PUT ON & TAKE UP

“Put on salvation as your helmet, and take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.”  Ephesians 6:17

Two distinct pieces of armor. Two different purposes. One is defensive protection; the other is offensive warfare. Both are part of the six-piece Armor of God that God provides for every believer to stand firm in the spiritual battle. Notice, you are to put on the helmet of salvation because the mind needs protection from the enemy.  Satan is fully aware of the ripple effect thoughts have on feelings and actions. He wants to pull you away from God by infiltrating your mind. But it is not necessary to entertain every thought that enters the mind. Grab your spiritual helmet and wear it by fixing your thoughts on Jesus, and when thoughts don’t agree with God’s truth, toss them out like garage to be thought of no more.

But sometimes stubborn thoughts refuse to be thrown away. During these moments, take a stand with the only offensive weapon – the Word of God. God’s spoken Word is supreme and has the power to defeat every tactic of the enemy including his influence on your thought life. Jesus used the spoken Word to defeat the devil in the wilderness and you can wield the Word too. When your thought life is out of control, stand firm by speaking the Truth to those nasty, anxiety inducing thoughts and experience victory through God’s spoken Word.

REFLECT