Days 70 & 71 - You Can't See The Enemy

I finally realized that I fight a battle every single day of my life. I fight a battle to keep my house in order, to raise my children with morals and values and strong work ethics, to keep my marriage together, to maintain my sanity (hee hee), and other various battles throughout my day.

But the largest battle by far is a battle waged against the Evil One. I can't see him...I can't touch him...I can't hear him. He ever so stealthily sneaks upon me and my beloved family members...stealing our joy...stealing our unity as a family...stealing our hope for the future...stealing, little by little, our faith in Christ.

The Bible says in Ephesians 6:12: "For we do no wrestle (battle) against flesh and blood, but against the principalities (demons), against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."

Everyday there is an unseen battle taking place in an unseen battlefield. My battle tactic and strategy should be this simple: Put on the armor or God! Be prepared!

Here's how:

"Stand therefore, having girded your loins with the truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful...." That's found in verses 14 through 18 of the same Chapter 6.

What, exactly, does that mean?

To gird your loins with the "truth" means that I have made a decision about Christ's truth of the gospel message...that He came to save me from my sins and that I will get to spend eternity in heaven with Him because of my act of faith. It also means that I believe the truth of all of the Bible...and that I believe in the "truth" of God and His trinity.

And what are my "loins"? Well, this is my lower back. In order to stand tall and firm, I must have a strong back. If my back is not strong, I will begin bending and bowing and falling. I must have something that strengthens my "loins." What is this? God's Holy Word. This is step one.

Step two: The breastplate of righteousness. Righteousness is a standard of truth...God's standard and not the worldly standard. Righteousness is not what I do for God...it's my surrender to Him and His truth. This makes me righteous in God's eyes. This breastplate protects my vital organs: my motives and my heart.

Step three: The term "shod" simply means strapping on my sandals. Roman soldiers wore thickly studded sandals with cleats on the bottom of them in order to stand firm on the battleground. My sandals can be compared to the Word of God, as well. If I stand firm on God's Word, then I am able to stand firm and the battlefield and not be moved.

Step four: This instrument of warfare is a defensive weapon in order to protect myself from harmful things coming my way. Remember the pictures in your mind of the first Gulf war...how the scud missiles were randomly launched onto the enemy in a barrage of death-seeking array? This is how Satan tries to take us down, as well. Or, Satan could be dousing a cloth-covered arrow with gasoline, lighting it, and shooting it my way. I have to use my shield to defend me. What is my shield? Again, it's the Word of God. Memorize it. Stand firm on its principles. Believe it to be true.

Step five and six: My helmet should be made of something very protective, such as the Roman soldiers wore. My helmet is also my salvation. It is what keeps my mind from following evil desires. It is what keeps my mind focused on heavenly and positive things. And my sword, which is small and easy to yield, will come in handy as I quickly use it to attack the enemy, to pierce his heart. Here's an interesting verse to go along with this study: "For the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12).

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Father, thank you for revealing to me the unseen battle that wages all around me on a daily basis. Help me learn to put on my FULL armor so that I may not be defeated by the Evil One and instead may fight the good fight and stand victorious in the end. Help me to learn your Word and memorize it and stand strong on It. Amen.