It Starts Small

When we stand, we need a place to stand with a good footing. You can’t battle sitting or lying down. Ephesians 6:10-18, God tells us to stand four times.

V11 stand against the wiles of the devil.

V13 Withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand.

V14 stand therefore,

#3 Shoes of Peace

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Ephesians 6:15

Have you ever gone on an adventure, walk, or hike and wore the wrong shoes? I made this mistake while visiting my husband in Japan. I didn’t know that we would be walking miles upon miles around Japan. God says, out the right shoes on!

Peace is translated tranquility.

Attack: Satan attacks us with doubts and discouragements. When God doesn’t answer how we think he should or when we think he should, we open that door to let doubt and discouragement flood in. Satan lies and asks…. Is God all powerful? God isn’t answering because he doesn’t care. Gods doesn’t care about your suffering. God didn’t give you that job promotion, or heal that family member, or that new car because he doesn’t care about people, hurt, suffering or your needs.

Defense: peace is peace with God and others. This peace is the peace of God in our hearts. When we are right with God and have no unconfessed sin in our lives, when all our relationships are right, God gives up peace. This is not a feeling. This is despite all circumstances, you are filled with his peace to know and believe that he is in control. Peace is not the subtraction of our problems. Peace is the power to meet those problems.

What shoes are you wearing today? Doubt, discouragement, anxiety, anger, bitterness, resentment, hate, ingratitude, fear….

#4 Shield of Faith

Faith can be translated as certainty. Faith is knowing and believing all of God’s promises are for you. He loves you and is in everything. In times of trouble and uncertainty, you continue to trust and believe that even when you can’t see you keep standing because you know God is protecting you and with you.

Attack: Satan attacks us with doubt in the truth of God. He launches fiery darts of doubt.

Defense: Our faith is written on the underside of that shield. When he launches, we can raise our shield and know that all the lies, fear and doubt have been defeated and through faith, block the attacks of fear, doubt, and lies.

What does Satan hit you the hardest with? When he launches arrows right into your heart, what is he throwing at you? Feed your faith and starve your doubt. Give your doubt to Jesus.

Jesus is the author of our peace and faith. It’s through him he builds our faith one trusting step at a time. Through him he reveals the truth we need to stand with his strength knowing that no matter how dark it gets he is right there with you. It’s his peace he gives when we truly accept and surrender our control to let him have complete control over our lives. We need to put Jesus on everyday!