Faith Strategy

 

    Faith is your action strategy for spiritual warfare.  It is your shield from Satan's fiery arrows.  When you enter into spiritual warfare it is a risk, but with a wise strategy, sound direction, and clarity it is a lot less risky than doing nothing.  You can be secure in your actions instead of acting impulsively.  

    When Satan is shooting his arrows, they are meant to kill your testimony, drive, or even your life.  If they hit and get past your armor then he causes doubt, insecurity, temptation, guilt, depression, and more things that steal your ability to live abundantly.  Every arrow that hits is a short win for Satan.  He knows your habits, attitude, how you think, fears, and weaknesses.  He will use what he knows to make a strategic plan.  He is not stupid, but he is not too creative either.  

    Satan's main strategy is to keep you busy, distracted, or confused.  All of these will keep you from serving God's plan for your life.  He will cause chaos in your life to try to keep you away from God.  Your Shield of faith is your defense against Satan.  Your strategy is to stay close to God and listen to the Holy Spirit.  You do this by spending time in God's Word and prayer.  

    The shield of faith has benefits which are found in God's Word.  You can find many of them in the hall of faith found in Hebrews 11.  The belt, breastplate, and shoes are on a Christian at all times even if you do not know how to use them well.  Faith on the other hand you can put down.  There are times in your life that your faith is stronger than other times.  It is not a linear timetable.  You have to choose to take up your faith for battle every day.

    Walking in faith is you being prepared for spiritual battle.  You walk with urgency and intention.  You choose to face the demonic attacks instead of trying to hide or ignore.  You push past your insecurities, doubt, and fear to walk with Jesus.  Walking with Jesus will make you bold, confident, and hopeful.  He is not intimidates, so when you are with him it is easier to feel courageous.  

    You may have to walk with Jesus for a while before you feel it, but after a few victories you see how powerful God is and it rubs off on you.  You also need to walk into battle with your fellow believers.  You are stronger together than when each trying to fight an army on your own.  The strategy is simple link shields in Bible study, walk out together, and place scripture on your shield to put out the fires.  Walk in confidence because you have God and other Christians fighting with you.  

    Alone you are easy to pick off.  At the same time if you do not join the fight you make God's army a little weaker.  He made it where we need each other for a reason.  You are stronger together.  You may not like everyone, but you can still be united.  

    Your faith strategy is choosing to believe in God's Word.  Then walk into the world prepared and confident that He is protecting you.  Walk in truth and ignores all of Satan's lies.  Trust in God's power over what may be visible in front of you. Trust in God's plan.

Proverbs 3:5-6, Ecclesiastes 4:4-12, Jeremiah 29:10-14, Mark 11:22-26, Romans 10:16-19, 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, Ephesians 2:1-10, 6:13-16, Philippians 4:10-14, Hebrews 11:7-31, & 1 John 5:1-5

Shield of Faith

 

    Faith is trusting in God no matter what.  It is the shield that covers your entire body armor of truth, righteousness, and peace.  As Satan's arrows are aimed at you the shield will protect your armor.  The arrows will not penetrate what God is protecting, but that does not mean that you will not feel the impact or the heat from the fire arrows.  Your faith is your shield from evil.  Yahweh Magen is your shield.

    You hold the power of faith when you pray and know God will answer.  When you ask you receive.  You no longer fear the world because you know God is stronger than anything that comes up against you.  It allows you to handle life's stressful situations with grace, patience, and stride.

    Faith is not something you should talk about, but utilize everyday.  It should be your testimony not a sermon.  Faith is your relationship with Jesus in action.  It is simple, but it can't be explained.  You have it or you don't.  The best explanation is you believe in something you didn't see, but know it is real to the point you would be willing to die for your belief.  For Christians it is the death, resurrection, ascension, and upcoming return of Jesus.

    The shield of faith is powerful because you use it every day.  You keep it in top condition as you walk through life with Jesus.  Life is always changing.  Nothing stays the same, but your faith and what it is rooted in.  This gives you the security to go through life surefooted and strong.  You have to workout your faith.  Trusting God is simple, but you have to work through your own issues to put your trust in God.  It sometimes takes trials and tribulations to trust God in every area of your life.

