SJF - Daily Worship, Word and Spirit - Oct. 26, 2023
Faithfulness, Perseverance, Patience, Strength, Courage, Boldness are just a few words The Holy Spirit uses in The Bible to describe a spiritually mature believer.
God is Love, Father of Mercies, The God of all Comfort, and The One Who gives us strength to overcome. The charter of God is so kind and giving, and yet, God does not remove all the obstacles from our path. He empowers us to overcome them with our faith.
There are more Scriptures about this than I can include in a short devotional. But here is a good one:
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 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. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—” (Ephesians 6:10–18, NKJV)
This armor is not an armor without faith in Jesus and His loving word. Every “piece of armor” is a direct metaphor to faith and God’s word. Truth, Righteousness, Gospel of Peace, Hope of Salvation, Faith, The Word of God, Prayer. The “armor” is on when you have, practice, and use these “pieces”.