For the past week, I have been on tour in Washington with Dannah’s tween ministry, Secret Keeper Girl. We've had four events thus
far for 8-12 year-old girls and their moms; over 3,000 in attendance, and close
to 100 salvation's. It is
humbling each night to step on stage knowing that I get to play a small
role in the biggest decision that some of these girls will ever make.
I was quite taken back by the statement thinking maybe
she misspoke. “Excuse me?” I asked. “I
said, you need to quit looking for a knight in shining armor.” I certainly
needed clarification! She continued by giving me the most beautiful word I have
received in a while:
“Don’t look for shining armor. It is for fairy tales and not
reality. A man who’s armor is bright and shining has never been in battle
before. You need a man who will fight for you. Who will lay down his life for
you. Look for a man with scuffs and dents in his armor. Not only does it prove
that he has experienced battle before, but that he has come out victorious.
That, my dear, is what you deserve.”
My tough exterior crumbled and I collapsed into the arms of
this stranger, crying. She prayed a blessing over me and I thanked her as best
I could. This woman didn’t know me from Eve, nor did she have an earthly clue
as to how many times I asked that young man, “Why won’t you fight for me?!” I have battled the thought that I'm not worth fighting for...
Holly’s words filled me with hope and redirected my prayers
and my vision for my future husband. As a result of her great wisdom and
encouragement I have been studying the armor of God this week and I would like
to share with you what the Lord has shown me:
First, Isaiah 59 scared the jeebers out of me. (Read this in the Message if you can!) The first
half of the chapter speaks of the evil and oppression that the world is
experiencing. Verse 15 says that the Lord saw what was happening, it displeased
him because there was no justice. My bones chilled at the next verse, “He saw
that there was no man and wondered why there was no one to intercede…”
So, the rest of the chapter describes the Lord putting on
the breastplate of righteousness, the helmet of salvation – and garments of
vengeance. Eeeeek! The Lord stepped in to fight because there was no man… I
don’t ever want the Lord to look around and not see me ready to battle, ready
to pray, ready to serve.
Paul was likely in a Roman prison, bound in chains when he
wrote the book of Ephesians. He was guarded by soldiers each day who were
probably wearing some sort of armor and carrying swords. The irony is that in
chapter six, he describes the armor we ought to wear… I am sure he knew the
scripture in Isaiah – Paul calls the people to dress for war. To stand. To be
ready, so when the Lord looks around, He sees someone.
(Note that not everyone’s armor will look the same. Each
piece will be intact, but it might look different. The battle clothes one would
wear to invade the frozen tundra would be different than the ones used to carry
out a special ops mission in the torrid desert.
Don’t look at someone else’s armor and wish it were yours – your mission
is likely different than theirs.)
Belt of Truth: In
John 14:6, Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth,
and the life…” Jesus is truth. We must fasten and secure the knowledge of Jesus
as Lord to our hearts as well as our minds. We must know how to release the lies of
the enemy and replace them with the truth of Jesus. Sometimes this will involve
a heart or mind adjustment on our part. Once a belt is fastened, it takes and
intentional act to remove it. Truth doesn’t just fall off.
Breastplate of
Righteousness: Righteousness means to be free from guilt or sin; to be
morally right. This breastplate protects the integrity of your heart. It is critical protection. Can one wear this essential piece of armor while secretly
viewing pornography or slandering friends? Doubtful. Without this piece of
armor, your vital organs are exposed. Get Righteous!
Shoes of Peace: These
are the wonderful shoes that you will use to walk out the Great Commission
(Matthew 28:19). Everywhere we go, we should be walking the Gospel; by our
living, by our language, by the way we dress… Don’t covet other’s shoes (the
way they carry the Gospel). Again, some are trained to walk the gospel around
the beach – they wear flip-flops. Others walk the gospel up the side of Mt.
Everest and they need huge, heavy, waterproof hiking boots. Just put your shoes
on. They will help you handle the elements.
Shield of Faith: I love talking about faith! (The scripture
according to Heather’s humorous interpretation.) In Luke 17:6, Jesus says that
if we have faith the size of a mustard seed, we could move mountains. Ummmm, I
want my shield to be bigger than a mustard seed! Our faith needs to enlarge!
The bigger our faith, the greater the protection we have against the flaming arrows
of the enemy. Many Christians in the army of the Lord become casualties because
their shield isn’t big enough. They get hit with a flaming arrow. Build your
faith! Your shield should have burn marks on it – Satan throws fiery darts on a
daily basis.
Helmet of Salvation: The
enemy likes to take cheap shots. Have you seen a football game in which the
running back gets hit so hard that his helmet flies off? That is what the Devil
wants to do to you. If he can hit you hard enough that your helmet flies off,
he wins. He is out for your soul and if he can steal your salvation or get you
to “take it off” even for a second…. Strap it down people! Cinch up the straps.
Get your head in the game. Brace for a cheap shot from the backfield.
Sword of the Spirit: Ephesians 6 explains to us that the sword is
the Word! Own it. Pick it up. Develop strength and agility to use it. Know it.
You will need to draw it out. Operate in the Holy Spirit – so many Christian are afraid of the Holy
Spirit. You are missing out on a life of power and miracles when you resist the
things of the Spirit – Pray in tongues at all times. Persevere through the
grace given by the Spirit. Walking in the Word and in the Spirit makes you a
terrifying target to the Devil. He can see the size of your sword (he can also see if you aren't carrying one) and he knows
you will WAAA-PAAAA him if he gets close. I want to scare the devil.
I have been so blessed by Holly’s words and the revelation
given to me this week. It has helped me adjust my prayers for my future
husband. He will be a warrior with a few battle scars – not a pretty boy with
shiny armor and good hair. Ephesians 6 has also helped me learn the areas of my own armor which are weak or lacking. I have been challenged!
I do want the Prince that the Lord sends into my life to be
a seasoned Veteran of the God-of-Heaven Armies. Victorious in battle. Full of
stories of triumph, as well as marks of affliction. He will be strong. He will
fight for me – better yet, he will fight with all he has for the Lord our God.
May I challenge you this week to look in the mirror and see
if every piece of armor is in place. If you have been under attack lately,
feeling the darts of the enemy, is your shield up? Is it big enough to protect
you? Is your breastplate on?
Are your feet moving with the Gospel? If you stand in one
place too long, they will either burn with blisters or freeze – get moving
and take off your fuzzy slippers.
Get in the Spirit – the power you will find waiting for you
there surpasses all your understanding. Don’t take your belt off…. That is a
scary thing to do. Your pants might fall down – that would make you the
laughing stock of the army.
Live victoriously, Mighty Warrior! I pray the Lord not look
around and find either of us unready. He will gladly do it Himself… It’s like
Moms – when you don’t do the chore the right way the first time and then Mom
has to come behind you and do it again…. Ehhhh, that’s never good. Be ready –
do it right.
Don't go in to battle naked. You will die quickly and be a distraction to the rest of us.
Put your armor on and Fight.... we win.
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