Indispensable

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.
Ephesians 6:10-11 NLT

Quick! What are your weapons? Can you identify all the pieces of your armor?

Were you able to do it? No, it's not a competition. It's a battle. And our weapons MUST be God-issued armor if we hope to survive. We cannot do this life without Christ and all the provision He has made for us. So let's go over our checklist. I'm going to use The Message because, in this passage, it reads more like a handbook, and we must wake up to the Truth about the battle that wages for our souls.

So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way.

This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.

Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet.

Truth,
Righteousness,
Peace,
Faith, and
Salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life.

God’s Word is an indispensable weapon.

In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare.
Pray hard and long.
Pray for your brothers and sisters.
Keep your eyes open.
Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. Ephesians 6:11-18 The Message

Other translations read, "Keep alert..." Are we doing that?

Prayer:

Father,
             We want to successfully fight the good fight! Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; as unto You, Lord. Give us Your Strength. Help us always to remember that it all comes from You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Choose Your Weapon

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.
2nd Corinthians 5:17-19 NLT [emphasis mine]

One of satan's favorite times to want to speak to mankind is when we lay our heads on the bed to rest. his will be the voice reciting the list of wrongs we've done as far back as we can remember. At times, that list may seem as though it's on a continuous loop. If we're not quick to recognize his ploy, we find ourselves feeling as guilty as the day we sinned. 

Stop choosing the cloud of condemnation over God's Truth! Fight the battle using the proper weaponry (see Ephesians 6:13-18). Pick up your sword and shield and gain the victory!

I love how Romans 8:1-2 reads in The Message -  With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ’s being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.

Romans 5:20 assures us, So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

In Revelation, we are told how the accuser of the brethren is defeated - by the Blood of the Lamb and word of our testimony. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so... 

Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You for Your amazing grace that frees us from sin and death. Give us ears to hear only You and the wisdom to use only Your Truth. We choose the Truth of Your Word over condemnation. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen