The Daily Dose

   God’s Armor

“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”   Ephesians 6:11

How would you like to get the devil to run far away from you?  According to this verse it isn’t hard, you just “put on” God’s armor!  Imagine if you had God’s armor on and started swinging your sword of the Spirit at the devil.  What do you think he would see?  He sees God’s armor coming at him.  He doesn’t know who is wearing it.  It could be God Himself coming at him.  I guarantee you he’ll get away from you as fast as he can.

So how do you “put on” God’s armor?  Well, first of all, let’s talk about the pieces of the armor, truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God.  In the natural world these things don’t come automatically, that is why this verse says you must “put them on”.  Just like you “put on” your clothes on purpose every day, you must put the armor of God on intentionally.  It will not happen by itself. 

So let’s examine the pieces of the armor and how we can intentionally “put them on” each day.  First there is truth, God’s Word is truth. (John 17:17)  “Put on” truth by knowing it more than anything else so that when pressure comes, it’s the first thing that comes out of your mouth.  Practice this by speaking it over every situation and circumstance in your life.  Next, our righteousness is Jesus’ righteousness.  He became sin so we could have His righteousness. (2 Cor. 5:21) Righteousness is not a feeling, it is something you have because Jesus gave it to you.  Wear it!  Then, always walk in peace. (Isaiah 26:3) If you are determined to walk in peace, whenever evil tries to come your way it will quickly scatter because of your peaceful words and solutions.  Over everything else put on faith, let it surround you like a shield. (Psalms 5:12) Walk out your days in an aura of faith.  Even though it cannot be seen in the physical world it is seen in the spiritual world and puts a shield around you that cannot be penetrated.  Be assured of your salvation. (1 John 5:13) Don’t ever question your salvation.  Once you have made Jesus your Lord, ask Him to lead you to a verse to cling to for assurance.  Lastly, wield your sword of the Word of God continually! (Eph.6:17). Hide God’s Word in your heart like a sword in a sheath and pull it out many times throughout your day.  Even if things are going well, practice using your sword by speaking God’s Word in good times and bad.

Today I want to encourage you to “put on” God’s armor every day and keep Satan and his hosts on the run!  The truth is that each piece of the armor is a blind spot to him, and he cannot even see you coming his way when you are wearing it.  Don’t pass up God’s offer to “put on” and wear His very own armor or protection!  God’s enemy doesn’t stand a chance against it.

Today’s scripture reading: Ephesians 6:10-17

Your Job Description

This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Ephesians 5:32

As Christians on our spiritual journey, we are always evaluating what areas in our life can be improved on?  Certainly, we all can step into a higher level of understanding and execution of our “job description”.  What am I talking about when I say “job description”?  Each one of us carries a title, a name that someone else sees us as.  Maybe it’s mother or father?  It could be husband or wife.  It can even be boss or employee.  Every position you are currently holding have instructions in the scriptures of how to be the most successful in that role.  In today’s scripture, there is an extensive list of position and the direction for success in each of them.  The first one is the wife:

So let’s take a look at some of these “job descriptions” and see how we measure up.  You will probably be in more than one of these categories to some degree, so this is a good place to start when evaluating where improvements can be made in your everyday life.

Wives  –  submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.  Ephesians 5:22, 24

Husbands  –  love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word.  So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.  Ephesians 5:25-26, 28

Children  –  obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”  Ephesians 6:1-3

Parents  –  do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture/training and admonition of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4

Bondservants (employee) – be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; Ephesians 6:5

Masters (employer)- give your bondservants (employees) what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.”   Ephesians 6:9

Child of God  (holy and beloved) – speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God. Ephesians 5:19-21

Notice each one of these descriptions does not come “with the exception of” or “You only need to be this way with those who are deserving or have earned it.”  Our job is to follow these instructions as closely as possible regardless of how we are treated.  It seems the description depends on who we are as a person and not who the person is getting the treatment.  The scripture is our manual for living, and following the directions in it opens the door for the LORD to work in your life. 

