Stand Your Ground

Putting on the full armour of God is something I remember learning at a young age. I was taught the importance of each part of the soldier’s armour and how it applies to me as a child of God in my daily walk. Each part of the spiritual armour serves to equip us to fight and to protect us against our enemy.

Recently I had a conversation with a friend who told me the following story: My friend and her son decided to go to a pond near their home to feed the ducks that lived there. They took along some bread to feed the ducks, but as they approached the pond with the bread in hand, the ducks came rushing towards them.

To my friend, who is quite short in stature, it looked like the ducks were charging them, and were aiming to chase them off. They turned around and started running from the seemingly aggressive ducks. However, a family member who had been to the pond before, explained to them that they had nothing to fear from the ducks. The birds were simply eager to get the bread they brought, and they should simply stand their ground, as the ducks would not cause them any harm.

This story is an excellent illustration of an instruction mentioned in our key scripture – TO STAND. I was struck by the fact that we diligently put on the full armour of God daily. We have all the equipment to fight and to defend ourselves. And yet, we are not always sure what to do when we are faced with the enemy, who comes like a roaring lion to kill, steal and destroy. Just like my friend we feel like digging in our heels and running. And yet the Word encourages us, “having done all [the crisis demands], to ‘STAND FIRMLY IN YOUR PLACE’ and to ‘hold your ground’.

James 4:7 says, ‘So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you’. All the armour in the world is rendered completely useless, unless the soldier is willing to stand his ground and resist the enemy.

Fear causes even the best soldier to doubt his training and his ability to conquer his enemy. In Judges 7 we read the account of Gideon getting ready to fight the Midianites: ‘The Lord said to Gideon, ‘You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands…Now announce to the army, “Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.”’ So twenty two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained.’ Fear reduced Gideon’s army instantly by more than two thirds! Yet each one of them must have been trained soldiers, armed with all they needed for battle, and well able to fight. But fear caused them to tremble, and lose out being part of an amazing victory God gave Gideon and his men.

My encouragement to you is to STAND your ground. See your enemy like God sees him – already defeated. Wield your Sword of the Spirit and keep your Shield of Faith raised high. Trust God’s Helmet of Salvation, His Breastplate of Righteousness, His Belt of Truth and the Shoes of Peace to cover you and protect you and establish you. But having done all…STAND YOUR GROUND!

Prayer: Lord, thank You that You did not leave me without support and defence against my enemy. Thank You that You have given me everything I need for life and godliness. Help me to stand firm when adversity comes, to hold my ground and to remember who I am in You! Amen.