Getting A Head Start on the New Year: Prepare for Battle in 2012

“Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes”

Ephesians 6:11

The Libyan Civil War was an armed conflict fought between forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi and those seeking to oust his government. The fighting went back and forth until Gaddafi was captured and killed.  Libya was declared liberated and the war ended.

Jerry and I watched the conflict on T.V. We were amazed and amused at the rebels. The ragtag army had old and homemade weapons.  Toward the end of the conflict the rebels used old pickups to mount anti-aircraft guns, machine guns and rocket launchers. These weapons seemed out of place on the small beat- up pickups, but they worked.  

Christians are in a battle. “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” Ephesians 6:12. Christian soldiers gather your armor and prepare for battle in 2012.

We are not alone on the battlefield. God’s Word gives us hope. “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds” 2 Corinthians 10:4.

Paul implores us in 2 Corinthians to make certain that our every thought is obedient to Christ. Christ centered thinking is a powerful weapon against the forces of darkness.  Our adversary, the devil, would love for our minds to be cluttered with daily problems, Facebook, the internet, and the temptations of the world. He wants our thoughts to center on our desires and needs. Prepare for next year’s battles. Start with your thoughts.  How often do you think about God during the day? Do you talk to Him and depend on Him to guide you. Control your thoughts and be a victor next year.

We have other weapons to help us stand against the devil’s schemes.  Ephesians 6:13-18 describes this armor. “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. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of Salvation and sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God 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 saints”

Arm yourselves with truth, righteousness, peace, faith, God’s Word, prayer, and most important of all SALVATION. Onward Christian soldiers! Be ready to march into battle in the New Year.

Dear Father, Help us depend on You, our General, as we ready ourselves for battle against our foe.

Janice Yandell