    Faith gives your conviction for what you believe.  How you live it out is evidence to the world of why you believe in Jesus.  The more you walk in faith the more clearly you can hear the Holy Spirit guiding you.  If you are not living out what you claim to believe, then you faith is dead.  It will not protect you and it does not hold any power.  When you live by faith you are living as if God has already given what you asked for (or need) to you even though you haven't received it yet.  God keeps His promises and all you have to do is live like you have them already.

Exodus 11:4-12:13, Joshua 2:8-21, 6:24-25, Proverbs 30:5-6, Daniel 6:6-23, Ephesians 6:13-16, Hebrews 11:1-3, & James 2:19-26

How to use Peace

 

    To be able to use the shoes of peace your first need to put on the belt of truth and breastplate of righteousness.  You need the truth that comes from the Good News to have salvation.  Once you have salvation, you can start using the Bible for protection and advancement in spiritual warfare.

    True peace that comes from God does not mean that all your problems go away.  When you become a Christians and start following Jesus typically life can become harder, but you have peace in your heart because you know God is in control.  You have His promises to hold onto and know that He is working for the good in the situation.  He may feel silent, but that means He is doing something that will rattle the enemy and is not ready for them to know what it is yet.

    Peace is a gift from the Holy Spirit that can remove anxiety and discomfort in your heart when you surrender them to Jesus.  It allows you to live in harmony.  When you are anxious turn to prayer and remember God's promises.  Write them out if you need to.  Peace become obtainable when you fix your mind on God instead of living life.  Stay close to Jesus in your walk and you can trust that He will guide your steps to safety.  His very presence should give you peace.  Work with other prayer warriors to pursue peace.

    Take advantage of the Bible.  God is the best instructor.  His ways will not lead you astray.  If you need peace go to Him in prayer and Word for instruction on how to proceed.  The Bible doesn't always spell it out, but it does have clarity.  Sometimes you have to keep going in faith before things become clear.  Trust God's Word to guide you, keep you steadfast, provide assurance, is true, and capable of defending you.  This is how you find peace in the middle of spiritual warfare.  

    When you are in battle never forget who is fighting for you.  Pray without ceasing and trust that He is listening and directing an answer to your prayers.  Prayer can provide strategy on how you need to move forward, but always compare it to God's Word.  When you are vulnerable Satan can always put ideas or thoughts in your mind too.  Always compare your plan to the Bible to confirm that it is Biblical or to change direction.

Isaiah 26:1-6, John 14:27-29, Romans 12:17-18, Ephesians 1:12-14, 6:13-15, Philippians 4:6-7, & Colossians 3:12-15

Putting on Peace

 

    You need the shoes of peace in the armor of God to be able to be involved.  It is called Christian walk for a reason.  You were never called to sit on the sidelines and watch.  You are called to be active in the area God has placed on you.  You need the gospel and an active prayer life to be prepared to be active in your calling.

    The shoes of the gospel enables you to be sure-footed and steadfast in your faith.  That means you are prepared for spiritual warfare.  God is the owner of you armor, so you know it is in the best condition.  If it is not working, then it means you are putting it on correctly or at all.  If you want to be victorious, then you need to follow instructions when putting on the armor and using it.

    In your Christian walk you are not sitting and waiting for an opportunity to proclaim God's Word or fight a battle.  You have to be in God's Word to prepare.  You need the truth to protect your core values, righteousness that comes from salvation, and shoes prepared to run or enforce where you stand.  

    The gospel is the good news.  It needs to be shared so other people have the opportunity to obtain peace.  Your faith is your defense, but it is also your testimony.  It helps you move forward prepared for anything, but at the same time giving God's love to the world.  No enemy can steal that from you.  If you align yourself with God, then strongholds, lies, and sin no longer have power over you unless you give it power.

    Get into the Gospel to strap on your shoes because you don't know what the day has in store for you.  I guarantee if you are prepared, then it will be easier to handle.  Your shoes help you be proactive instead of reactive in life.  They help you move forward and not get stuck in the past (guilt or avoidant).  