Today, I want to encourage you to identify where you could be “missing” it in your relationship with others.  Whether it’s your spouse, parents, children, or boss, decide today that you are going to be the best you can be by following these requirements, regardless of how others are acting.  Make the choice today to become the godly person you were designed by your Creator to be.

Today’s scripture reading: Ephesians 5:22 – Ephesians 6:9

Know God’s will

“Therefore do not be unwise but understand what the will of the Lord is.”  Ephesians 5:17

Faith starts where the will of God is known.  I wrote previously how God spoke to my heart and said His “will” for me was a plan not a puzzle.  He has a plan and He wants me to know what it is.  This statement really helps me when I found myself in situations that I don’t know the right choice to make or the next step to take.  Many times, I have gotten ahead of God’s plan or even stepped away from it because I wasn’t waiting for the next part of the plan.  In waiting, I felt pressure to do anything to make something happen.  In today’s scripture, the apostle Paul says not to be unwise by not knowing and understanding what God’s will is.  This is reinforcement that God wants us to know and has made available His will to us, but how can we know? 

The number one way to know God’s will is in His Word.  God’s Word is the first place to start learning what His will is.  In today’s scripture reading Ephesians 5, there is a long list of things that are God’s will for us to do in our daily walk.  We know this is God’s will because it is plainly written out for us.  Such things as:

•               Walk as children of light

•               Have no fellowship with unfruitful works of darkness

•               Walk circumspectly (discreetly), not foolishly

•               Don’t be drunk with wine

•               Talk to others in psalms and hymns, making melody in your heart to the Lord

•               Giving thanks always for all things to God

•               Submitting to one another in the fear and love of God

This is just a short list of things that God has already given us in His Word as His will.  There are even more that are listed earlier in this chapter and throughout the entire Bible.  When you start by doing the things you already know are God’s will, then God sees your willingness, obedience, and desire to know more of His specific, step by step plan for your life.

Secondly, doing good each day for others leads you closer to God’s specific plan for you.  1 Peter 2:15 says, “For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance (and confusion) of foolish men”.  Doing good things for others is always God’s will.  He wants us to share the things we have as well as the love of God with those around us.  When you don’t know the next steps to take in God’s plan, show the love of God to those around you.

Finally, after doing the things God has already said in His Word, set a quiet time aside to seek and listen for God’s specific next steps for all the things you are going through today. In times when I’m not sure what to do, I start by thanking God that He makes His path plain and clear to me.   I know He’s not trying to hide it from me, so I ask Him to open my heart, eyes, and ears so that I can clearly see what the next step to take is and then thank Him for it because I know it is going to be good!

Today I want to encourage you to start or continue walking out God’s perfect plan for your life by starting in His Word first, doing good to others, and setting a quiet time aside to hear God’s spirit on the inside of you, leading you step by step on the perfect path of freedom!

Today’s scripture reading: Ephesians 5:15-21

Be Filled Up

“And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation (waste); but be filled with the Spirit,”  Ephesians 5:18

This passage is an admonition for these latter days for all of God’s people.  It talks about being alert in your walk of life and recognizing the traps of the enemy, to not fall into them.  It speaks of being wise and not foolish with our time because we live in evil days.  It goes on to say we should understand what the will of the LORD is for our lives.  Lastly this scripture talks about being filled up with the Spirit of God and not with the distracting pleasures of the world.

It is appropriate to reason then that being filled with the Sprit is the way to stay close to God, also the way to accomplish this list.  Thankfully, we don’t have to wonder how to be filled with His Spirit.  The passage clearly lists the things we can do to fill our lives and hearts up with the Spirit of God. 

Number one is to speak to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.  Instead of speaking the things we see in the natural world, start talking to others about heavenly things.  This will make it evident that your mind is set on the things above and not the things in the earth. (Colossians 3:2).

The second thing is to sing and make melody in your heart to the LORD.  This is all about encouraging yourself when you are alone and have time to let your imagination run away with you.  Instead direct your thoughts to sing, praise and worship the LORD. 

