Welcome! This
week we are in chapter 4 “Embrace Truth” of our study of Embrace Grace by Liz Curtis Higgs.
Every day, we battle the enemy and all he throws at
us—temptation of all kinds, attacks on our faith, whispers that God doesn’t
love us, questions of our own self-worth, disagreements with family and
friends, evil in the world around us, and so much more.
On our own, we have no chance of defending ourselves.
But God doesn’t leave us here alone, and He never intended
for us to fight the enemy without Him.
Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against
all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies,
but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty
powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Ephesians
6:10-12
I like the imagery Paul uses comparing what a Roman soldier
would have worn to fight and defend himself to the spiritual armor God provides.
Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to
resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be
standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body
armor of God’s righteousness. Ephesians 6:13-14
The belt of truth…God’s Word tells us the truth of Who God
is, His saving grace, and who we are to Him.
While the enemy wants us to doubt everything, the truth is—the
war has already been won through Christ’s death and resurrection.
God has chosen us as His children and nothing changes that.
Nothing can separate us from God’s love for us. (Romans 8:38)
When the enemy tries to tell us his hateful lies, God’s
Truth is unchanging.
It grounds us in Him, enabling us to stand firm against the
enemy. Every. Single. Day.
For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you
will be fully prepared. Ephesians 6:15
The news of Jesus and the peace He brings is too good to
keep to ourselves. We should be ready to share this Good News with others,
telling of all Jesus has done in our lives and how His love has changed us.
In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the
fiery arrows of the devil. Put
on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the
word of God. Ephesians 6:16-17
Some days it feels like we’re battling the enemy’s arrows
from every direction. Some take a little longer to injure, while other arrows
feel like they’re already on fire, sparking instant anger, sadness,
frustration, desperation, and despair.
To block the blows, we have God’s shield of faith—trust in Him
and the truth of His Word to defend us.
Where the enemy tries to tear us down, God’s Word builds us
up and reminds us Who we belong to.
And with God’s Word in our minds and our hearts, we are
ready to face the day—armed and protected.
What Scripture verses do you use as your shield of faith?
In Christ,
Thank you for linking up over at WholeHearted Wednesdays this past week. I hope you had a wonderful week. Your posts are always so consistent and full of the Lord, Laura.
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