    Having access to God's Word is a privilege.  Do not disregard it.  Instead allow the Holy Spirit to guide you into clarity and peace.  Find your strength in God.  Allow Him to build up your character to be intimidating to the enemy.  Be prepared to stand your ground with God.

Isaiah 11:1-5, 52:7-10, 59:9-20, Matthew 20:8-16, 2 Corinthians 10:3-6, Ephesians 2:17-18, 6:13-15, & Colossians 2:6-7

Peaceful Lifestyle

 

    You do not wake up one day to a peaceful life.  You have a peaceful lifestyle because of the choices and decisions you make.  Peace is something you fight to obtain.  If you are not willing to cut certain aspects from your lifestyle, then you will never obtain peace.  You have to invite God into your space and allow the Holy Spirit to clean up the mess.

    You have peace in your mind when you choose to follow Jesus, stay emotionally available to love, and embrace the freedom of your salvation.  Work, people, and life events will influence it, but you choose what you invest into your life.  Your shoes of peace is your protection.  You need to make sure you are taking care of them by being in God's Word everyday.

    Peace of the Gospel anchors your inner peace to God.  It gives you the security you need to live a full life.  This is an area in your life that you can't afford to compromise.  Compromise leads to losing the peace in your heart.  It is your relationship with God that fulfills you.  It is your other relationships, things, memories, life events, and ambitions that top it off making you blessed or life is meaningless.  You need God first, then everything else in your life will add to your peace or take away from it.

    The "Good News" is the power of peace.  Your salvation is living in peace with God living in obedience and love.  Using the armor of God is the peace that comes from God to protect you in all circumstances.  The gospel is your justification that leads to eternal peace.  It leads to an intimate relationship with God that gives your life conviction to fight for peace.

    A lifestyle of peace brings stability in the midst of disappointments.  It directs your emotions to be steadfast. Peace with God removes the confusion in life by highlighting the truth.  Your heart becomes durable and strengthens you to handle difficult people and circumstances.  Peace does not have to be far away.  It can live in your heart and be cultivated in your lifestyle.  When you put on the shoes of peace the Holy Spirit gives you love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and the ability to have self-control.

    How you look and comprehend life is your choice.  You can have a heart and outlook of thanksgiving and firm faith or negativity that lacks faith.  You either have unwavering trust in God or trust in yourself.  You either seek to see God working in your life or absorbed by circumstances.  The kind of faith you have will directly affect the kind of peaceful lifestyle you will have.  Pray thanksgiving over what you have, discernment to handle the unknown, and faith that will stabilize your heart and mind.  You put on your shoes of peace to seek understanding, wisdom, and step out in faith securely.

Isaiah 26:1-6, John 14:27-29, Romans 5:1-11, Galatians 5:22-23, Ephesians 1:12-14, 2:17-18, 6:13-15, Philippians 4:6-7, & 2 Thessalonians 3:16

Walk in the Gospel

 

    The shoe of peace is part of the armor of God where you walk in the Gospel.  You live out your faith.  It is generic where everyone can do it, but personalized to give you purpose.  The Gospel is the truth that gives you righteousness.  It protects your walk in this world.  Obedience to God's Word is the kind of protection that provides peace in your heart and soul.

    You walk in the Gospel when you stand firm in your faith.  You know where the battle line is and you do not run away.  You stand to face it under the protection of your salvation.  You don't stand alone.  You have the Holy Spirit empowering you and you have fellow believers on the line with you.  Together you are strong and steadfast.  Together if you one looses their footing the others would help them from falling or still uphold an unbroken line of defense.

    Walking in the Gospel is about relationships.  First their is your salvation that establishes your relationship with God.  Next it is about your relationship with fellow Christians.  Lastly it is your relationship with the world that will attract to or repel them from from God.  You will never be victorious on your own.  Alone you are easy pickings for Satan.

