For over a week now the Lord has been speaking to me about the Armor. I was in a difficult situation last week and a friend shared she was “dressing me in prayer in the armor.” What followed for 48 hours was an infusion of reading, devotional and yes, Charlie Kirk’s memorial. A few of the speakers addressed the need to pray the armor. I’d written quite a bit back in 2017-2020 and I knew I’d written a few blogs sharing on the Armor of God. Again, sensing to go back to prayers we’ve been praying for 7 years now for the next generation, and I found this that I am sharing. Edited a bit as both of mine were in High School at the time, but I stand amazed, over and over again, that God prepares us. He hears us. He is patient and He has a plan. He is not shaken. He will use all of it to draw us in. It is time to “dress ourselves and this next generation in prayer in the armor.”
January 10, 2018
For the last few years at the end of the year I’ve asked the Lord to put a word on my heart for the year ahead. It was scary the first time because I thought if I don’t hear from Him what does that say??? But when we want to walk in His way He always answers and I love to trust Him with the scary stuff. So, this year’s word was BOLD.
There have been several things on my heart, and I knew this was going to be the year that I stopped waiting and delaying on taking action. I’ve been tired of “yo-yo-ing” in my spiritual walk. I have a friend who uses the term “having a yes in your spirit.” And that’s how I want to be living. By saying YES in those scary moments.
And don’t ya know it, once I start taking those big steps in comes the opposition. The lies. The whispering in the ear telling you that you can’t do it. That you’re not equipped then insecurity, and fear and a host of other “feelings” all set in.
So when it’s war we put on our battle gear and fight the fight. This morning, I got right into Ephesians 6 to put on my Armor of God, and then I read what I’d read so many times – Paul writes in Ephesians 6:19, “Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given to me that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.” What was that word? “FEARLESSLY.” Looking up the Greek translation it is defined as: freedom, openness, especially in speech; boldness, confidence. BANG. Boldness. That was the confirmation to sharpen the sword and just get right back in there.
Whose voice are we going to listen to is really the question. I’m choosing God’s voice. I know the battle is real and I can’t say I like it (the battle) very much. I’m an emotional person and when I get hit, like all of us, it hits hard, but I know that I’m equipped to battle back because HE gives me all that I need.
“I CAN do all things through him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13
I usually close in prayer, but I’ll close by encouraging each of you to read Ephesians 6 today and pray the Armor of God (6:10-17).
May the words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14
In Him,
Barbara Palma Jackson