Pants on the Ground? Tighten your Bible belt!

"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."  (Ephesians 6:13)

Let's get ready to RUMBLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!  What am I talking about?  I'm talking about arming yourself against the enemy with the Armour of God!  Spiritual warfare is very REAL.  "Our struggle is...against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12).  Have you ever tried to get to church on time and caught a train?  Or tried to get to church without having an argument with your spouse, but you just lost it?  Guys and gals, Sunday is the Lord's day, and you better believe that Satan is pulling out all the stops to try and get you to make decisions based on how you feel rather than what God's Word says to do!  But, it's not just on Sundays that the enemy and his demons are trying mightily to get the Lord's children to submit to confusion--it's every day!

"Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes." (Ephesians 6:11)

Part of the scripture in Chapter 6 of Ephesians deals strictly with spiritual warfare, which is something we as Christians deal with on a daily basis, whether we realize it or not.  Do I want to go work out or do I want to stay on the sofa and watch TV?  Hmm, choosing self-discipline over laziness is not temporarily appealing, but it has long-term benefits!  So does learning the Word of God and following His instructions regarding the heavenly realm.  Why should we "wear" the belt of truth buckled around our waists?  Why should we "wear" a breastplate of righteousness?  Why should our feet be "fitted" with readiness that comes from peace?  Why should we "protect" ourselves with the shield of faith?  Why "wear" a helmet of salvation?  And why should we commit to our memory and hearts the Word of God?

1.  Truth:  If we hold to Jesus' teachings, "[we] will know the truth, and the truth will set [us] free" (John 8:32).  God's Word is truth (John 17:17).  When we are free, we are living in a state of "peace that transcends all understanding and are made privy to a guarded heart and mind in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7).  We must guard our hearts, for it is the wellspring of life! (Proverbs 4:23).
2.  Righteousness:  In order to avoid confusion, we must strive for righteousness.  Psalm 85:10 says that "righteousness and peace kiss each other."  The very eyes of the Lord are focused on the righteous!  The Lord's ears are attentive to the prayers of a righteous man! (1 Peter 3:12).  In the latter part of Ephesians 6, we are implored to pray!  Let's be righteous, so the Lord will be focused on us and hear our cries!
3.  Readiness and Peace:  Can you wake up one morning and decide to run 4 miles without ever having trained in your life?  I'm guessing not.  Being prepared helps alleviate anxiety and confusion and promotes discernment and wisdom.  Every day is a gift from God; let us not waste it with idleness, which encourages gossip and nosiness (1 Timothy 5:13).  The Bible commands us to fix our eyes on all things noble.  His Word is the truth.  Knowing God's Word equips us with truth, which sets us free, and infuses us with peace!  The enemy cannot compete with God's peace.
4.  Faith:  We are to live by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).  "To the faithful, [God] show[s] [Himself] faithful" (2 Samuel 22:26).  In Galatians 3:11, we learn that "the righteous will live by faith."  Basically, if you are pursuing righteousness already, then living by faith will fall into place.  Knowing God's Word and knowing your identity in Christ will increase your faith.
5.  Salvation:  Nothing I have written means anything if you are not born again in Christ Jesus.  Romans 10:13 says that if you call on the name of the Lord, you will be saved.  Once you are saved, all of the words on the pages in the Bible suddenly start to make sense--more so than ever before!  Your salvation is made possible by the grace of God.  You cannot earn it.  You just have to receive it.  When you value your salvation, you will begin to crave the Word of God so that you can be prepared to fight the powers of darkness that war against you daily.
6.  Word of God:  "The Word of God is living and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).  All the Holy Spirit needs is a minute portion of the heart to be softened, and the spirit can penetrate a person's life.  What better way to defeat Satan than planting seeds in a nonbeliever's life?  Let's Devise2bWise all the days of our lives :) 

**All CAPS and bold emphasis are mine.  For those without a Gmail account, please submit comments or questions to lbeauwilliams@gmail.com.  If you have a Gmail account, please feel free to put comments on blog :)**