TargetPoint Volume 29 of 32
Todays Verse/Thought: Put Up Your Guard!
Ephesians 6:11-14 Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to STAND FIRM against all strategies and tricks of the Devil . . . Use every piece of God's armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be STANDING FIRM. STAND YOUR GROUND.
Life Implication:
How do we STAND FIRM? How do we PUT UP OUR GUARD? There are several uses of the word GUARD, To protect from harm by watching over . . . to supervise entry or exit through . . . to keep watch. But I think my favorite, and the most appropriate here, is the use of the word GUARD in the sports world, to keep an opposing player from scoring or playing efficiently. For when we put on the full armor of God, that is exactly what we are doing! Not allowing the opposing player, our enemy, the devil, to be able to score or play efficiently. And, the number one place the enemy wants to score with us is in the area of fear! Remember from our past discussions that fear paralyzes us.
The verses that follow our verse for today go on to talk about the various pieces of armor, describing what you could imagine a person would wear in the sport of fencing: a helmet, belt, sword, shield, and appropriate shoes. The purpose of this gear is to act as a defensive covering. However, notice the number of times the Apostle Paul uses the words STAND FIRM or STAND YOUR GROUND. That kind of guarding is an OFFENSIVE stance.
Let's take a look at how we can TAKE THE OFFENSIVE and put up our guard.
Life Application:
Think about the books you READ, the magazines you LOOK AT, what you WATCH on TV or SEE in movies, or what you pop into your DVD player. Jesus said in Matthew 6:22 that The EYE IS THE LAMP OF THE BODY. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.
What do you THINK ABOUT? Do you ponder clean thoughts or do you allow your mind to wander to places that are not healthy? How about what you allow your EARS TO HEAR? The kind of music you listen to; the kind of people you associate with.
MAKE A CONSCIENTIOUS STAND; do what it takes to take an offensive stance in your life today and everyday. CHOOSE what you see, think and hear. Then, allow the peace of God to GUARD your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).
Tomorrow In TargetPoint:
Don't Run Away From Your Heavenly Dad