Put It ALL On

As we continue in the series Following Jesus, we are learning more about how Jesus confronted the evils of the spiritual realm. I’d like to start us off today with a simple prayer and I invite you to make it your prayer as we go through today’s devotion:

Holy Spirit, speak to me today. Allow me to focus my time and devotion on Your word. As I continue throughout my day and these next few moments of reflection, help me to abide with You and to remember that Your presence is what gives me the power to stand firm and live the overcoming life that You have planned for me. Amen.

Ephesians 6:10-13 (NLT)
10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 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.
13 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.

This week, we are learning about Jesus’ example in confronting the spiritual realm.
The first step in preparing for battle is suiting up! As a U.S. Navy Sailor, I spent my first mission onboard an enormous ship with a crew of over 5,000 people. Whenever we were in enemy territory, our entire crew, from the captain and his officers to our cooks and laundry attendants, would regularly practice “battle stations.”

During this warfare exercise, we would don our gas masks, gloves, and other firefighting equipment and practice responding to a hypothetical inbound missile or chemical attack. Why? Because we knew that in war, combat is foreseeable, and if we did not practice regularly, the alternative was most likely death. So it is with our spiritual person; because attacks of the enemy are inevitable in a faith-centered lifestyle, we must be prepared to “suit up” for those confrontations to successfully endure to the end.

Have you ever been exposed to a sudden spiritual attack that you knew was intended to take you down? How did you respond? Take a moment and ask God to help you recognize these attacks going forward and that He would help you be strong and stand firm in the face of opposition.

Are you aware of any prominent “strategies of the devil” in your own life? Take some time to invite God into that problem. Allow Him some room to guide you in a strategy or counterattack that will help you overcome in that area.

After spending some time reflecting on these questions, take your fears and needs to God in honest prayer. Below are a few prompts to help get you started.

Ask God to help you become more aware of the things that attack you or attempt to pull you away from Him.

Ask God to help you surrender those things to Him today.

May our Lord and Champion encourage you today as you put on ALL the amor of Christ!