Armour Up, Be Prepared
BRD REFLECTIONS:
Ephesians 6:10-24 and Psalm 68:1-14 (NIV)
(Liu Yueh Mei, Chairperson, Information Systems)
READ
As I read Ephesians 6:10-24, the verses that stood out for me are v14-17:
14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
OBSERVE:
In this complex and fast-paced world, we are inevitably faced with challenges, temptations and struggles. Verse 10 tells us to “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” Especially in moments of weakness, we need to lean upon the Lord to be strong and carry on. It also says that our struggles are not purely against flesh and blood, which means that there is a spiritual realm to it. Hence all the more, we need the spiritual covering of God upon us.
How should we prepare ourselves for such moments?
Verses 10-14 tell us how:
1. By standing firm with the belt of truth around the waist
2. Wearing the breastplate of righteousness (the shield protecting against any attack or accusation)
3. With our feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace, grounded but ready to move; calm and peaceful, rather than hasty
4. Taking up the shield of faith, to extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one (all attacks from the evil one will be blocked and extinguished by the shield of faith)
5. With the helmet of salvation on our head, we are assured of salvation, not fearful of death.
6. Taking up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
If we diligently and consciously equip and arm ourselves from head to toe as above, we can stand against any challenges and struggles that come our way.
APPLY:
Starting from the head, we are saved by the grace of God. The helmet of salvation shields me from any fear. The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit in both defense and attack. I must continue to trust God and have faith that He will shield me from the evil one. I must be grounded in His Word, being at peace while maintaining righteousness and truth as I deal with matters both at work and at home.
DO:
I will lean upon the salvation God has granted me and know that he will watch over me in the challenges ahead. I will continue to draw guidance and wisdom from God’s Word to sharpen the sword of the Spirit. In times of struggle when I may be tempted to take the easy way out, I must remember to act on the basis of truth and righteousness. Fully protected from head to toe, I have full confidence and faith that I will ride through any storm that comes my way.
PRAY:
Thank you God for your grace and mercy. Thank you for the salvation that you have given me, despite my unworthiness. God, there are too many challenges in this fast-paced world and I am constantly bombarded with worldly values and pursuits. Straighten my path Lord with your Word and counsel. Ground me in your love and allow me to bring your love and peace to people around me. I trust in your faithfulness and love. I know that whatever comes my way, you are in charge and I just have to take heed of your leading. I surrender all Lord. Come Spirit come and use me for the expansion of your Kingdom. In Jesus Name, Amen.
