Inspirational Monday: Dressed for Spiritual Battle

We were placed in this world at this time for a purpose. Until we are called to our eternal home, we may find ourselves forced into battles for our faith. How can we stay prepared?

 

“But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.” (1 Thessalonians 5:8)

 

Being a Christian today is both easier and harder than it was in Biblical times.

Easier because many of us no longer fear lion’s dens and other punishments from our governments. We can practice in public. We have access to Bibles, studies, and other resources.

Harder because persecution still exists, and those who don’t see it in their everyday life can forget the hardship and fear our brothers and sisters in Christ are dealing with today. Harder, too, because it’s not always easy to find our faith community, even within our own families.

And in our interconnected, social media-driven culture, Christianity is seen as old-fashioned, narrow-minded, and anti-intellectual.

So how do we stand up for our faith and stand firm for our God in the face of today’s challenges?

 

Dressing for spiritual battle

 

When we play sports, we wear a uniform. At work, we dress professionally. When working in the garden, we have gloves and hats and other accessories that make the job easier and us more effective.

Shouldn’t we do the same when stepping out in the world as Christians?

Faith in our God should guide our steps. Love for Him and all His people should temper our words and actions. And hope in our salvation should give us strength and courage.

We may not be battling with weapons, but we are still battling for our lives. Our eternal lives and the lives of those around us. When we show up as Christians who don’t just talk about love and faith and hope, but act it out, live it, we touch the hearts of those who can be saved.

Christians aren’t narrow-minded, we’re focused on the Word of God and not our own interpretations of it. We aren’t old-fashioned, but ignoring trends in favor of living according to a God who never goes out of style. We aren’t anti-intellectual because all the sciences, maths, and ideas of this world came from the Creator Himself.

And we stand with Him.

So dress yourself in faith, love, and hope, so that you and those you encounter will be on the winning side of the greatest battle ever to be.

 

Have a blessed Monday!

 

Looking for more encouragement and inspiration today? Try these posts:

Placing our Trust in God when the Battle isn’t Ours

A Warrior in Shepherd’s Clothes

Inspirational Monday: Faithfulness in Adversity