the Journey- dressing for battle

 Hello Sisters, Happy November 19th. Is it just me or is this the calm before the storm? Bring on the holidays, even though I am totally not ready, lol.

Ok, for the last 2 months, we have studied in our Thursday devotions how faithful God is in times of fear and turmoil. So with a faithful god who is firmly with us, it's time for us to learn how to go on the offensive. The next couple of weeks, we are going to study together how to take down the fear and turmoil that can try to take us captive. We are going to dress for battle!

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Ephesians 6:10,11

Why do we get ready for battle if the “battle belongs to the Lord”? Because God told us to. 1 Peter 5:8, Be sober and watchful because your adversary the devil walks around as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him… The enemy is a threat to believers, our family, our work, our health, our temptations. He attempts to devour us through suffering; mental, physical, spiritual. If he can separate us from the Lord, he is victorious.

What can we do right now to get ready for the battle?

1. Know you are not alone. 1 Peter 5:9 There is someone that has gone through or is going through what you are. Find wise counsel from other Christian women; deeply rooted women, women firmly planted in the word, prayer warriors. Those are whom I am talking about. Surround yourself with allies.
2. Know who you are in Christ. Rev 12:11 If you don't know your place, you can be easily deceived, believing and living in deception. Our faith in Jesus’ sacrifice, His death and resurrection, has made us children of God. We are in His family. We are not a stepchild, but we are a child of God. The enemy would love for you to forget that and feel like an orphan on the street, helpless and hopeless.
3. Prayer… our go to, direct one on one line to the Father. Jesus taught us how to do this. Matthew 6:5-13. Don’t pray? Then start there. If you go into battle without a prayer life, you are going into battle with your arms tied down and blindfolded.
4. Put on your armor, our Spiritual Warfare with the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 6:10-17 There is a dress code for all occasions. How you dress for a wedding is different than how you dress for gardening. You are not going to wear heels when you go strawberry picking (unless you're my sister who loves her heels, lol). So in the same form, when we know we are in the battle, let’s leave the bathing suits in the closet and suit up into something a little more sturdier.

Remember sisters, we are fully equipped to defeat the enemy’s schemes, to resist him and firm in the Faith.