Day 7
"Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth…" Ephesians 6:14a (KJV)
The garments of the ancient Middle Easterners being loose and flowing, it was necessary to wrap them about their hips when they wanted to exert or display their strength. They didn't want to get their legs caught in their clothing if they needed to move quickly or to be on the defense. Therefore, the phrase "gird up your loins" came into beginning.
To gird your loins simply meant to be ready for anything. A state of constantly being prepared. Notice here what Paul says we should prepare ourselves with…truth.
The need for "armor" reminds us that we are in a battle, and that we have an enemy. That enemy was called the "father of lies" by Jesus himself. And each day we face and are hit with lies that speak to us about who we are, what we do, and even accuse God to us.
"You're not good enough."
"You're a loser, failure."
"God isn't interested in your situation. He doesn't care…"
"You are worthless."
These are lies and there are many others that get spoken to us in the privacy of our own heart or through the mouths of other people in our lives. Some of these have been with us since we were a child.
The way we battle against the lies of the enemy is by listening to and receiving the truth of God about who we are. He will never lie, and will always reveal is truth to us if we only will open our heart and ask him. Listen to Jesus' words in John 16:13:
"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come."
Truth that is experienced and received by the Holy Spirit is transformative and gives us power over the lies of the enemy.
Prayer: "Holy Spirit, surround and protect me with the truth that replace the lies the world and the enemy has told me. Make me always ready to stand firm in your truth. In Christ's name, Amen."
No comments:
Post a Comment