“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” Ephesians 6:11 (NIV)
The world can be a cruel place and the desire to self-protect is a normal human reaction.
Years ago, someone told me I was too sensitive and that I had to “toughen up.” I thought it was true until God helped me see that toughening up could make me cynical and less sensitive to hearing His voice.
When we toughen up, it becomes easy to put up barriers. If we put up barriers we don’t just keep the hurt out, we also keep the love out.
We must remember that people are not our real enemy. Satan -the father of lies, the deceiver, the accuser of us all is our true enemy. Ephesians 6:12 tells us, “For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
This is hard to remember when the flaming arrows are aimed our way, coming in vicious lips, or fast tight, fingertips of people. But it’s the truth.
It’s not our job to protect ourselves with thicker skin. It’s our jobs to pray and put on the whole armor of God that He has given us. The belt of truth, the breast plate of righteousness, the shoes of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit. It’s not a battle of what takes place in our flesh, we are fighting a spiritual battle, and we need to ask the Holy Spirit to help us discern how each piece of armor might protect us.
Putting on the armor of God is a daily, intentional practice that anchors our minds and hearts to Jesus to stand firm against the wiles of this world.