    To walk in peace is to walk in the Gospel.  You walk in holy love and harmony with the church as a whole, not just a building of people.  Satan likes to tear those relationships up through anger, division, and other tensions.  Your battle for the church is the same as your battle for the family.  You have to learn how to forgive and communicate like Jesus to find healing and unity.  You do not have to like everyone to work with them, but you do have to love them as fellow children of God.

    Walking in the Gospel is not always easy.  Sometimes it takes hard work.  You will face an unfair world and have to accept it to find peace.  You will face cruelty, evil, and other things that are challenging to face.  Remember that you are not alone and God has you facing it for a purpose.  Live out compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, mercy, patience, acceptance, forgiveness, and love in perfect harmony.  Do your part and trust God to take care of the rest and then your will be complete.  

Psalm119:161-168, Isaiah 54:9-10, Luke 1:76-79, Ephesians 2:14-16, 3:10-19, 4:1-16, 6:13-15, Philippians 4:6-7, & Colossians 3:12-15

Shoes of Peace

 

    The shoes of peace is using the gospel to walk with God.  The gospel is a part of your spiritual armor.  You have peace when you are prepared for battle.  You prepare for battle by knowing God's Word.  Your foot ware determines how quickly and steadily you can move.  The same is true with how well you know God's Word.  If you are in God's Word every day, then you can be prepared, stable, and at peace when Satan attacks.

    Your foot ware is what gives you the ability to be a warrior, athlete, civilian, or worker. When the armor of God was describes and written by Paul the shoes were boot like sandals that covered their lower legs and feet.  On the bottom they had little spikes. The shoes provided protection, but breathes.  They kept the men sturdy when they fought, but also the ability to run without getting hurt or slipping.  Knowing you are sure footed gives you peace when you are being attacked from all sides.

    Satan wants to destroy your peace, so he will come after your concentration when you are reading God's Word, distract prayer, or put obstacles in your way where you don't pray or get in God's Word.  He plays dirty.  If he can distract you from spending time with God, then he can cause discord, division, disruption, disturbances, and other things that will steal your peace.  If you have chaos or confusion in your life, then know that is from Satan.  That is what you need to fight.

    Where you lack peace you know Satan is at work.  This is where you need to tighten your shoes and turn to God to fight with or for you.  Peace in your personal and spiritual life leads to healthy relationships, better health, and a mind that is clear.  Peace opposes bitterness, resentment, and defensiveness.  Peace works with forgiveness, love, and harmony.  All of these are good for relationships.

    Satan attacks your minds, heart, body, relationships, and even your soul.  God has provided the way to protect all of these.  The truth and righteousness cover you with protection, but he gospel gives you the ability to use it.  Peace gives you emotional stability to sleep well, seek healthy living, and pursue God.  There is no room for dysfunction when you cling to God's peace.  Your soul finds it's stability in the Gospel.  It makes your ready to proclaim the truth and live out righteousness.

Isaiah 52:7-12, Romans 10:14-15, Ephesians 6:13-15, Philippians 4:6-7, & Colossians 3:12-15

How to use Righteousness

 

    What good is having the armor of God if you do not understand how to use it.  The belt of truth protects your mind from lies.  The breastplate of righteousness is your salvation stamp where you were made right with God.  That is straight forward, but how do you use it in spiritual warfare?  You use it as your moral compass that is influenced by the Holy Spirit.

    You use your righteousness when you prioritize God and your eternal future of the things that are unpredictable or undependable in this world.  You are motivated by doing what is right and being generous.  When you pray you use scripture to make sure you pray in a way that honors God and keeps you humble as you seek guidance.  Use prayer as a strategy to work with God and not independently: to keep going, sanctification, renewal, courage, and strength.  

    Your armor is strong because of who God is, but you use it better when you stand firm in your faith.  You endure suffering to become stronger and more agile in you faith.  You study God's Word so you are able to grow in faith and understand the purpose of your life.

    Faith is standard, but your battle is personalized by Satan's strategy.   You need to trust the Holy Spirit to have a better strategy that will protect you.  The armor of God is standard for everyone, but how you use it and enforce it is up to you.  Following Jesus does not mean that you will not ever get hurt, but you are armed in calvary.  You are victorious through him.  Be practical and consistent in pursuing your relationship with your Commander.  

