The Direction of Your Armor
Wednesday, October 18, 2023
The Armor of God
In Ephesians 6, we're told to put on the armor of God: the breastplate of righteousness, feet shod with sandals of the gospel, the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit. Notice that it all faces forward, nothing faces backward. If you're going to become victorious in God and win your battles, you have to also face forward. Don't run back, look behind or retreat, but move forward continuously. Paul said, "Forgetting what lies behind, I press on to what lies ahead." Press on to higher ground, looking forward in hope. Be a forward looking person. Press on to greater challenges, holiness, godliness, faith, love, prayer, power and greater Messiah likeness. The victory in God lies only ahead of you and all your armor is made for it. Only by going forward and moving forward will you have victory and you will, but press on. The victory is guaranteed, but you just have to press on. You'll win the race, but you just have to keep going and press through. For the victory of the armor is assured, but only in one direction-forward.

Today's Mission
Move forward in His Spirit and claim the victory that has already been won today.

Hebrews 12:1-2
12 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Discipline in a Long-Distance Race
Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

HAVE A BLESSED DAY AND WEEKEND!