Ephesians 6:13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. What happens when you feel that you have done everything you are supposed to do, like paying your tithe and giving offerings, volunteering to feed the poor and take meals on wheels, work in the nursery on Sunday morning when you would rather be sitting in the service, and then you pray and feel that you have hit the wall, no answer? What do you say?
The truth is so simple that it sounds cliché’, it is that when you are doing good it is the devil’s job to try you at every level, to see if you will turn aside from your faith so that he can devour you, soul and body. When Job was tried, he suffered the loss of his family and his properties, plus he was covered with boils! He sat on a dung heap and scraped them with a broken piece of pottery, just trying to feel better. He went from bad to worse and then his wife capped it all off by asking him why he didn’t just “curse God and die”! Job was faithful in the face of losing everything and then endured all his well meaning friends, commonly referred to as “Job’s comforters”, telling him that he must have lived in sin or displeased God in some way or this would not be happening to him. It wasn’t until Job, feeling lower than a snake’s belly, actually prayed for those “friends”, that is when God put a halt to all that Satan had put on him. From that point his fortune began to rebuild, he had more children, he regained his properties, he had it all and on top of that, seven times more! WOW! Satan had thrown it up to God that He had protected Job, and said “Does Job serve God for nothing? You have put a hedge around him!” That is when God gave Satan permission to try Job in whatever way he wanted, except he could not take his life. I am sure there were times that Job, and perhaps YOU, have wished you could just die to get out of all your troubles. But consider this, have you armed yourself against this enemy of your soul?
Ephesians 6:12-18 And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.
Paul gave the Christian church of the day the best advice he could!
He encouraged them to PRAY for their brothers and sisters?
Are YOU having a hard time?
Does it feel like your prayers are hitting the ceiling and falling back in your face? Well, dear Reader. ARM yourself, I’ve said it before, I’ve said it again!
Pray, pull up those armed drawers and Fight!
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