Psalm 23, Isaiah 59:9-21, Ezekiel 18:5-9, Matthew 6:31-33, Ephesians 5:1-2, 6:13-14, & 1 Peter 3:13-17

Righteous Living

 

    There is self-righteous and there is righteous.  To be righteous you have to be made right with God.  Self-righteous is a form of pride.  It will lead you to destruction and shame.  True righteousness only comes through salvation provided by Jesus.  Righteousness is protection against evil.  

    Righteousness that is protection comes from God and you choosing to follow His way.  It becomes a part of your lifestyle as it influences your attitude, actions, interest, desires, ambitions, and perspective.  It affects every part of who you are as you mature in your faith.  

    You know your are growing when you see change.  Change may not be easy, but it is required to be healthy.  Staying dormant or falling back brings atrophy into your soul.  As you are growing closer to God you are being sanctified by the Holy Spirit.  

    You can't rush the process or you will get in your own way.  It takes time to form real relationships that can withstand all kinds of life events.  The same goes with your relationship with God.  You can only handle so much transformation at one time.  Trust the guidance of the Holy Spirit and value the process.  It is serious work that will prepare you to be a prayer warrior.  

    To understand God's Word you have to hear it, read it, think about, and then apply it to your life.  You need other people to help strengthen your faith.  That is why you are commanded to be a part of the church.  You will never be fully spiritually healthy if you are not with other believers.  You have each other really understand God's Word and how to live it out.  You need God's Word to grow and develop your conviction and self-control.  You need God's Word to empower a righteous life.

Ezekiel 36:22-32, Romans 1:16-17, Ephesians 4:13-14, Philippians 2:12-13, 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14, & James 1:19-25

Practice Righteousness

 

    When you become a Christian you are adopted into God's family making you righteous.  It is your journey working out your faith that you learn how to practice righteousness.  You are learning on how to live out what God has given you to honor His name.  You have to be intentional to learn God's expectations and how obedience protects you.  It is not always fun.  It is time consuming, but it is how you learn how to practice your righteousness.

    You practice righteousness until the breastplate of righteousness feels comfortable.  At that point it is a part of your lifestyle.  You discard your old lifestyle to replace it with a righteous one.  Righteousness is what will protect you from Satan having a stronghold in your life.  You choose to step out of the darkness into the light everyday.

    The point of practicing righteousness is that it makes your old sinful nature feel uncomfortable.  It exposes who you were to the point that you can't stand to look at it any more.  You are not going through the motions wanting to look righteous or be righteous.  You genuinely want unrighteous habits removed from your life to never return again.  It is what leads to repentance that causes real change in your life.

    When you have repentance that causes lifestyle change it drives you to dig deep to the roots of your sin to remove them.  Only when you remove the roots of sin will they be gone to never infect your life again.  It is not behavior changes.  It is your heart changing.  As your heart changes to look more like Jesus the more Satan may attack you, but the Holy Spirit is protecting your heart.  

    You become righteous at salvation, but you have to maintain your righteousness every day to keep it clean and powerful.  Battling your personal sin is not easy.  Just because you want to be a good Christian does not mean that it will come natural.  You have to be intentional and work at it.  

    You have to forgive yourself when you mess up, but be find a way to do better.  The Holy Spirit will direct you on how best get rid of your sinful nature.  This is why it is called a journey, so don't give up when it is hard.  Your righteousness is essential, so the practicing of it needs to be logical.  Make conscience life choices that will bring you closer to God instead of further away.  

Deuteronomy 28:1-6, Psalms 1:1-3, 23:1-6, Proverbs 2:1-8, Isaiah 58:13-14, Matthew 5:3-10, 23:25-28, Romans 7:14-20, 13:11-14, Galatians 6:7-10, & Ephesians 4:1-5:9, 6:1-4

Righteous Protection

 

    The breastplate of righteousness protects your spiritual heart and soul.  It is what shields you from being destroyed by Satan's attacks.  It protects you because righteousness makes you right with God.  When you are one of God's children you can trust that He will protect you.  If you believe in God's truth, then righteousness is protecting you.

