The Armor of God in Personal Prayer
by an anonymous friend
There have been countless teachings and a
few dozen techniques by which we have been taught to put on the full
armor of God. Perhaps that's one of the pitfalls of being human.....we
tend to set up traditions and then write a book about it. God forbid I
should ever put my intimate conversations with Him up for public ex-
amination with a price tag. This is not a ritual to me. It's a neccessary
conversation I have each day. And you know what?........There's been
times when I have had to jump out of bed and be on the run just like
anyone else! We're not saved and kept by our prayers. We are saved
by grace through faith which God gave us, and we're kept by the power
of God.
When I arise in the morning my first words are "Thank you Father, for a good night
of rest......it is sufficient for this day. I am taking off the carnal mind and
all the carnal thoughts it has flashed during my sleep, along with every
thought and imagination, as well as any other high and lofty stronghold,
principality, power of darkness, evil spirit, or demon, which exalts itself
above the truth of God's word. And having taken that off (loosing it), I
bind to my head, the helmet of salvation. This includes the mind of Christ,
the renewed mind, taking every thought captive to obedience to the words
of Jesus, and the promise in John 14:26 where Jesus said the Holy Spirit
would bring to our rememberance every word He said to us. May the words
of my mouth and the thoughts from my innernost being originate from within
this protected realm and minister life to those with whom I am in contact today.
And I thank you Father that I am a new creature and the old nature is no longer
me! So not having garments of unrighteousness, and knowing that my self -
righteousness is insufficient, I bind to me the breastplate of righteousness,
because He Who knew no sin, became sin, that I may become the righteousness
of God in Him! I put on the breastplate of Jesus Christ's righteousness because
it was prepared for me, and it fits better than the fig leaves of Adam.
In human circles we politely do not speak of "changing underwear", but I cover
my nakedness (my uncomely behaviors and shameful sins of the past) with Your
truth. I am therefore free to be as transparent as I choose but never forgetting
that our confessed sins are forgotten and no more remembered by You. I thank
You for this ability be truthful with others and yet retain healthy boundaries that
I may walk with no condemnation and no obligation to dig up that which You have
forgotten. I owe no man anything except love and I know that whom the Son has
freed, is free indeed!
And I thank you for these shoes I put on Father. They are not "magic shoes" as
Forrest Gump wore, or bright red shoes as Dorthy wore home to Kansas. They are
my everyday shoes, but they have beautiful feet inside them! You have prepared me
with my own personal testinony of what Jesus has done for me! Your word says, How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of them which bring Good News! I thank You for my shoes and my testimony.........direct my path today to cross the paths of others you have prepared to hear my testimony and words of peace.
And of all the things that please You, I have read that faith is perhaps more needed
than anything I might offer.......so I take up the shield of faith. It is not weighty as the armor offered to young David when he met Goliath. My shield has no attachments to show my worthiness or accomplishments. There is nothing heavy about this shield, but it keeps me from getting my head knocked off! Without faith it is impossible to please you. I take this shield of faith with thanksgiving.
And Father I ask that my head and hand may work together in harmony. The words that You said You would bring to my rememberance in John 14:26, are Your words. They are truth and life!I take these as the sword to be directed by Your Spirit! May Your word divide that which is soulish from that which is spiritual and may I, or any person You have me share these words with, be able to see our own hearts in order to to be convinced that You are speaking these things. Your word is a double edged sword which can cut speaker and hearer alike. I pray for guidance and humility in using this sword. Having done all this to stand today, I pray You will fill me afresh with your Holy Spirit to walk and work and represent You in my part of the world today.
Father, I do not end this prayer with the word, "AMEN" for I know I have likened
it to the words, "GOOD BYE". I wish to walk in fellowship with You all day, so I do
not intend to hang up on this conversation. Help me to stay online with You ALL DAY!
Written and submitted graciously by an anonymous friend.
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And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of compassion and supplication, so that, when they look on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a first-born.
Zechariah 12:9-11
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Peter Taylor Forsyth
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