Thirdly, always be thankful.  It’s no secret that we live in a day of the entitled mentality, but the fact is that we are to be thankful in everything because without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5).  Cultivate a thankful heart by spending a few minutes each day thanking God for all His wonderful works and love! 

Lastly, walk in humility by submitting to one another in the fear of God.  Probably the most difficult thing to do in this list is to submit to others.  Our culture is one that constantly desires to be “right” and that everyone around should know it.  However, submitting to one another is the best way to show the love of God to others.  It speaks loudly that those around you are more important than your pride of being “right.”

Today I encourage you to be filled with the Holy Spirit of God!  Speak out in spiritual songs of praise, make melody in your heart, be thankful and submit to each other.  In doing these things you will be outwardly exhibiting the fruit that comes by walking in the Spirit not the flesh.  Those around you will recognize the Spirit of God in you and these acts will speak volumes to those you encounter each day.  The greatest ways to be an effective witness for God is by displaying His fruit.

Today’s scripture reading:  Ephesians 5:15-21

 Redeem your time

“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15 & 16

For years I had heard that God would redeem time as we give it to Him, but only recently, did I actually look these passages up for myself to see what they were all about.  The two verses I found on redeeming time were Colossians 4:5 that says (you) walk in wisdom, redeeming the time.  The second was today’s verse in Ephesians 5:15. Both of these scriptures place the responsibility of redeeming (means to recover or buy back) my time in my own hands. 

I do find this encouraging however, because having been a person who wasted a lot of time in my life, I now have the opportunity to redeem it by walking in God’s wisdom.  I believe that time is one of our most valuable assets we possess.  It is priceless.  We cannot buy or make more, and our only guarantee is what we have right now.  However, God has given us some hints on how to live our life to the fullest, even if we have wasted much time in the past. He shows us one of the ways right here in Ephesians;  It says to walk circumspectly (watchful and discreet) and don’t be foolish but walk in the wisdom of God.  This scripture ends with “because the days are evil”. 

We are living in dark days for sure.  Yet it is still within your power to live them to the fullest.  By committing each day to live for your Heavenly Father, you are taking your first step to making the most of your time here in this world.  Be watchful of all your thoughts, attitudes and words and commit to only thinking and speaking what pleases Him.   Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”  According to this verse it is our thoughts and attitudes that come out of our mouth that will determine how we live out each day!

Today I want to encourage you to redeem your time by walking and speaking the wisdom of God.  Also, search out God’s Word for all the direction He has given to live out the purpose He has for you.  Pray these scriptures over yourself and your family. Then be thankful for all God is leading you too. Make all your days here on earth count for eternity. The days that have already been lost to foolishness, buy them back by walking out the rest of them in discretion and pureness, not foolishly, but in the wisdom of God.  Redeeming the time because we live in evil days.

Today’s scripture reading:   Ephesians 5:14-21

Don’t take part

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore, do not be partakers with them. Ephesians 5:6 & 7

So this is interesting.  Verses 3 and 4 of this chapter talk about ways to not be an imitator of God.  These are “ways” or actions of the world.  Yes, I think we all can agree that fornication,  uncleanness, covetousness and filthiness are against God and imitate His enemy.  But what about the next two in this list? Foolish taking?  Coarse jesting? (coarse being crude or rude jokes)  Don’t forget the empty words mentioned in verse 6.  Yikes, and these result in the wrath of God on your life.  Oh, you may not see it instantly, but it is coming.   These are some harsh consequences and goes without saying that these actions are not fitting for the children of God.(verse 3)

Today’s verse actually says do not get involve in these activities and words.  So how do you avoid them?  Let’s face it, we are living in a world that is cruder, ruder and more unclean than ever before in history, If you work in a worldly environment, you are subjected to these behaviors continuously.  So how do you stay untouched by them and how do you keep them from getting all over you?  First of all, this passage says do not be a partaker with them. Simply put, don’t take part in these things.  Set yourself a standard and make a plan and stick to it.  Don’t get involved in this activity.  If you are in a conversation and it is taking a turn toward filth, walk away.  Don’t even let the words fall on your ears.  They will echo in your head until you notice they are on the tip of your tongue slipping out of your mouth.  Think of this list as deadly poison that will produce a slow, painful and destructive death and run away from these things like they are a plague, because they are.

