It's terrifyingly easy to get caught up in all the useless distractions that the enemy creates in order to deter us from our sole purpose. Sometimes I find myself in those moments of distraction and God brings me a moment of clarity where I realize, wow, why am I wasting the precious moments of my life being consumed by this? But isn't that what Satan wants? He knows he can't win the souls of those who belong to Jesus, but he can attempt to make us ineffective in God's kingdom. Satan would be just as happy to watch us live a life void of truly knowing God and so caught up in ourselves that we miss the whole point of living.
I love how the Message Bible phrases the scripture on the armor of God. It serves as a vibrant reminder to me that I cannot fight this battle on my own. It says,
Those first two words always stand out to me as though they were highlighted by God himself. Be prepared. I've learned from experience with my pride that being prepared does not involve my own strength. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith and salvation are five things that I do not possess outside of Christ. Yet those are the weapons of our warfare. It would be the enemy's pleasure to watch my attempt to somehow manage my own life. It makes me smile reading that second line about being up against far more than I can handle on my own. I can imagine God speaking that to me so bluntly. And adding with a knowing smile, "Katie, take all the help you can get. Not just one, but every weapon I've issued."
"Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare."
