Put on your armor!

I've struggled lately with pain. I have a foot that has been causing me issues for over a year now, and when I lay down to go to sleep it gears itself up for an exhausting night of pain. Even the light touch of sheets hurt so incredibly bad. This morning I was really struggling after no sleep. Satan was attached to my back and was whispering into my ear how pitiful I was. He kept telling me how no one would want to have anything to do with someone like me that had as much pain to deal with as I do. He told me that I wasn't worthy of God's healing touch. He continued his assault until I began to cry. As the tears spilled over and ran down my cheeks, I decided that he could whisper all he wanted, but I didn't have to listen.

I grabbed my phone and opened my Amazon Music app. My Bridge music playlist was what I turned on, so that I could feel God's love surround me. I needed it. I was still in pain and my ears were burning up with Satan's lies. Now they were assaulted with Elevation Worship, Phil Wickham, Mercy Me, Casting Crowns, Francesca Battistelli, Chris Tomlin, and Hillsong Worship. Take that Satan!

My tears dried up quickly as I put on my face paint for the day. I felt more like I was putting on warpaint to go to work as my spirit was dragging and I needed confidence. I needed a hug.

Sometimes I think that's the worst part of being single and feeling down. There isn't anyone to give you a hug when you need it. When I need a hug and have no one to give me one, I go to Jesus. He bends down in His white robe with the cross sewn on the front with gold threads, and He hugs me. I feel it when he does. I can see it happening in my mind. That was the kind of morning I was having. I just needed a God hug.

As I sat on my prayer box to begin my devotion, I got another hug from God. A much needed pecan. My devotion had in it one of the topics that Christine Caine shared, which was that twice in the Bible and only twice it is recorded that Jesus marveled. She explained both incidents. This devotion brought me right back to something that God was reminding me of: Jesus marveled.

That thought spiraled me right back to my morning. I thought, I want Jesus to marvel at me. Not at my lack of faith, but at my ability to use the gifts he has given me to glorify His name. At that moment, I had another vision.

This vision was of me putting on the full armor of God. I was this superhero woman in silver and gold attaching all the pieces of God's armor to fight off the evil one. It was like that scene in Ironman where his armor wraps around and surrounds him in such a majestic way. I realized that I had done just that. I had put on the full armor of God as Satan whispered his lies into my ears. Ephesians 6:10-18 says, "10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."

New International Version (NIV)

When I started playing that music instead of giving into the tears, I was putting on his armor. Not that I am a superhero in any way, but I felt like it in that moment. I had armored myself with God's word in my devotion and was hugged with a remembrance of my wonderful weekend last weekend. That nudge brought me right back to a place of peace. All of these things made me grateful that God gives us the full armor. The belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, feet fitted with readiness, shield of faith that extinguishes all the flaming arrows of the evil one, helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit were all upon me now. I no longer felt sorry for myself. When I tuned out the lies by suiting up in armor, I made my day better.

12 hours later, my foot isn't hurting as much even though I've been on it all day. My pain is less, which is a huge #pecanreport for me. Thank you God for your armor that I can wear that allows me to fight off Satan's whispers. Our God is an awesome God! Help me to continue to live in a way in which Jesus would marvel at me when he sees me looking like a superhero on a Monday morning! Have a blessed week everyone!