I attended an annual Christmas party that a family I am friends with hosts every year. I wasn't planning on going, but my sister wanted me to, and since she's signed herself away to the Marines and ships out for boot camp in early, early January, I figured I would go, if only because she wanted me to. There were a lot of people there, as expected. They have a decent sized house, but boy can it get crowded...and of course it did.
I spent most of my evening talking to a friend of mine. We talked on various subjects of God and Christianity and the like. Which, really, is the only thing I can actually talk about for hours on end...any other subject just really dies after a few minutes (it's a rare thing when I can find something to talk about with someone that'll last for an hour or so).
She brought up, again (this was the second time that she had told me), a conversation that we had had a few months ago. I go to a Bible study that is held at her house every Wednesday, and one evening when I was there, we talked for about two or three hours, about, what else, God and life involving Him, and whatnot.
In that conversation, I was able to share with her how my life has completely changed from where I was a year ago. How I am no longer struggling with cutting, depression, or constant suicidal thoughts. And I was able to tell her something that I realized the vitality of...putting on the armour of God everyday.
This is something that I think most Christians don't understand the importance of. We are in a battle every day of our lives. If we aren't equipped for it, than we are bound to lose in one way or another. And we have to remember to put every piece on...if we go without protecting even one section of ourselves, that will be our weak spot...the spot the enemy knows he can use to get through to us.
And so because we are in this battle, we need prepare ourselves. We need to put the armour on every morning when we wake up...and for those of us who suffer with night terror, we need to equip ourselves with it before we fall asleep as well. Because our lives are that of warriors; we need to be constantly aware, constantly fighting, constantly taking ground from the enemy.
Anyways, I was talking with her about this. I told her that after being freed from depression while attending my DTS (Discipleship Training School), the direct week after, we had a teacher who taught on spiritual warfare...and it really couldn't have come at a better time. For the first time in all my years of living, I realized just how important putting on the armour of God is, every day. I knew that if I didn't, I would be susceptible to the enemy's attacks...and not just to the obvious one of trying to push depression back on me. To the smaller, more subtle, yet just as important areas, such as lying, anger, frustration, impatience, and so much more.
She was struggling with a few things, and so I offered her my perspective and let her know what I had come to see as something of vital importance. I told her to try it; after all, it really doesn't take that long. Just 30 seconds of your morning, really, if you're going to do nothing else than speak it over you.
And so she began doing it. A few weeks later, we talked again, and she thanked me for talking with her. She said that it was helping her a lot, and that she was noticing a difference in her life. And again, tonight, she brought it up. She thanked me, and said that that one conversation is what got her through this semester. I was so blessed to hear that. To know that God can speak through me to others, to help and encourage them is such an amazing and humbling thing. And I am blessed that He chose to speak through me, to help her.
"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
Autumn Days
About Me
