Put on all God’s armour so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. Ephesians 6:12
Armour appears an antiquated word. We think of medieval knights riding to war, on horseback. In reality, the word is still current as in the body armour police wear, offering them protection against assault.
Paul invites us to take our discipleship seriously. The devil has one purpose which is to destabilise and misdirect us from our chosen goal: to follow Jesus. It’s the reason we are so easily distracted from our good intentions to pray. Here we enter the shallows of the warfare to which we are called by God.
Over my many years of driving, I’ve not had many accidents. The few I’ve had are all down to my being distracted. I wasn’t paying full attention to my situation. So I scraped a gate, reversed into a tree stump and bumped a stationary vehicle in front of me. No personal damage, but financial costs that I had to meet.
As in everything, there are real consequences to being distracted. Yet the principle stands. It’s why Peter warns us to be vigilant at all times. (1 Peter 5:8) In choosing to follow Jesus we’ve taken sides and have a formidable foe before us. Yet, Jesus’ promise stands firm; ‘Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world’. John 16:33. See also Acts 14:21-22;
God’s provision is a carefully crafted suit of armour that will ensure we withstand all assaults mounted against us. It may sound frightening, for all warfare is unpleasant. However, much as in Narnia, we are commissioned to pray and work for God’s Kingdom to come on earth.
As Paul reminded Timothy, we are soldiers of Christ. (2 Timothy 2:1-7) We have enlisted and are subject to God’s authority in our lives. Our weapons are those of love and compassion; our commission to restore rather than take lives.
Something to Consider: Do you think of yourself as a soldier on the frontline of God’s mission?
An Action to Take: Learn to recognise distractions that interrupt your intention to pray and serve.
A Prayer to Make: ‘Lord, make me aware of the distractions that direct me away from You, so I might press on and serve You in Your mission.’
Photo by Henry Hustava J on Unsplash
Used with Permission
