child, his mother wanted not just to comfort him, but to teach him to overcome fear and the enemy. So she reminded him about the times she gave him instructions to tell his little brother something on her behalf. It could have been something as simple as clean up a mess, or to stop throwing a toy, but what was said was not as important as the authority behind it. “Mom said!” It is the same with the enemy. Any lie or circumstance that exalts itself above God, that brings fear or doubt into your life - you must take authority over it and tell it “Daddy says!”

Our authority comes because we are the righteousness of God in Christ. We are the head and not the tail. Our authority comes because THE SAME SPIRIT that raised Christ from the dead lives in us!

The Physicality of A Mind and Heart Battle

When I was a smoker, quitting was not easy. Sometimes I still remember the temporary satisfaction I got from a cigarette. When I do I cast it down. I remind myself that God is my refuge, not a pack of Marlboros. I remind myself that I am the temple of the Holy Spirit, not a blackened lung from a health class poster circa 1990. I say that I am bigger and better than that cigarette because the God of the universe made me and that cigarettes were made by man. THIS WORKS!

What Christ did on the cross is freely given and we can freely receive that, but real freedom from strongholds like I am talking about comes after a battle FOUGHT AND WON! That is freedom that will not be wasted. That is freedom that reflects in our everyday life and shines like a beacon on a hill and draws the lost toward Jesus!

I do not mean to sound so strident. I only want you to find freedom from depression and anxiety. Do not believe the lies. Do not be overwhelmed. Rest in God’s authority and cast down anything that tries to make itself bigger than God in your life and you will OVERCOME! You will have a Breakthrough! Depression will no longer hold you in its talons. 

Join the Conversation: 

I mentioned my husband and I have battled depression before. My husband still does. What get's you through every day? 

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Jumping Jehoshaphat!

I said we would be exploring more about praise and worship this week, and jumping Jehoshaphat we will! Let’s look at 2 Chronicles 20: 12b, 15b, (KJV), and 18- 30. (The Message)

12b for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.15b Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.18 Then Jehoshaphat knelt down, bowing with his face to the ground. All Judah and Jerusalem did the same, worshiping God. 19 The Levites (both Kohathites and Korahites) stood to their feet to praise God, the God of Israel; they praised at the top of their lungs! 20 They were up early in the morning, ready to march into the wilderness of Tekoa. As they were leaving, Jehoshaphat stood up and said, "Listen Judah and Jerusalem! Listen to what I have to say! Believe firmly in God, your God, and your lives will be firm! Believe in your prophets and you'll come out on top!" 21 After talking it over with the people, Jehoshaphat appointed a choir for God; dressed in holy robes, they were to march ahead of the troops, singing, Give thanks to God, His love never quits. 22 As soon as they started shouting and praising, God set ambushes against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir as they were attacking Judah, and they all ended up dead.23 The Ammonites and Moabites mistakenly attacked those from Mount Seir and massacred them. Then, further confused, they went at each other, and all ended up killed. 24 As Judah came up over the rise, looking into the wilderness for the horde of barbarians, they looked on a killing field of dead bodies-not a living soul among them. 25 When Jehoshaphat and his people came to carry off the plunder they found more loot than they could carry off-equipment, clothing, valuables. It took three days to cart it away!26 On the fourth day they came together at the Valley of Blessing (Beracah) and blessed God (that's how it got the name, Valley of Blessing). 27 Jehoshaphat then led all the men of Judah and Jerusalem back to Jerusalem-an exuberant parade. God had given them joyful relief from their enemies! 28 They entered Jerusalem and came to The Temple of God with all the instruments of the band playing. 29 When the surrounding kingdoms got word that God had fought Israel's enemies, the fear of God descended on them. 30 Jehoshaphat heard no more from them; as long as Jehoshaphat reigned, peace reigned.


Wow, what a story, and what an example for us. Are times hard? Are you facing enemies all around? First, keep your eyes on God. When your eyes are looking in a direction that is the direction you head. Ask any batting coach you screams ‘keep your eye on the ball’ or hall monitor that yells ‘watch were you are walking’. Psalms 121:1 says “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help” God is our help. God holds us under his wing, and sings over us. He knows our comings and goings. He loves beyond measure and is faithful all the days of our lives. Look to Him!


Verse 15b shows us, that when our eyes are fixed on Him, when we trust in Him, He answers us! We are not alone in this life. God will never leave us or forsake us. (I Kings 8:57) That promise of God, in itself, is reason to worship God. And the children of Israel did. Verse 18 and 19: they worshiped at the word of the Lord and the priests praised with a LOUD voice (as one) on high. They sang at the top of their lungs! (I will say here, that not all of us can sing well, but all of us can make a joyful NOISE! It is a heart issue, not an ear issue!)


Next, you must understand that PRAISE GOES BEFORE YOU! In verse 21 we see that a choir (or troop) of singers was appointed to go before the army: singing “Give thanks to God, His love never quits.” There is something that happens when we are worshiping God, which is this: He is moved to work on our behalf! Take a close look at verse 22 through 23, because here we see God set ambush Israel's enemies and He causes them to turn on one another and they kill every single one! There wasn’t just one enemy, but many! God was big enough to take care of them all.


In addition to taking care of His people, God supplies the spoils! (Verse 25) there are benefits to worship beyond in that moment. God lines up His blessings for us when we worship. (Ps 84:7 says we go strength to strength)


Now what? The battle is over! So worship the LORD! Sometimes, when the trouble is past, it is easy to fall back into complacency and forget to worship God for what He has done! Israel marched all the way back home jamming out to praise and worship. The band was in full swing! I know God loves worship because creatures in heaven are seated around the throne saying day and night “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.”


Finally, when the other nations and kingdoms saw that God fought His children’s battles, they backed off and there was peace! Peace! So lay down your desire to fight all your battles on your own. When we worship, God fights on our behalf and does so for His glory. (Ps 19:1-10)


Worship is a reasonable response to His faithfulness, to His goodness, to His love. Worship solidifies our relationship with God, and moves God to act on our behalf. Worship is an extension of who we are: God’s creation, just like those around the throne singing “Holy, Holy, Holy!” So rock out readers! Crank it up, and shout it out! Our God is faithful, and He deserves our Praise!


Be blessed and be a blessing and remember: sing is a verb!