Pray, Pray, Pray, Pray today....Pray some more. Spend 15 minutes praying and come back.
Did you do it? It isn't easy and you will be distracted, but you can do it. Take five minute blocks. Here is a formula to try: Five minutes on each of these areas:
- 1. Praise--walk around, clap, praise, sing, skip, jump, lay down on your face and praise the Lord.
- 2. Give Thanks--thank Him for waking up, thank Him for your legs, your hands, your feet, your tongue, your breath, your family, your home, your heater, your food, your job, your toothbrush! thank Him.
- 3. Intercede--for others, pray for your family, your friends, your enemies, your country, your job, your leaders, your military, your pets, your community, your neighbors. If you don't know what to pray for specifically, pray for protection, for God's revelation, for God's grace, for God's forgiveness, for God's mercy, for God's mighty angels to protect each step.
Now onto the Spiritual Warfare--are you ready?
STUDY VERSES:
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
STUDY QUESTIONS:
1. Why do you need to take up the whole armor?
2. What is most important to do?
3. What is the belt of truth? Why do you think you need to have a "belt" of truth?
4. Why is righteousness as a "breastplate"?
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Commentary from ESV
Eph. 6:14–17 Standing Firm. Paul reiterates the charge to stand in the face of dreaded spiritual enemies because the Lord has not left his people defenseless. They have the complete armor of God from head to foot, which consists of the belt, breastplate, shoes, shield, helmet, and sword. These are metaphors for the spiritual resources given to them in Christ, namely, the truth,
Eph. 6:14 With the simple, rousing order, stand, Paul urges the Ephesians to withstand the enemy (cf. vv. 11, 13), and not give in to fear.
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Here is additional commentary from Chuck Missler on Spiritual Warfare:
Girded With Truth
"Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth..." Ephesians 6:14
"What is Truth?" the famed Roman procurator cynically asked rhetorically. Few of us have the will to raise the question ourselves. And yet a moment's consideration quickly reveals that truth is our most precious treasure to be coveted. Truth is the key to success, fulfillment, victory, or achieving any worthwhile goal. The pursuit of truth is our greatest challenge in every one of our endeavors.
This "fabulous century" has ushered in astonishing changes in the realms of technology and yet, strangely, it has also probed new depths of darkness with devastating wars and monstrous new weapons, yielding the bloodiest, most revolutionary, most unpredictable century of any in history. Perhaps most fearsome of all, it has also ushered in a wholesale abandonment of truth. In any cultural war, truth is the first casualty.
The Roman Girding
The Roman belt was 6-8 inches wide; all the body armor and weapons were attached to it. As a soldier's belt gave ease and freedom of movement, so truth gives freedom with self, others, and God.
All was prepared before, not during, the battle! You can't postpone the gaining of combat knowledge to when you "need" it!
One definition of truth is when the Word and Deed become one. The ultimate truth is the fulfillment of God's promises in His Messiah. God's Word had committed Him to provide what we need in His Son. Jesus was the fulfillment of that commitment.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6
This is the basis of our armor in any spiritual battle. All other elements of our warfare derive from this.
Most of us don't wear battle armor today. Yet here is a command in God's Word to appropriate for ourselves the weaponry to protect ourselves, or else we are sitting ducks in conflicts which we cannot avoid. What is the "breastplate of righteousness?"
The Roman breastplate was typically made of bronze, backed with leather. It was designed to protect the vital area. A blow through this was usually fatal.
What is your most dangerous vulnerability? Or, alternatively, What is your most important stewardship? There are many good answers: your family, etc. However, I suggest that your most critical area is your heart. The breastplate covered the heart.
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are (all) the issues of life. Prov 4:23
God Bless You Sisters and Brothers, Keep Your Heart! Love Sister Lisa
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