    If you are a Christian, then you are righteous.  Jesus is the reason you are able to have righteousness.  He is what opened the eye to those who wanted to truth to see the need for God.  You cannot achieve righteousness without Jesus.  It is his righteousness that you receive upon salvation that protects you from becoming legalistic about your faith. 

    God does not lower His standards.  He meets you where you are, but you are expected to change and become more like Jesus as you mature in your faith.  The more you understand the truth the easier it becomes to live out your righteousness.  This protects your heart from becoming hard or allowing evil to touch it.  You may have the ability to take down your enemies, but when you choose to act in love you are justified.  

    Righteousness protects you from discouragement and deception.  It defines who you are in Jesus.  This protects you because it makes you innocent.  Satan hate innocence and tries to take advantage.  That is why you need the protection of righteousness.  Jesus has freed you through faith, don't keep living like you are chained to your sin.  Live out your Christian life in integrity to honor God for His protection and forgiveness.  

Genesis 15:6, 1 Samuel 24:3-21, 1 Kings12:25-33, Isaiah 64:1-7, Romans 3:9-26, 4:20-25, 10:1-4, 2 Corinthians 5:16-17, & Ephesians 6:13-14

Breastplate of Righteousness

 

    The breastplate of righteousness is the spiritual armor that protects your heart.  The belt holds all the clothing and items together for a sturdy foundation to faith.  The breastplate is your salvation that makes you righteous by faith.  It covers the belt, so the truth you believe is covered by faith.  Your righteousness protects your spiritual life and enables you to love like Jesus because it is supported by God's truth.

    The breastplate of righteousness fortifies the truth you believe.  It is protecting what gives you life.  It allows you to live free without fear.  Believing in Jesus, repenting your sins, and declaring your faith provides you with God's justice.  You are justified to enter Heaven when you die and to live like Jesus now.  The truth teaches you God's expectation, but you obey because you love Him.  

    The breastplate protects you according to how you apply God's truth.  If you try to change it to meet your lifestyle or desires, then you will not have much protection.  If you submit to God's will and obey according to His direction, then nothing can harm your heart and soul.  Your righteous lifestyle will produce a reputation that will protect you from all kinds of evil attacks.

    Righteousness protects your thoughts, ambitions, feelings, morals, and direction you take in life every day.  You take the time to learn the truth and how to apply it to your life.  It is part of the maturing process.  As you mature you move closer to God you make Satan nervous.  It means you start carrying power in the spiritual world to draw people to Jesus.

    Living righteously makes you a threat to Satan, so know that it is a matter of time before he comes to attack the areas that righteousness protects.  He will attack your mind first to influence your will. Then he will come after your emotions and conscience.  If he can make sin look innocent, then he has entry.  Learn to recognize the warning signs: you start thinking negatively, focus turns away from God, feelings become a storm, your confidence becomes confused, your consciousness starts to become silent, or your mind feels cluttered.  As soon as you discover this, repent and seek alone time with God to work it out.  

Psalm 81:11-16, Proverbs 4:23, Ephesians 4:1-4, 6:13-14, & James 4:13-17

How to use Truth

 

    You are in a spiritual battle.  You need the belt of truth to be able to fight properly, but do you know how to use the truth to fight your battles?  It is knowing God's truth that makes it where you can utilize it to defend yourself.  It is knowing God's Word that tells the world what you believe is true.

    The truth protects you from embarrassment.  It keeps you from falling for Satan's lies.  You need to be in God's Word, praying over what you read and how to use it, pray for discernment, and pray for understanding.  When you have that in your belt, then you will know in the situation on how to use the truth as a weapon.  

    You need to know God's Word to be able to strategize how to protect yourself from evil.  God will give you insight everyday as you spend time with Him in His Word and prayer.  The truth will help shield your heart from temptation.  However, you have to choose to invest yourself into God's Word, meditate on it, and pray over it.  You choose the direction your mind and heart go by what you allow your mind to linger on.  Meditate on the truth instead of fantasy or delusions.  

