Tag: spiritual warfare

The Full Armor of God

Today is Veteran’s Day in the U.S. The same day is known as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in other countries. Britain celebrated Remembrance Day this past Sunday. It is the commemoration of the end of World War I– on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918. Nearly 70 million soldiers fought in this war. Millions of them died, and millions more were scarred, injured, and incapacitated. Veteran’s Day honors the sacrifices of those who have survived battles, sacrifices, and service to their nations over the years, especially in wartime.

Soldiers throughout the centuries have put their lives on the line to fight for city-states, nations, empires, as well as for honor, glory, and pay. Soldiers need to be vigilant, brave, and ready to suffer. But they also need armor for protection in the battles and dangerous missions they undertake.

As Christians, we face an enemy– we are soldiers fighting a spiritual war. And we have armor– not made of steel. In Ephesians, the Apostle Paul spells out what we are to wear into battle:

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil 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 firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints. (Ephesians 6:10-18 ESV)

The Belt of Truth– The truth not only provides us with support and stability; it also gives us a place for our other weapons– the Sword of the Spirit (Word of God) is safely sheathed in the Truth, ready to slice through lies and twisted interpretations.

The Breastplate of Righteousness– We are to guard our heart from the darts and stabs of temptations, doubts, and pride. When we commit to righteous living– without compromise and complacency, we can stand up to the threats of false doctrine and “fake” discipleship.

The Gospel of Peace (and the readiness it brings) –We can be sure-footed in times of battle when we plant our hope in the Gospel and walk in peace, rather than in contention, with our brothers and sisters in Christ. And when we seek to spread peace and truth, instead of power and self-justification, we will not stumble in our witness to others.

The Shield of Faith–Doubts and questions are darts that will be hurled at us by the enemy. Why does God allow suffering? Is God really who He says He is? Are there other ways to God? What if? Why? Can I trust God? The shield of Faith must be taken up– doubts and questions are inevitable. But will we succumb to them, letting them pierce our armor and fester in our unprotected flesh? Or will we practice our Faith– testing the strength of God’s Promises to keep us whole and fighting fit?

The Helmet of Salvation–The Shield of Faith protects our heart. The Helmet of Salvation protects our mind. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2 NIV). God has promised to transform us by the renewing of our mind(s). The Holy Spirit guides our thoughts, allowing us to seek out and respond to God’s wisdom and His perfect will.

The Sword of the Spirit (which is the Word of God) –Soldiers spend hours training with their offensive weapons– whether swords or guns, missile guidance systems, flight training, etc. Christians need to be well-“versed” in what the Bible actually teaches, instead of being blind-sided by half-truths, shaky theology, and more. And we need to be prepared to “wield” the sword of the Spirit in confrontation– not to kill others, but to cut through deception, hatred, lies, rebellion, and ignorance. We must be quick to “parry” and “thrust” with solid knowledge of the Bible, not falling back on “feel-good” theology or trendy teachings.

And don’t forget– PRAYER! We are to be alert and connected to the Father at all times through prayer, supplication (requesting help!), and perseverance. The best armor still requires discipline, and it requires that we follow the battle plan and stay in contact with our commanding officer.

Today, we honor those soldiers who have sacrificed and fought for our freedom. And we should also honor those who “fight the good fight” for Christ– not with worldly weapons, but with God’s own Armor!

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“Better-than” Prayers

I know a lot of “Prayer Warriors”– people who pray often, and fervently, and are known for their prayer habit. But I often hear a very disturbing statement in relation to such people. The thinking goes that if someone is a “Prayer Warrior” they get results. They have a direct line to Heaven– different and “better” than normal pray-ers. There are people who will hunt down a prayer warrior, believing that this action will be more effective than praying about an issue or problem themselves. Others try to emulate or copy the praying style of “prayer warriors,” thinking that the way someone words their prayers will make a difference in whether or not God will hear them. Still others will refuse to pray in public, because they say their prayers are not good enough. And this should not be!

We have a terrible tendency to compare. We compare our appearance, our social or economic status, our skills and abilities, and even our spirituality. “She’s so close to God!” “He knows the Bible so much better than I do!” And we think this determines whether or not God will listen to and act on our prayers. And Christians who could pray more often, more joyfully, and, yes, more effectively, simply give up on pursuing prayer, because they think others are so much “better” at it.

God is not a respecter of persons. His willingness to listen to our prayers does not depend on how many Bible verses we can quote or how many church services we attend each week, or how eloquently we can pray. God does not play favorites– He does not respond more quickly or more powerfully to some people because they call Him “Heavenly Father” instead of “Almighty God” or because they kneel instead of sitting, or because they are somehow “holier” than their neighbor.

God wants to hear from YOU. And yes, it can be a blessing and a comfort to know that others are praying for you or with you, but we should not measure our prayers against those of others around us. Especially if we allow ourselves to get discouraged in our pursuit of “better” prayer.

That said, there are a few things that can make our prayers “better”:

  • Be sincere– God doesn’t play games. He doesn’t respond to flattery, falsehoods, foolishness, or exaggerations. God already knows what you need, what you’re thinking, and who you are– who you REALLY are. Prayer that tries to cover up your real emotions or thoughts; prayer that tries to make you sound pious, needy, devout, etc., are not fooling anyone but you…
  • Be still–take time to get quiet before God– so that you can listen as well as speak! Meditate on WHO it is you are talking with, instead of just what you want to say.
  • Be submitted– Prayer is not about getting God to “deliver” on your wish list. Don’t just pretend to be pious, but determine that you will accept God’s perfect will and timing. And that you will accept God’s correction when you are having trouble accepting His will!
  • Be faithful–don’t give up. Pursuing Prayer means practicing prayer. You may find it gets easier to pray as you stumble through awkward prayers, instead of trying to be perfect out of the gate. Most “Prayer Warriors” started out the same way. Anyone–ANYONE–can be a prayer warrior!

Such “better” prayers will not impress God. God isn’t about being impressed. He IS about being personal, loving, wise, and sovereign. But such prayers will be “better than” those prayed in pride, or prayed inconsistently, or without fully acknowledging God’s character and authority.

My goal is not to be a “better” pray-er than someone else. I may never be acknowledged by others as a “Prayer Warrior.” But my goal is to be disciplined and trained in the pursuit of Prayer. Every day, we face spiritual warfare– in that sense we are all prayer “warriors.” And I may be a foot soldier in this war, but I want to be the best foot soldier I can be! I want to be “better than” I was yesterday, and even better tomorrow!

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