Why Armor?

Vol 2 No 38 THEO'S DEVOS

Eph 610-12 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms

As often as I have read these verses I am struck by on very important fact that seems to elude many Christians. Why do we need this armor? Whatever it is, why do we need it? When I became Christian and the Holy Spirit came to live in me, wasn't that enough? Shouldn't life just ease up and my need to deal with problems just diminish. When I hear Christians complain about life it seems as though they are surprised that they should have to deal with problems like everyone else. Rather than think that life will come at us without problems we probably ought to wonder why we don't have more.

It was just a couple weeks ago when we saw hurricane Ike hit our southern border with a vengeance. The suffering is nowhere near over and the loss of life is just now being discovered. When I saw the pictures of the devastation and heard about the teams of people that were being sent out by University Baptist Church and others like them it helped put the back pain that I live with in perspective. When I have a hard time sleeping at night I have to be thankful that I can go into the other room and sit up for a while. I should not take the other room for granted. Some of my friends (and some are reading this) cannot get into their homes and a couple do not have a home to go home to.

But in all of this we are told that the real struggle is not against flesh and blood. It is not against other people who let you down, and they will. It is against powers of the dark world and spiritual forces. Behind the difficulties that you face is a spiritual war that rages. It breaks out in your life and mine and it causes us to think that the target of our pain should be some other person when, if fact, those other people are victims of the struggle as well.

If we understand these verses properly we will be less inclined to take out our frustration on people and spend more time wrestling with God in prayer. That is where the spiritual war is waged, not in your home or street. It is waged in spiritual places and prayer is our major weapon. Time spent in prayer can help you focus more clearly on what is really going on and will help you maintain your relationships without tearing them apart.

We are called to be strong in the Lord. Please don't be surprised when things don't go the way you think that they should. Don't be hurt when someone lets you down (easier said then done I know). Spend more time with God. Tell Him about your troubles and trials. I would bet that some of us who are hurting right now will admit that we do not spend as much time in prayer with God as we should; if we spend any time at all. Prayer will build your faith. Prayer will help you unload some of those hurtful feelings that you carry around. Believe me, I know. People let all of us down at some time or other. Love them anyway. They won't always respond to you the way you want them too. Love them anyway. Let God worry about even the score and you just learn to love as best as you can.

My prayer for you this week is that you would get strong enough to deal with whatever problem you are wrestling with right now. If it is a major catastrophe like Ike so be it. If it is a lesser one that feels huge deal with it. Trust that God is in control. If you need prayer, let me know. I am ready and willing to uphold you in that way. Let's move into the future together.

May He fill you with His grace today and draw you into His arms. You are loved no matter how you feel.

Theo