    Satan has a strategy to work against you.  It attacks when you are vulnerable.  He hits your insecurities, desires, and complacency.  He will distract you, so that you do not seek or focus on the truth.  His goal is to make you fall apart, pull away from God, and destroy you.  Do not allow him to deceive you.  Use the truth to build your character, virtue, judgement, and values.  Lean on your church family to help you be strong when you feel weak.  The truth allows you to live free.

Genesis 2:15-17, Psalm 119:105-112, Isaiah 59:15-19, John 8:31-32, Romans 8:1-4, & Ephesians 6:13-14

Walk in Truth

 

    Walking in truth sounds easy, but sometimes it is not.  Satan's deceptions can be very convincing.  His goal is to have your believe the lie, fraud, illusion, manipulation without ever detecting it.  He tweaks the truth just enough to have you self-sabotage.  He is a wolf dressed as a sheep.  It takes intentional maturing in your Christian walk to be able to know where to go in the Bible to discover the truths that reveal his lies.

    Truth is not on a spectrum.  It is simple.  It is direct.  It is narrow.  It requires discernment at times.  Pray for wisdom and discernment to be able to see the truth from all the lies the world is telling you.  This is how you use the belt of truth.  God's truth will always reveal the lie.

    If you fall for the lie there are some indicators.  You will feel a loss in joy, life becomes boring, you feel empty, and you become vulnerable to distractions like addictions.  When the lie becomes your truth then sin becomes your lifestyle.  What may have seemed wrong once is okay because your situation is different.  That is buying into the lie and it will destroy what you love.  

    It is hard to step into the light when you have been living in the darkness.  It can feel overwhelming to have all your sins exposed.  However, it is better if you step into the light willingly and wanting to repent than to have the light brought upon you while you try to hide your sins.  Either way sin will be exposed eventually.  Come to God on His terms to find what you are really missing in your life.  

    The Holy Spirit will not lead you astray.  Trust the gut filling that He gives you.  It is an indicator that Satan is trying to pull one on you.  As you mature your conscience will become a stronger indicator that something is not right.  It will help you from willfully walking into a sinful lifestyle.  However, if you are in the sinful lifestyle, then you have tuned it out so much that it is no longer working properly.  Do not shut down the Holy Spirit.  He is your best friend and protector in this world.

    God's standard does not change.  That means you can find it at any time in your Bible.  Pray for understanding that will lead to discernment.  You are not perfect.  You mess up, but the point is to repent and turn back to God as soon as you can.  Trust the Holy Spirit to guide you even if it feels scary.  The more you walk in truth and faith the less scary it will feel.  It also reveals Satan's lies.  

Exodus 17:5-6, Numbers 20:6-13, Isaiah 30:19-22, John 8:12-32, Romans 1:21-23, 2 Corinthians 11:12-15, & Ephesians 5:6-14

Protection of Truth

 

    The belt of truth is protection.  Protection comes with strengthening your salvation through learning and obeying God's Word.  God's Word supports you as you walk with Jesus while making you stronger to carry the burden of truth.  The truth gives you security in your salvation.

    The truth is your protection because it gives you salvation.  Once you are a true Christian, then you have the security to follow Jesus no matter what the world puts in your way.  God's Word organizes the truth for you to make you secure in your Salvation which stabilizes who you are enabling you to walk confidently in life.  

    The truth found in God's Word teaches you righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and prayer.  It teaches you how to use everything you have and who you are to defend yourself in confidence without doing evil.  The more you are in God's Word the more easily you are able to use it for good.  It takes some of the pressure off that you have to be perfect to be able to serve God.

    God's Word reveals the truth about your heart and right standing with God.  Jesus paid the heavy price for you.  You only have to be strong enough to walk with Jesus now.  If you have sin in your life, then the weight is heavier.  Repent your sin and following Jesus will become easier.  

    God's truth protects you where you can move freely in confidence.  Salvation brings freedom.  God's Word teaches you boundaries that protect your mind and heart.  God's truth is your weapon that can be used in every attack.  It can only be used correctly though if you are a Christian.  

