"Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes." Ephesians 6:11
According to the National Weather Service, frostbite can occur within 30-45 minutes when the windchill is -10 degrees. Knowing that, I dressed appropriately for yesterday morning's run by enveloping nearly every inch of my body in clothing. A balaclava covered my face, head and neck, leaving only the eyes exposed. Warm mittens with a windproof shell protected my hands, while the latest heat gear made for runners shielded my arms, core, legs and feet. And while that may seem like a lot of protective gear, or "armor" to put on, neglecting even a single piece of it would have left me exposed to the elements and would have most likely resulted in physical harm.
You know, as I was enjoying my time outdoors and praising God that I had the appropriate attire to do so, I was reminded that merely possessing the right clothing doesn’t do any good unless it’s put on. But isn't that exactly what many of us do every day? You see, God provides you and me with the right clothing we need to safeguard ourselves "against the devil's schemes” but, for one reason or another, we aren’t putting it on. And if you think wearing just a few of the pieces will protect you, think again. The Bible tells us that we must "put on the full armor of God" so that we can take our stand. You see, the devil will strike any exposed or uncovered area we have - which will most certainly, and without a doubt, result in some type of spiritual, physical and emotional harm.
So to protect ourselves, we should be sure to dress appropriately every day by buckling the belt of Truth around our waist, setting the breastplate of righteousness in place, and fitting our feet with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. And after we’ve done all that, we need to take up the shield of faith, put on the helmet of salvation and take the sword of the Spirit. Because it’s only when we have on the “full armor of God” my friend, that we are ready to head out the door no matter what the temperature is.
Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word that so clearly tells us that the devil is out to harm us in any way he can. Help us to realize that our only protection against those attacks is to wear the armor of God at all times. Knowing that, may we consciously and consistently put it on every day. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.
Happy Running!!!
Bulletproof - Citizen Way
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