Truth for the Day

Today began hard.  My Marine is back in the states and I'm not with him.  Originally I thought I was going to be there and be one of those embarrassing mom's when he landed.  Life happened instead.  I had the  privilege of texting some with him yesterday when he re-entered the US zone; he needed details taken care of like getting his phone turned back on.  I didn't care that it wasn't a "Hey Mom!  Sure missed you!" type of  conversation that would make other parents envious.  I got to hear from my boy and that was enough. 

This morning I sat in my chair per usual to talk with Jesus.  My husband told me of a video that had been posted for the  private family group of our son's particular unit of all the wives and moms and dads and other relatives who had the  privilege of welcoming their Marine home.  I just cried.  I never did see him in the video.  I wept because I wanted to see him so badly.  I wanted to look into his sweet baby blues and see that little boy who has invaded my reality for so many years in so many ways. 

I read in Ephesians 6 this morning, the passage about putting on the armor of God.  The verses that grabbed me this morning were verses 19 and 20.  "Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel. For this I am an ambassador in chains.  Pray that I might be bold enough to speak about it as I should."  Paul was in prison, all chained up.  Just like me, he wasn't where he really wanted to be, but life had happened, so there he was.  In spite of his circumstances, Paul still knew what God had called him to do, to who God had called him to be, and he wanted to be faithful. 

God's Spirit hugged me in my disappointment AND He prodded me to not take up residence there.  God knows me well.  I've been struggling with a tingling of depression lately, and I have not always handled it as God would have wished.  I've wasted time but not in such a way as to give myself rest or relaxation so that I would be strengthened and refreshed. I've just wallowed in indecision and hid under the blanket of "no motivation."  I've spent too much energy immersed in "poor me," refusing to seek out God's strength for the moment. 

I looked back at the armor of God with fresh desperation, asking God to whisper to the pray warriors in my life to pray for me.  As I read the passage several times in different translations and searched out cross-references, God overwhelmed me with truth. 

*God wants to strengthen me (Ephesians 6:10)

*God's strength is vast (Ephesians 6:10)

*Don't go halfway with my spiritual life; put on the FULL armor (Ephesians 6:11)

*God rules over all other rulers and authorities, regardless of their dominion ((1 Peter 3:22)

*As a part of Christ's church, His body, I get to participate in schooling the rulers and authorities in the spiritual realm (Ephesians 3:10)

*I CAN resist the devil AND he is so very dangerous (Ephesians 6:13; 1 Peter 5:8,9)

*Knowing truth, God's absolute truth, enables me to stand (Ephesians 6:14)

*I may fall at times, AND I will get back up.  I AM righteous. I have been given every spiritual blessing in the heavens In Christ (Proverbs 24:16; Ephesians 1:3; Ephesians 6:14)

*I have a firm foundation: I am at peace with God Almighty. I know who I believe in and I am convinced He will protect me and my relationship with Him (Ephesians 6:13; 2 Timothy 1:12)

*God is my shield.  My faith in Him is  based on who He is and all He can do whether I totally understand it or not. There is no need to be afraid (Genesis 15:1; Ephesians 6:16)

*I can be assured of God's Salvation. I can defeat the lies Satan tempts me with because my faith isn't based on human wisdom but on the power of God Himself. I belong to the day, salvation is my hope and destination because of God's faithfulness and love. (Ephesians 6:17; 1 Corinthians 2:5; 1 Thessalonians 5:8)

*I fight off the enemy with the truth in God's Word, the encouragement I find in scripture, the strength and stability that are found in His  promises (Ephesians 6:17; Romans 15:4; 2 Corinthians 1:20-22)

*God wants to fight with me, journey with me, be with me through every battle.  I'm not left to handle it on my own, His Spirit wants to continuously commune with my spirit, leading and guiding and empowering. The Lord is near (Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:5-7; Jude 20,21)

God pointed out one more thing to me.  He led me to focus on the phrase "God's armor."  As I mediated on those two words, God's Spirit rose up powerful.  The battle I may face today emotionally, or the battle that you face today at work, in a relationship, with your own personal demons, is not fought by us alone.  It is GOD'S armor, GOD'S battle, GOD'S victory.  We are GOD'S soldiers, GOD'S ambassadors.  This isn't about figuring out how to be better, or stronger, or more holy.  This is about relying completely on the Lord of Lords and King of Kings.  And He has prepared me today for battle with His truth.  The Lord is near.  Hallelujah.