Put on your armor

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principality, against power, against the rulers of the darkness of this day. Against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places . . ." This was me. For years. I bet it has been you also at one point, or maybe you're battling now. 

And the difference between my life two years ago and now is that I know what I'm up against now.  Two years ago I had no idea what I was battling or that I was even battling. I think I just figured that life sucked and that I was being sucked into a chasm of depression, hatred, anger, abuse, and a very bleak future. Satan had such a strong hold on me, there was a serious party going on in hell.

And then in December, 2015, God got a hold. Boy, that pissed the devil off, and he's like a two-year-old when you take a toy away. If you think that the enemy messes with you when you're bored, try and turn your back on him! Mercy, me! There are days when I feel like I'm going to lose my mind with the attacks! 

The devil is relentless.

But early on, I encountered a scripture that I ended up just memorizing because I read it so much. Find it. It's Ephesians 6:11-18. Here it is from the New King James version:

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,[a] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 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.14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.

Now I recite this entire scripture when I'm dealing with my fourteen-year-old daughter's smart mouth, my nine-year-old's boundary pushing, my geriatric dog who rolls in poop every chance she gets, and any encounters with people who thrive on pushing others to the brink of insanity. I recite it in the car, in the shower, while I swim laps at the pool, before bed, when I get up, while I'm teaching piano lessons, cooking dinner, grocery shopping, cleaning . . . It is my most recited scripture because I can visualize myself putting on these things and standing before the enemy with Christ by my side and His angels at my back (Have you read Ezekiel or Revelation? Angels are absolutely frightening! I'm glad to have them on my side!)

It's like the meme I've seen floating around online, "The devil whispers in the my ear, 'You're not strong enough to withstand the storm,' and today I whispered back, 'I AM the storm.'"  When I see this meme I get goosebumps, and sometimes I even start to tear up because I know that this is ME when I am feeling strength through Christ and the armor that I've been provided with. I am a woman of battle, ready to fight with my entire being, not just for me but for others.

But the devil is relentless. Relentless.

So this morning I was feeling a little beat-up because I hadn't gotten a fantastic night of sleep, and my kiddos are at their dad's house so the house is not full of life, and what scripture was I led to today? No. Not Ephesians 6. . .

But 2 Corinthians 10:3-6, which I had clearly never read before, or I'd have marked it. It says,

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

That Paul.  Talk about delivering messages! It's such a beautiful and empowering piece of scripture. Obedience. Warfare. Doing what God tells you. Putting on His armor. Using His weapons. His knowledge is all powerful. And where do I find this knowledge? His Word. Picking up that sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God.

A few weeks ago in my small group class at church we discussed where we were in our daily Bible reading? Desire? Discipline? Delight? I waver between discipline and delight. But today was sheer delight, as I felt a wave of power surge through me at those words. God's words through the pen of Paul.

I've been studying the book of Daniel for the last two months, and the references to the warfare that goes on beyond our visual realm makes me shake in my shoes. What do people do who DON'T put on the armor? No wonder our world is a disaster! Nobody knows what's attacking! They just know that the world is falling apart. Pride has ensnared us, and greed has covered us with it's wicked blanket. Without the FULL armor of God, we can't see to disentangle ourselves from this disaster. We are literally "going to hell in a hand basket", and nothing that we will ourselves to do will change that. Because we are not humanly capable of disarming the devil.

So the next time you're feeling weak, trampled upon, beat up, or just flat out exhausted by your uphill battle - crack open your Bible, phone, iPad, laptop and find Ephesians 6:11 and start reciting OUT LOUD the armor or God. Arm yourself. Trust me.

Look at me! Remember me? The basket case from two years ago? If you don't remember what kind of disaster I was, you can always go back to my early blogs and read about what a mess I really was. I won't erase them, because hopefully somebody will go to them and read them and see just what kind of work God has done in my life. God's forgiveness, sacrifice, love, and acceptance brought me back, but His armor protects me daily from the attacks of the insanely jealous enemy who wishes he could get me back.

Not today, satan. Not today.