No Longer In the "Stand" Position

Ephesions 6:11-17~~~Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

I cannot tell you how many times I have done all and then just stood. No longer on the offensive, just standing. That's been me for a while now. Just standing~protecting myself and my family from the blows the devil keeps throwing my way. This past weekend we went to St. Louis to visit. It was a great trip. Great to see friends, great to just relax a little bit, but it was also great in another way.

So many times over the years God has proven himself to me. God has shown me time and time again that my fear is unwarranted and that He's got my back~~so to speak. Yet still, in my carnal ways I would still worry and spend my time in fear or stress, over many things. I've been under spiritual attack many different times and sometimes for long periods of time. I know how to do spiritual battle, but yet I would always succumb to fear eventually. Over the past three months God has really been dealing with me about faith. Faith for provision, faith for the battle, faith that He does see and know where I am and what I am going through. Faith, faith, faith. Well, ya don't have to hit me over the head with a brick for me to know that I need to work on my faith! So I set out on a prayer journey for faith.

Over this past weekend, my faith took a turn. . . actually more of a leap. I want to bring out one scripture from above and then I'll share with you what happened.

Ephesians 6:16~~Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.~~I love this scripture. Here is some explanation:
**Above all in the scripture actually means--over all, covering all. The shield was meant to cover all the other parts of the armor, your first defensive so to speak. The shield here was not those little round buckler, but rather Paul was referring to the large Roman shield, which was actually 4 feet long and 2 and half feet wide~~like a door. Fiery darts were actually missiles hand made and launched by hand. They fashioned them with combustibles and all sorts of stuff and the only thing that could protect you from them was a shield.**

There were many times in my life where all I could do was stand. There's nothing wrong with that, the Bible speaks of it clearly. Sometimes all you can do is protect yourself and survive the battle. But we weren't created to just stand all the time, we are warriors~~spiritual ones, but warriors none the less. Sometimes the Romans would use their shields in an offensive move. Imagine with me for a moment, that you are the leader of a small band of cut-throat thieves trying to come against a Roman battalion. Them with their gleaming bronze armor, feathered helmets and of course those huge, thick, heavy shields. You (the cut-thoat band of thieves) decide that it's time to attack and you begin to sneak (or so you think) up on the soliders. The soliders (who were well trained, ruthless warriors) quickly pulled together in formation and knowing that they outnumbered you they began toward you. Heads down, shields so high all they could do was see and with assuredness of a win, ran at you, completely in sync with each other. Imagine a bronze wall running toward you with the strength of not just numbers, but power, might and heartlessness (we all know the Romans were cruel and bloody people). Suddenly you and your band of cut throats realize you don't stand a chance and you flee, hoping to get away with your life.

God shook me up this weekend and during prayer showed me what I need to do. Too many times we let the enemy get too close. We allow the devil to come into our camp and let him take what he wants because fighting right now is just too hard. And a rag tag enemy that is weak and doesn't stand a chance against you, gets away with all the spoils he can carry. We are left feeling defeated. My faith is not just my defense for when Satan launches a fiery dart from a safe distance away. My faith is also my offense to charge at him when necessary. My faith is also what I hold out in front of me to clear a path. When the way is dark or unclear, my faith is in front of me protecting me. "For we walk by faith, not by sight:" 2 Corinthians 5:7 When those fiery darts are heading my direction, all I have to do is lift my shield over me and let 'em bounce off. When Satan thinks he's sneaking up on me, I have the power and the might (the Holy Ghost) to drive him away! Emotions are dangerous in this battle, emotions get you killed, the Roman war machine knew that. When I am wondering how I am going to make my way over this seemingly unclear, over grown path I can use my faith to clear a way. I need to stop analyzing with my physical eyes because physical eyes can't see it. I need to let my faith soar, stop clipping it's wings. I will not be an ostrich, settling for a flightless life, hiding my head in the sand waiting for the bad things to go away. I will be an eagle and soar high above, confident in the God I serve.

So my head is down, my shield is high and I am charging straight at the enemy. Just let Satan try and stop me. See, I'm not just standing right now.

~~Come tomorrow because I am going to talk weapons baby. The most powerful weapon known to man or devil.~~