I've been thinking about this for a while now....it seems I'll be somewhere and someone will say something and it will just hit me! It was that way with Under Armour the other day, just really got me to thinking and considering just what was under my armour?My last posting was on the armour of God, you know that whole Ephesians 6:10-18 passage:
"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. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 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. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."
Well I was thinking about this the other day and how the athletic brand Under Armour is so popular and really wondering where they came up with that name. Anytime I hear about "armour" I think of the armour of God and so my mind just started wondering, what exactly did under my armour look like?Let me be honest, its not pretty! Beneath that strong, sturdy, unyielding, unrelenting, all powerful armour of God stands a very weak, fragile, insecure human being full of sin and deceit. There are days that I can look real sleek (just like the brand Under Armour on a well chisled athlete) without my armour, but left to stand alone for long, I fail so miserably. You'll see many football players wearing Under Armour, but you won't see any taking the field without their full armour on, why should I face the battle of life every day any differently.
Satan is attacking every day in every way and bringing righteous folks down and he's laughing about it! Oh, I just want to punch him in the face! This week it hit me, that I'll often say "I hate satan!" And often I allow that to be my focus. Fail. Epic fail!
When I'm allowing my focus to be on his attacks and hating him, that is taking away my focus from where it should be, and that is loving God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength, and then loving others. What is the easiest way of showing love to others? I think its encouraging one another. How often have you had a day turned around by a phone call, an unexpectant visitor, a card in the mail, a text, or even a random stranger that paid for your Starbuck's! (oooh! I LOVE that one!) And do you know we're commanded to encourage one another? 1 Thessalonians 5:11a "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up" and also Hebrews 10:24-25 "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds."
I'm a "words girl". Plain and simple. I love words! I love to write words and I love to have words written to me. Honestly, sometimes when I'm more "me focused" I'll get discouraged because it will seem like I'm doing all the encouraging and not getting any in return. Its those days, that typically God will knock me upside the head with something....like He did today! And I love it when He does that!
After He knocks my socks off with something, then in that gentle voice of His, I can almost hear Him whisper. "I'm still here. I've given you a whole book of love notes to encourage you. Don't depend on others. Depend on me. I love to spoil you. You're my child and I desire the best for you." Wow!! As the old country preacher would say, "If that don't light your fire, well your wood is just wet!"
So there you have it, this preacher's wife has admitted to be insecure, discouraged, selfish, sinful, deceitful, and without focus a lot of the time...but thankfully thats just what is under my armour! I have a whole set of armour that goes over that....when I choose to put it on! And that my folks, we all need encouragement in..."all the more as we see the day approaching"!!
