Walking the Talk

Hey.  

Just a note from me about being genuine.   Going back to my post on Soldiers In Boxer Shorts -  I have my verses on my computer monitor so that I put the armor on every day.  Yet, tomorrow is one of those days that I have to make sure I put it on when I wake up - and make sure it's strapped on good.  

I have a lot of crap coming at me tomorrow.  I need that belt of truth to keep my pants up.  I need the breastplate of righteousness to protect my heart.  I have to have my boots on to make those ready steps toward the lines of battle - steps I'd rather not take.  The shield of faith is something I cannot leave behind.  I need it to protect me from the devil and his demons.  I have to protect my melon with the helmet of salvation.   And the sword of the Spirit - my Bible - it must be in my hand and in my head - open, so it is useful as a weapon. 

My brothers are around me - outfitted the same way.   Their battles may be similar to mine or they may be very different.   But we all have our dragons to slay and our demons to beat down.  

This is where it's important for all of us.  Standing on the battlefield in our boxers, we'll go down for sure - probably by 9 AM.  But fitted with the Armor of God, we'll live to fight another day.  

Have a great week.

Soldiers in Boxer Shorts

This post is an addendum to the post I made toward the end of June regarding the spirit realm.

 

I spend a lot of time reading stuff on the internet and listening to talk radio about the war against terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan.  One of the things you hear democrats and republicans squawking about is the issue of properly outfitting troops.  This is not politics, so I'm not going any further with this - except to establish the analogy.  

As Christian men, we go into battle from the moment we open our eyes in the morning to the time we close them at night.  However, I'm guessing that a lot of us leave our armor in the barracks and go off to fight the good fight in our spiritual boxer shorts and T-shirt.  Can  you imagine a US Army recruiting commercial on TV showing a GI standing in the sand in his underpants with his hand shielding his eyes from the sun in an effort to see the enemy on the horizon?   

This is what the Bible says about how every Christian (not just men) are to outfit themselves for battle with the dark side.  

Ephesians 6:12,13

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes so that you will be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Not only do these verses acknowledge battle in the spirit realm but also tells us that we shouldn't go into battle in our boxer shorts.  What's more, this is how we should outfit ourselves.

Ephesians 6:14- 18 

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

So, here is the 4betteror4worse challenge for this week.

1. Find your Bible (if you don't have one post a comment and I'll send you one).
2. Find this verse and put it somewhere where it'll be in your face. (Mine will be taped to the side of my computer monitor).
3. Read this verse every day and do what it says.

Your life will change during these 7 days.   When it does, I'd like to hear about it.

Thanks for tuning in.