Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: In and Out (04/30/09)
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TITLE: IN AND OUT OF THE ARMOUR OF GOD | Previous Challenge Entry
By Nancy D'Costa
05/03/09 -
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Those were the days I struggled hard to be a true Christian. I felt it was difficult to be a Christian, let alone ‘witnessing’! It was then at a prayer meeting I heard that a Christian was a warrior of the Kingdom of God and that God has given each of us ‘armor’, show-cased in Ephesians 6:11-18. All that we had to do was to go there, open the show-case, take it and ask God to clothe us with it! Thus began my journey as a warrior of God. Till then the Christian in me somehow refused to take-off in the right direction. I decided to take everyday a few moments of my personal prayer hour to rush to Ephesians 6:13-18 to pick up my armor and be prepared for the day’s battle, donned with it.
In the beginning the armor seemed ill-fitting, loose and it often fell off me. It irritated me. Oh! Did it itch and suffocate me! I would wait for the least chance to be out of it. My belt of truth was too loose round my waste and would slip down. How heavy was the breast-plate of righteousness! I felt jealous of those who seemed to enjoy life without its burden. Often I felt it was not worth carrying its weight. The shoes that prepared me to preach the Gospel often pinched my feet so badly that I had sores on my feet! It made me limp as I asked myself whether I would ever be able to speak a word of this Gospel to another! What if people ridiculed me?! Somehow the shield of faith seemed too small even to stop the evil one in making me believe in the ‘possibles’, let alone the ‘impossibles!’ The sword was too blunt to make even a mark and truthfully, I found it boring to sharpen it. Praying was another story by itself! As long as it was asking for things for me and then blaming God that He never bothered to listen, I seemed to be very eloquent. But praying for others and my Church? I either forgot or felt ‘what was there to pray?’
But I too was a hard nut to crack! I continued wearing the armor daily. My desire to follow Jesus and be a true warrior for Him reminded me without fail to rush to Ephesians 6:13-18 and ask Him to clothe me with it. In no time the armor started fitting me more snugly! After all my part was in only being faithful to wear it, the fittings were managed by Jesus! He adjusted my belt, made my heart broad and strong to carry the breast plate, He put balm on my sore feet, held my hand as I wobbled my way. He gave me enough portion of His Spirit who worked hard with me to sharpen the sword and also helped me pray for others.
Now the feeble little Christian in me stands as a strong warrior, fully clothed with the armor everyday. I have no fear of the consequences of being truthful. Doing the right thing has almost become my second nature. I can go miles with the shoes to proclaim His Gospel through my words and deeds. The shield is large enough and I have become deft in using it to quench and destroy the darts sent to attack my faith. With the Holy Spirit in me I have sharpened the sword and have leant to wield it with quite an ease! Moreover, a strange phenomenon has overtaken me. I often forget my own needs in my prayer! Rather my heart starts aching for others needs. I feel engulfed with urgency to pray for my church, which I often find attacked on all sides. The tables have turned so much that I cannot get enough time to pray! So my life has become a constant communication with the Lord. I pray as I walk, lie down awake, wait for the bus and even when I am down with sickness!
As a Christian, are you in or out of your armor? If you do not know where your armor is, rush immediately to Ephesians 6:13-18 and pick it up! Don’t just hold it, I say! Ask the Lord in faith to adorn you with it everyday. Then just watch yourself and see how He transforms you as His brave warrior! All the best friend!!!
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