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Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Ephesians 6:13
Americans spend over $100 Billion on multi-vitamins every year. We spend huge amounts on health clubs, fitness equipment and other things to keep us healthy. New laws are passed every year to protect us from dangerous products, threatening situations and even ourselves! Why do we spend so much time, money and effort on these things? Because we want to be protected and feel the need to protect others from things that will harm or even kill us.
We need protection from water, so we require Personal Flotation Devices. We need protection from the sun so we’ve developed sunscreen. We need protection from people that are irresponsible so we’ve created laws and entire agencies to protect us from evil minded people. Protection is on the minds of all of us and is not only big business but an important part of our society.
What’s ironic about the whole protection issue is that we often go through our days unprotected from the most important things that threaten us. Virtually all of the money we spend to protect ourselves is geared towards protecting our lives. It’s time and money spent on keeping us healthy, wealthy and able to function in society.
At the same time we neglect protecting ourselves from the spiritual dangers that lurk in the shadows. In Ephesians, the Apostle Paul tells us to put on our spiritual protection every day. We are to arm ourselves for battle before we step foot out of our homes, or even our beds. Still, we have to admit we often start our day vulnerable to all kinds of spiritual attack.
Why do we avoid protection?
- We can say that time is a factor, but if we really realized how dangerous our enemy is we wouldn’t think twice about being protected. The Bible describes Satan as a roaring lion seeking to devour us. He’s cunning, wise and very real. His purpose in life is to destroy us and keep us from the joy we have in Jesus.
- For some of us, protecting ourselves is a sign of weakness. “Praying, reading God’s Word, fellowshipping with like-minded believers is okay for some, but I’m pretty self-sufficient. I can handle whatever is coming my way today.” God never, ever intended us to walk alone. That’s why He sent His Holy Spirit and gave us the Bible and tells us to pray. He wants to be involved in every part of your life and knows you will need him for battle.
- Sometimes we go unprotected because, if we are honest with ourselves, we lack of faith in the equipment God has given us for life. He’s given us His Word. He’s proven to be powerful, honest, caring, loving, full of grace and mercy, able to heal and provide. We can trust God even during the times when we doubt His presence.
If you are a great swimmer and going out into the ocean on a boat you take your PFD (Personal Flotation Device). On a calm, sunny day you lay it on the deck, in plain sight but don’t plan to use it. If a storm comes up you may pull it closer in case you need it. But if your boat is in danger and land can’t be seen, you know to put on that PFD because it is your tool of survival in the storm. Think of your faith in Christ as a PFD. Life is a storm and our lives are fragile. Wear your PFD, your trust in Christ. He will help you weather the storm.
PRAYER: Holy Father, I thank you for the many ways you have protected me during my life. I acknowledge that there are many times I’ve been protected without even knowing it. I confess to you that I often go into my daily life unprotected. Empower me through your Holy Spirit to take life seriously and to protect myself with the truth of your Word on a daily basis. In the powerful name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1
We are free because of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Those who are Christ-followers hold this truth as the foundation of our faith and the motivation for all that we say and do. Our faith is based solely on Jesus Christ.
The entire book of Galatians can be summed up in one word. Freedom. Grace gives us the freedom we need to face the sometimes seemingly insurmountable obstacles in our way on this journey we call life.
Along with those obstacles come intentional or unintentional attempts by the enemy to rip the freedom we have in Jesus from our hands. He is a cunning enemy. He uses circumstances, people and even religion to try to enslave us. When it works we can find ourselves in more bondage than we were in before we came to Jesus.
Paul gives us a two word battle plan to protect our freedom. He tells the Galatian Church, and us, to STAND FIRM! That’s it. Stand. And while you are standing, stand firm. Immovable. Resolute. Unwavering.
Normally we think of defending our freedom in terms of warfare. It’s either fight or flight. We fight like a cornered animal if need be and run like a scared rabbit if necessary. As Christ followers all we need to do is stand. Jesus fought the battle on the cross and in the grave. He won! It’s over. Signed, sealed and delivered. Done. Period.
Standing isn’t normally considered a position of warfare. But standing in the face of adversity takes courage, strength and trust. A story is told of a neighborhood bully known to pick on dogs in the area. The ‘bully’ was a big old tomcat. In his wisdom he’d learned that dogs could only go as far as their chain or fence would allow them to come. He would walk just outside the perimeter of the chain or fence and stand. The dogs would come running until they reached the ‘end of their rope’ and come to a sudden, painful stop. The tomcat simply stood because he knew he was in no danger.
As Christ-followers we can stand in the face of adversity because we know we are free. We stand outside the perimeter of the enemy. He can’t hurt us any longer. We can trust our Savior to see us through and protect us.
Ask the Father to help you stand firm in the battle before you. Develop the faith-muscle you need to be unwavering using the PAS method.
P – Pray. The single most formidable weapon we have as Christ-followers is to pray. God is there and wants to hear your heart.
A– Accountability. Surround yourselves with people who are truly interested in encouraging your gifts, building you up and guiding you according to God’s word. Religion enslaves you. Relationship with Jesus frees you.
S – Scripture. God’s word is His letter to you. In it he holds the keys to how you can stand firm in Him. Read it daily. Study it with your accountability group. Take it with you into battle as you would a shield and weapon. It is not outdated. It is relevant for today.
PRAYER: Holy Father, I thank you for the freedom I have in Jesus Christ. I pray that you would remove the guilt and shame of past mistakes. I invite your Holy Spirit to enter into my life and guide, protect and strengthen me to stand in the midst of the obstacles that are before me. Empower me to stand firm in You. Amen.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 