Today I want to encourage you to be an imitator of your loving Heavenly Father, not the enemy of your soul.  Recognize that he (your enemy) wants to destroy you and anything good in your life.  Don’t fall into the traps he is setting for you daily.  Instead, focus on and decide that you are going to live above the filth of the world.  Not in a haughty and prideful way, but with a humble and loving attitude that draws the lost ones to you.  Let your life and your example be one that imitates God like the dear child you are.

Today’s scripture reading: Ephesians 5:6-13

Your life’s pattern

Therefore, be imitators of God as dear children. Ephesians 5:1

Who do you pattern your life after?  Chances are if you are like most people, you imitate others who have influenced your life the most, either intentionally or unknowingly.  Maybe it’s one of your parents, or a close relative.  Maybe it is a respected leader or mentor.  Maybe its your favorite actor or tv personality.  Whatever the case is, most of us are acting like someone we have seen and heard at some point in our lifetime.

Today’s text gives us the ultimate example to follow.  It says to imitate or act like God does.  What?  Is that even possible? God has given each of us gifts and abilities to do His work while we are here in this world.  These gifts and abilities actually come directly from Him and are abilities that He, Himself possesses (on a much grander scale of course).  In discovering our God-given gifts and talents and then using them for kingdom progress, we are in effect imitating God.  Just as a child looks at their parent to copy their behavior, we can look at God and His Word to see how we should be behaving.  The commands and direction God gives us in His Word are not given so that He can control our behavior.  He gives us these instructions because it is the way He lives and exists.  He is showing us the way to imitate Him by the directives He gave in His Word.

Verse two of this chapter goes on to tell us when we imitate God as a dear child, we will walk in love just like Jesus did to the point of giving our lives as an offering and sacrifice to God.  Not that we have to die for our sin as Jesus did, now we give our lives to God to live for Him and be His representative in the world around us.  When we do this, we become a sweet-smelling aroma to Him.  It means it pleases Him and is pleasant in His eyes.

Today I want to encourage you to imitate God and pattern your life after His.  He is alive and living in heaven today.  He is successful in everyway and desires for us to be also.  When we do our best to model our lives after Him and ask for His help to do it, we will begin to experience the satisfaction and completeness in life that He planned for us all along.  Pay attention to your thoughts, attitudes and actions today and ask yourself, am I acting like God in doing these things?  Soon you will be weeding out all the undesirable things in your life that bring destruction instead of joy.

Today’s scripture reading: Ephesians 5:1-7

  Be kind

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.  Ephesians 4:32

The last part of this chapter commissions us to be kind to one another.  As believers, we are part of a family, the family of God.  This is an admonishing that really shouldn’t have to be given, but as much as it was necessary for Paul to give it to the believers in Ephesus, we need it still today.  If you make it a practice to just be a kind person no matter who you are with, this will become much easier to accomplish.  Don’t worry about whether your kindness is received or not, look at it as a gift that you share with others.  In giving the gift of kindness, you are not looking for a reciprocating response because you gave it as a free gift with no obligation.  This will also eliminate you having hurt feelings and or defensive responses because there is no expectation.

The scripture goes on to tell us to be tenderhearted.  Another quality that is easier for some than others.  If you have the gift of compassion, tenderheartedness comes naturally, but if not, it can be hard to recognize sometimes even when the opportunity arises.  Being tenderhearted is recognizing when someone is hurting and needing some love and encouragement.  Even if they don’t realize it, your encouraging words and taking time to talk with them may be the very thing to draw them closer to their salvation.  Showing compassion can also just be sitting with someone quietly as they go through something and don’t even know what they need.  They just don’t want to be alone through it.

