The Armour of God
by Grace Bull
One weekend I was scheduled to teach on the subject of rejection. So can you predict what happened during the week beforehand? Yes, you guessed it. Several upsetting experiences in which people rejected me in some way or other.
Have you ever noticed that kind of pattern? Perhaps you are due to go on a special Christian event, or you have an opportunity for Christian service in a few days time. But during the week before, things happen which upset or disturb you. Or it could happen afterwards, maybe on the way home from a wonderful conference, holiday or service. If we are not careful to turn to God for comfort, forgiveness or help, we can be badly distracted from His purposes at these times.
What is going on here? Why does it seem as though ‘someone is getting at me’? In Ephesians 6:12 Paul reminds us that: our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against…spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Paul goes on to explain how we can avoid being significantly hit and hurt by the enemy. The key is to understand how God protects us. He wants us to be safe and has provided us with protection. Paul calls it armour and describes it in Ephesians chapter 6. It isn’t a physical armour but a spiritual one. That’s because the attacks come from a spiritual source. God’s armour defends us against attack as we apply it in our lives day to day.
These days I try to make a note in my diary the week before I will be ministering or teaching. I write, “pray more and check armour”. It’s a reminder to read Ephesians 6 again and to ask the Lord if any of the areas mentioned are weak in my life just now. If so, please would He help me. I find it worthwhile because when I do that, I get fewer attacks and am better able to cope with those which do happen.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, please forgive me for the times when I have blamed others and focused on the people in my life who upset me, rather than looking beyond them to the spiritual issues going on. I release anyone I am blaming today. Please help me to keep my spiritual armour in good repair so I can live under your protection. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Grace Bull is a member of the Ellel Ministries team, working in course development and the support of Ellel centres worldwide, having previously been a full-time GP (family doctor) for 15 years. Her passion is relationship with God and doing anything that will help other people to find that close relationship too.
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