Prepared for Battle

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. (Ephesians 6:12-13 NLT)

Principalities and powers - there is an unseen realm behind every one of our battles, my friends. We don't even know they exist, but we can feel and see their influence, can't we? Their principal purpose is to make war against God's people. Their mission is to oppose everything and everyone in God's family. Our values, the boundaries we set for our lives, the mission we engage in - all are under their attack. The closer you get to Jesus, the more you can count on these 'unseen realms' acting against our forward progress.

It should not come as a surprise that a 'lukewarm, namby-pamby, pew-warming' believer is not a threat to these principalities and powers in unseen realms. Get a little fire in your gut and start taking steps to get closer to Jesus with each step you take and there will be a barrage of influences attempting to keep us from taking those steps. Why? You are a threat to their realm. God's answer to their threats against us is to muster the powers of heaven against them, but also to equip us to stand strong amidst their attack. How? By putting on the full armor of God!

Truth - so we will be able to identify and resist the lies of the 'Father of Lies' - the devil himself.

Breastplate of Righteousness - put on the protection that guards our hearts against all his accusing words, lies that are designed to take our heart's attention away from Jesus.

Feet Shod with the Gospel of Peace - because there will be obstacles placed specifically designed to destroy our sense of peace and joy.

Shield of Faith - keeping us safe against all his threatening accusations and attempts to shame us into places of guilt, in order to get us to forget we are FULLY redeemed, forgiven, and stand right before our holy God.

Helmet of Salvation - because our minds will constantly be under attack from every direction. The thoughts we entertain can either be our uplifting or our undoing.

No warrior ever goes into battle without the armor that has been perfectly prepared for him. God's plan was for each of us to put on his FULL armor, perfectly preparing us for the battle that lies ahead. Just sayin!