Lastly, is forgiving.  Probably one of the hardest things to do until you make a habit of it.  Letting go of hurt feelings and disappointments can be the hardest things to do in life, but when you do, you experience the freedom of not being bound by those destructive feelings.  The verse expounds on the idea of forgiveness and compares it to your forgiveness in your salvation.  That kind of forgiveness is wrap in love and is the most powerful expression we can give to anyone.  Just like God forgave us in Christ Jesus, we can forgive those who have wronged us and get the same results of freedom.  Glory to God.

Today I want to encourage you to be kind, be tenderhearted and forgive all.  Don’t ever be on the defense, become a person that advances into the lives of others by giving kindness and becoming tenderhearted.  Allow your heart to become soft toward others. This is truly an example of God’s love to this lost and dying world.

Today’s scripture reading: Ephesians 4:25-32

Give grace to those who hear you

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.  Ephesians 4:29

What is a corrupt word?  The word corrupt is used mostly in referring to someone who is dishonest, dishonorable and unscrupulous in their ways, but it can also mean manipulating.  In the case of computer files, if they become corrupt, they are inoperable or unusable.  So corrupt words can be defined as dishonest, dishonorable, unscrupulous, manipulating and useless talking.  I don’t know about you, but if I eliminate those from my conversations, I will be speaking a lot less.  That may not be such a bad idea for some of us.  If you find yourself continuously speaking words that dishonor others or not producing anything of value, this is a good filter to put over your mouth.

The second part of the verse says to speak what is good for edification which means teaching and building others up.  If you have become a person that feels that the only way to make yourself feel and look better is to point out the flaws of other, it’s time to make a change.  Instead, look for what is good in those around you and help them to be successful in their life walk.  Anyone can find the faults, the true test of your character is if you can see the good in the people around you and draw more of that out of them.

Lastly, the scripture says that this gives grace to those who hear.  When you speak uplifting, honest, honorable and encouraging words to others, you are giving grace to them.  Grace is actually on the inside of you in your words.  As you choose grace words, you are sharing the grace of God with others as you speak them into their lives.

Today I want to encourage you to put away corrupt words from your speech.  Every useless, dishonoring and manipulating words, put it far from you.  Speak words that build up and encourage others. By doing this you are giving the gift of grace to everyone you speak to.

Today’s scripture reading: Ephesians 4:25-32

Work for a giving

Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.  Ephesians 4:28

Have you ever heard the saying working to make a living?  I think we all have heard this statement in some form or another.  It means I go to work everyday so I can make enough money to support a certain lifestyle that I want to have.  That could be to support a family or some other thing that is a priority in life.  It is a good goal for sure and I am not making little of it in any way.  I believe we all should work and contribute to the society we live in.

Today’s verse puts an interesting spin on that saying.  It instructs us, first of all that we shouldn’t steal and hopefully none of us have that in our background, but if for some reason it is there, here is a redeeming quality.  Quit stealing from others and begin to labor, working with your hands at something that is good for those around you.  However, the reason is not so that you can live, but rather so you can give.  Give to those in need or give to those who cannot go to work for themselves.  This isn’t to say that you have to give everything you earn away, it is merely a mind set that you are working to have enough to support your needs and the needs of some that are unable to work, either temporarily or permanently. 

This is God’s true plan for a thriving society.  Instead of becoming dependent on the government, God made a plan that His people would take care of their own and those around them.  His people would be the ones reaching out to the needy.  In that way, you can bring more into the kingdom instead of having more dependent on the welfare system.  God planned that we would come along side of those who are down and help them get back on their feet again.  The truth is that those who are dependent on others to take care of their needs are those who don’t understand that God is the One that supplies every need according to His riches in glory (Phil. 4:19).

Today I want to encourage you to work for a giving.  If you are in a place right now that you are unable to work because of a physical problem, reach out to God today to empower you to get back on your feet again.  Then get out there and help others find the answers you have found in trusting Him by coming along beside them and helping them through until they are on their feet again.  Don’t get stuck in the world mentality that someone else should take care of me, ask God to help you find just the right place to labor and work with your hands so that you have something to give others that are in need.

Today’s scripture reading:  Ephesians 4:25-32