Gear Up!

by Darla Noble

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:11-12

Most days my children rode the bus to and from school. But the days they had dance class or soccer practice, I picked them up from school. And I can still remember how frustrated and sad I felt when I saw their peers wearing shorts or no coat and sandals when it was cold and possibly even snowy.

Where were their parents when those children got ready for school that morning? Why didn’t they make sure they were ‘geared up’ for the weather?

Isn’t it wonderful to know our Father, God, isn’t the kind of parent who sends us out into the ‘cold without our coat on’? Instead, He provides us with an entire suit of armor to protect us from the world—from Satan and the power of sin he shoves our way. God gives us the shoes of the gospel of peace, the belt of truth, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the Bible.

The children coming to school in shorts and sandals when it was cold and snowy outside, knew better and had coats and warm clothes to wear. They just chose not to.

The same is true about the armor God gives us to wear. The Bible tells us it is there for the taking—to make us stronger, keep us safe, and to keep us spiritually healthy. But it’s up to us to put it on and wear it.

So…what are you wearing when you go out to face the ‘cold’?

PRAYER: LORD, give me the desire to wear your armor every day of my life so that I can be safe in you. Amen.