Battle Ready

The Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² 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. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  ¹⁸ 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 Lord’s people.

Ephesians 6:10-18

As Army spouses, we’re familiar with armor.   It takes up space in our homes, and we move it from one duty station to the next.  Perhaps you’ve even tried it on yourself?  It goes with our husbands (spouses) downrange to protect them as they face an enemy that is known, tangible and seen. 

As we stay behind and manage the home front, our enemies aren’t as tangible and many are unseen.  However, we are in need of armor…it’s just a different kind of armor…the armor of God.  Only the amour of God is sufficient for the fight, we can’t do it on our own…and we’re not meant to go it alone. 

By David Ward, 2007

So armor up WONDER WOMEN (and men) with…

the belt of truth

the breastplate of righteousness

feet fitted with the readiness from the gospel of peace

the shield of faith

the helmet of salvation

the sword of the spirit

Spiritual attacks during a deployment (and in life) are a given.  Why wouldn’t the enemy take advantage of such a ripe opportunity?  There’s the temptation of loneliness, depression, infidelity (physical or emotional), pride, jealousy, feeling overwhelmed, doubt and fear.  And, I’m sure you can add a few others.  When we put on the armor of God we rest knowing we’re not in the fight alone.

Once we put on our armor and are battle ready, we’re reminded in verse 18 that we’re to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.”  It’s God’s strength that will win the battle, not ours; we need to invite him into our struggles.  And just to make sure we don’t get too wrapped up in ourselves, Paul reminds us to “always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”   Spiritual battles are happening all around us, so once you have got your struggle(s) of the moment under control and made sense of it, keep your armor on and step in beside a friend.

It’s about the Kingdom, so don’t forget to put on the full armor of God each day along with that great pair of shoes (or in my case, scarf).  It’s character that wins this battle not brute force.

What are you struggling with spiritually right now?  What attacks are your friends under at this moment? 

Watch over your heart with all diligence,
for from it flows the springs of life.

Proverbs: 4:23

Blessings

Sarah

Share My Calling

During my courtship with David, most of which took place while he was deployed in Iraq, we came to a point where we both knew that the other was God’s best for us.  All very exciting for two people in their mid 40’s each stepping into marriage for the first time!  In the midst of the joy and excitement my husband called and told me he needed me to really pray about our union.  He wanted me to understand that I wasn’t just marrying him, David, but a man God called to not just to be in the Army but to be an Army Chaplain.  He wanted me to be certain that God was not only calling me to marry him but to marry his God- given calling.  If I didn’t feel marrying an Army chaplain was God’s call on my life, David felt we should part ways. 

I did take three days to get with God.  Marrying David, the Army Chaplain, would mean I’d leave my job of 8+ years as Children’s Ministry and Community Life Director at Trinity Church in Greenwich, CT; leave an area I’ve lived in for over 22 years; and say goodbye to all my friends to move where he was stationed - Ft. Riley, KS.  On top of that, David promised this calling would mean I’d have to be flexible…giving up a date night because there’s a soldier in need, or setting our problems aside for a time while he helped others deal with theirs.  God called me to be a chaplain’s wife, and we marked the moment before God on Thanksgiving weekend, November 27, 2009.  Yes, David was right, flexibility is essential in this calling. 

However, I believe there’s a calling for me within David’s calling.  Yes, being a wife is a calling in and of its self, but I feel he has a broader calling for me as well.  God doesn’t call one spouse into a journey and not have a plan for the other. 

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10

God has a plan; he’s set out a course for me to run with perseverance.  My part in this relationship is to be quiet and hear his still small voice so that I can answer his call.  For now, David’s call as an Army chaplain allows him a consistency of duties but in different locations.   My call in Kansas is different from the plans he has for me in Baumholder, Germany.  Frankly, determining and navigating God’s call has been more difficult in this new life I find myself.  As a single working woman I was use to thinking in terms of “job,” with a paycheck, benefits, etc.  I’ve had to alter my perspective over the last year; although a job could be in God’s plans down the road.  After much prayer and discernment with my husband, I’m finding the path God has laid out for me during this season.

If you’re struggling in this area, don’t lose heart.  He hasn’t forgotten about you; he’ll anoint you.  Keep listening to God’s still small voice; he’ll direct you to the path he’s chosen just for you…in this time and this place.  Don’t ignore the call; you’ll miss the opportunity to be a blessing to those in your midst. 

 

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:6

What’s God’s calling on your life within your spouse’s call?  Are you struggling with your spouse’s call?  What are the heart issues in relation to this?

Blessings

Sarah

Refinement

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith– of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

1 Peter 1:6-7

I gather with a group of women twice a month for Bible study, and for the next couple of weeks we’re meditating on the above scripture and the refinement that God is doing in us.   Honestly, I think he’s refining me daily, but there are seasons when the refinement heat gets turned up…and I can feel him slowly beginning to turn the heat up on me! 

Peter wrote his first letter to believers in today’s northern Turkey around 64 or 65 AD.  He was probably in Rome witnessing the persecution of believers.  When I’ve read this scripture in the past I tend to compare myself to the suffering of persecution saying, “Well, Sarah, it’s not like you have ever “suffered” in the way Peter is talking about.  Again…me missing the point!  The trials God walks me through thus far haven’t been me “suffer” because I’m a Christian.  However, he has and will take me through trials where my faith is refined...bringing me to my knees and causing me to focus on the only One who can provide encouragement and strength. 

What trial are you going through right now?  In the past I’ve gone through loneliness, depression, disappointment in those I’ve trusted, and times of great refinement in my character.   Currently, I’m going through a difficult and long separation from the love of my life trying to navigate the huddles that keep popping up.  There’s no illusion here...God’s going to use this year-long separation from my husband to do some “heartsmithing.”  It’s already beginning, and I sense the greatness of it’s magnitude. 

Peter warned his readers that “now for a little while” they may have to suffer. But like fire refines gold, so trials refine faith.  He’s essentially saying the trial of our faith is more important than the goldsmith’s trial of his gold.  It’s said that a goldsmith waits till he sees his face is reflected in the gold, and then he knows it’s ready to be taken out (if you’re a goldsmith, let me know if this is true).  God wants to see his face reflected back when he looks at me. Right now his image is probably VERY hazy when he looks at me, thus I’ll be getting dipped in and out of the hot refiner’s fire for a life time.  I’m human, so I reluctantly submit to his refining, although I know whatever character trait (s) he’ll work on in me over the next year will be for the purpose of reflecting more of him and less of me to the world, which is my heart’s desire.  Christ will get the praise, glory and honor!

Lord, please grant me courage and obedience to submit to your good and gracious refining work. 

What is God “burning off” in your life right now?  What character qualities do you see God developing in you?  As you meditate on this, I’d like to suggest you take a listen to the song “Refiner’s Fire.”

Blessings

Sarah

PS:  I get the sense he’s going to be working on my pride…big time!

(Image found on Google images without attribution.)