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"Armor That Fits" by Connie Armstrong
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, grow powerful in union with the Lord, in union with his mighty strength! 11 Use all the armor and weaponry that God provides, so that you will be able to stand against the deceptive tactics of the Adversary. 12 For we are not struggling against human beings, but against the rulers, authorities and cosmic powers governing this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm. 13 So take up every piece of war equipment God provides; so that when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist; and when the battle is won, you will still be standing. 14 Therefore, stand! Have the belt of truth buckled around your waist,[Ephesians 6:14 Isaiah 11:5] put on righteousness for a breastplate,[Ephesians 6:14 Isaiah 59:17] 15 and wear on your feet the readiness that comes from the Good News of shalom.[Ephesians 6:15 Isaiah 52:7] 16 Always carry the shield of trust, with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the Evil One. 17 And take the helmet of deliverance;[Ephesians 6:17 Isaiah 59:17] along with the sword given by the Spirit, that is, the Word of God; 18 as you pray at all times, with all kinds of prayers and requests, in the Spirit, vigilantly and persistently, for all God’s people.
19 And pray for me, too, that whenever I open my mouth, the words will be given to me to be bold in making known the secret of the Good News, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may speak boldly, the way I should.
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Ephesians 6 tells us to put on the full armor of God, including belt, breastplate, special shoes, shield, helmet, and a sword. That’s quite an assortment, but it is necessary in order that we may take our stand against the devil’s schemes.
As children, many of us learned about the armor King Saul gave the shepherd boy, David, to equip him in his fight with the giant, Goliath. However, this was awkward, ill-fitting armor. When David tried walking around in the armor, he was unsteady on his feet. Rather than be weighed down with ill-fitting armor, David declared he was going to fight the enemy “in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel” (1 Samuel 17:45).
Instead, God’s armor for us is far from awkward or ill-fitting. Each piece is tailor-made in our exact size. Every piece of armor we wear is never out of style and is always appropriate for any occasion. God custom-makes these pieces of protection and attack for every believer. We are assured each day that we can “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” (Ephesians 6:10) as we stand firm against the enemy. Praise His name!-------
Hymn for Today: "Be Thou My Vision" Traditional Irish Hymn; translated by Mary E. Byrne
1. Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
naught be all else to me, save that thou art -
thou my best thought, by day or by night;
waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.
2. Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word;
I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord.
Thou my great Father; thine own may I be,
thou in me dwelling and I one with thee.
3. Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise;
thou mine inheritance, now and always;
thou and thou only first in my heart,
high King of heaven, my treasure thou art.
4. High King of heaven, my victory won,
may I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
still be my vision, O Ruler of all.
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Thought for Today: Romans 13:12 The night is almost over, the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and arm ourselves with the weapons of light.-------
Please Pray: That many people in Norway will come to know Yeshua the Messiah and receive the fullness of the Ruach HaKodesh.
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