Ephesians 6:11-18
"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 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, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;"
I don't normally put much thought into fortune cookies, but today I read one that said, "In life you won't go far unless you know where the goal posts are." When I thought about this, I immediately started thanking God for the revelation that I received. In this life, our goal post is Heaven. God is our coach, Jesus is the quarterback, and the Bible is our playbook. God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit, coaching us in the right way of doing things. He doesn't yell or scream, but there's a gentle nudging in our spirits to always follow His path. When we study the Bible, Jesus is able to call "plays" in order to direct us in which way to go. God gives us knowledge of Him through His Word. Studying daily allows us insights on how to live Holy in God's eyes. We have to learn how to use the resources that are given to us to stand strong. The battle has already been won. The Word promises us that. We just have to prepare ourselves for the fight that the enemy is putting up. Sometimes, the best defense is a good offence. Continual study of theWord keeps us fresh. We will always be prepared for battle. When we allow God to use us for His Glory, we allow room to live according to His purpose.
We acknowledge that the devil is lying in wait, ready to pounce, but if we put too much focus on him, we'll lose sight of God, and that's when we stumble. It's just like watching a football game. If your favorite team is playing, but are too focused on how the other team plays, they will become disoriented and confused, and forget that it's not about what the opposing team does. The primary goal is to play to their own strengths. They practice for the specific purpose of perfecting plays, and honing skills that will help them win the game. If they lose focus, which is the opposing team's goal, the result will be the loss of the game. It's the same with us as Christians. We must study the Word, spend time with God, and prepare ourselves daily. When we allow our circumstances to distract us even for a second, we tend to lose composure. Temptation is around us all the time, but it's up to us to give in or walk away. In the beginning, I stated that God is our coach, Jesus is our quarterback, and the Bible is our playbook, and while that is true, here's another way to look at it. When a football player prepares for the field, he has his helmet, shoulder pads, and a mouthpiece to guard their mouth. It should be the same with us, God is our helmet, Jesus is our shoulder pads, and the Holy Spirit is our mouthpiece to guard our mouth. Ephesians 6:11 says to put on the whole armor of God, ( not part of it, but the whole armor of God) so that we would be able to stand against the rules of the devil.
When we look at it this way, it should be easier for us but it's not. We all make mistakes, we even fumble or throw interceptions, but we must regroup and refocus. The previous play doesn't win or lose the game. It's the following plays until the clock hits 00. Don't allow your past mistakes keep you from moving forward. For the race is not given to the swift, nor to the strong, but to the ones who can endure until the end. So endure men and women of God. When the storms come, endure. When afflictions come, endure. When you can't see your way out, endure. When family and friends turn their backs, endure. Make it to your goal posts. Trust and believe that God can and will fulfill His promises. There is an expected end for those who love the Lord and keep His commandments.
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