"Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes." (Ephesians 6:11).
3. SHOES OF PEACE.
Our guide keeps our feet from stumbling and us from straying from God. "Away from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commands of my God!" (Psalm 119:115). When we walk in the truth of the word (abide in it), it brings a sense of peace, joy and comfort that keeps us firmly standing in the face of a spirititual storm. It is the enemy's greatest desire and goal to rob us of this peace each day, because a lack of thereof, proceeds to rob us of our joy and in exchange...it instills fear, distress, depressing thoughts, and false delusions based on lies... etc. into our lives. "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8)
A lack of peace and joy eventually leads us onto a path that diverts us from the perfect will of God for us, because it gives the enemy easy access to us. Just as physically walking without shoes leaves us vulnerable to bruising, or cutting, the soles of our feet by harmful objects, so is it in battling without our spiritual shoes of peace. Once the enemy robs us of our shoes of peace, we become susceptible to spirital injury, which then leaves us weak and feeling incapable of standing in the presence of God and His will in our lives! However, just us wearing shoes in the natural realm protects our feet from this very incident, so does walking with our shoes of peace. When we walk in peace, it keeps us strong and firmly rooted from falling prey to the enemy's traps to taunt us with 'time-outs' (ie. Laziness, nonexistent prayer life, etc). Bare-feet are dangerous! Keep your shoes on!
So! Are you wearing your shoes?
4. The SHIELD OF FAITH
Our cloak, just as a blanket covers us in cold weather, providing our bodies with warmth, our shield of faith protects us from fearful situations and the reminders the enemy throws at us. The devil knows our innermost fears and desires and knows how to make sure we are presented with situations that magnify them. Having our shield of faith helps us to protect ourselves from being "hit" with those fears and desires or allow them to affect us in any way. Faith activates God in our lives. "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." (Hebrews 11:6)
When we respond to fear with faith, it disolves immediately. Lifting our shield of faith against the enemy's "arrows of fear" and "stones of empty delusions and lies" it causes them to boomerang back to its source. Our faith weakens the enemy, because it boasts about all The Promises That God has for us. We threathen the enemy when we are well informed AND confident about what is rightfully ours through Christ. Faith is a powerful weapon. Walk in faith. Run in faith AND Excercise it!
So! Are you holding your shield up?
Learn how to apply them and live with them as your armor! Pray long and hard. Don't let anyone fall behind or drop out. Hold on to your brothers and sisters in Christ and fight united! And, fight the Good fight!
PART 3 COMING SOON..!
