Via TJC
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 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.” ~Ephesians 6:10-11, 13 NIV
“Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. “I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off.” ~1 Samuel 17:38-39 NIV
Paul instructs us to put on the full armor of God so we can stand against the devil’s schemes. Have you ever wondered what those schemes look like? I used to imagine the devil attacking like a prize fighter, hitting me square in the face. But more often, he’s far more subtle. He uses tactics like judo, manipulating my ego (weight) or pride (momentum) against to create an illusion and set a trap.
For much of my Christian walk, I focused on avoiding sin by setting up barriers, creating accounts with websites, and meeting with accountability partners. But I constantly felt like I was one slip away from backsliding. About eight years ago, a friend taught me the difference between Freedom, Grace, and Sin Management. The first two require dependence on God; the latter relies on myself. Sin Management feels “holy” and makes it seem like I have my life together, but it’s like Saul’s armor on David—it might look good, but it’s ineffective.
I had a streak of “wins”—I’d abstain here, I didn’t get angry there. But the trap is in the streak; these “wins” made me prideful, glorifying my willpower and success. It became my focus. This is the illusion Paul warns us about. The enemy knows the difference, and so does God. Jesus didn’t die and rise from the dead for us to modify our behavior and manage sin—He came so we could have life and freedom.
Putting on the Armor of God reminds me that I operate not in my power, but in His. The armor is God’s, yet it’s tailor-made for me. When I wear it, I operate in His Freedom, not my will. His armor is what allows me to stand firm. Satan is always scheming, and he’ll even use me against myself, but he’s only effective when I have the wrong armor on.
Daily Battle Order:
Kingdom Man, how do you know when you have the wrong armor on? Honestly assess if you are standing against the devil’s schemes or being used to advance them. Reread Ephesians 6:10-18 as a prayer. Then let God know you want the tailor fit armor.
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