    Without God's truth, you can't live up to His standards.  You are not truly free.  You will never understand how to self-regulate in a way that protects all of you.  You will never be a citizen of Heaven.  Your version of the truth is legalism.  It is not Christianity.  If you don't believe God's truth, then you will only be tripping over the truth trying to make it work for you instead of you submitting to it.

Psalm 119:105-112, Proverbs 30:5-6, John 8:31-32, 17:13-19, 2 Corinthians 13:7-9, Ephesians 6:13-18, 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5, 1 Peter 3:13-17, & Jude 1:3-4

Biblical Truth

 

    The truth can be hard to hear.  It may shock you to learn certain truths about yourself.  However, the truth is always better than a lie.  When you are delivering truth to people you need to do it in love.  That way you can meet them where they are like Jesus did.  You need them to hear the truth and not reject it before it is given.  Either way the truth will make itself known in it's own time.

    When you accept the truth it changes your course in life.  If you accept the truth that comes from the Bible it changes you from the inside out.  It changes your soul and perspective for the rest of your life.  It changes how you love.  It also makes Satan mad.  He likes you living in the lie.  He controls you and you don't even know it.  Once your eyes are open the truth become apparent.

    Living in the lies of Satan makes you weak.  You reject the truth for the more comfortable lie.  The lie allows you to live the way you want to live.  The truth directs you to uncomfortable change that leads to freedom.  Some people will choose comfort over freedom.  The truth gives you strength, but you have to go through discomfort to get there.  

    The truth comes with pressure.  It can feel heavy, but Jesus promised that would carry the majority of the weight.  Your load is a little compared to what he carries on your behalf.  You can endure for His name.  

    When you learn to love like Jesus you love in truth.  The truth can hurt at times, but it also protects you.  Your heart grows strong, but it doesn't turn hard.  You get a thicker skin and realize that some things are just people's opinions.  They are not necessarily true.  It they do speak truth that is hard, then you become grateful that they cared enough to be honest.  It opens the door to change and a stronger relationship.  Truth with love enables you to reject worldly jealousy, rage, hatred, and consuming anger that leads to bitterness.

    Biblical truth gives you direction.  When you get tired or fatigued, then Jesus will help you to keep going.  When your faith endures the truth gives you what you need to keep going.  The Holy Spirit in you will strengthen and protect you.  He will give you supernatural energy that no one can take from you.  God's truth gives you stamina.  When you embrace Biblical truth, then wont fall for Satan's lies that would destroy you.

Genesis 3:6-19, Numbers 20:6-13, Psalm 106:13-18, Jonah 1:1-6, Romans 1:21-32, 2:5-11, Ephesians 4:14-27, & 2 Timothy 3:6-9

Belt of Truth

 

    The belt in armor protects your core which is what connects all of your body.  Without your core no other muscle would matter.  The Belt of truth is God's Word.  God's Word is what makes you a warrior.  It connects the spiritual together to make you stronger.  

    When the armor of God was written, the armor was put on in a specific way to give maximum protection.  The first item to go on was the Belt, then the breastplate, sandals, shield, helmet, and sword.  In the armor of God the belt of truth is the foundation of your armor.  Everything builds the same way, but add on prayer to basically the glue that seals the protection.  

    The Roman army also went out in legions (thousands of warriors) to be strong.  Your fellow spiritual warriors is the church.  You need fellow believers to be strong.  Not everyone who claims to be Christian is Christian.  Do not allow a few people in a church keep you from accessing the strength you need in fellowship, prayer partners, wisdom, and more assets that can be found in a community of believers.

    The belt of truth protects your most vulnerable parts of your spiritual body: mind, heart, and soul.  The protection comes in the format of righteous living and choices that honor God.  The stronger your core belief is the stronger the protection is.  Faith in God's Word makes you more durable in the world because there is power in the truth.  The Truth is strategic in how it protects you.  It is the only thing that can fight deception.  

    The truth is what God says it is.  There is no personal truth that can change with what you want, how you feel, or the direction society decides to take.  There is only God's truth that can be found in the Bible.  The Bible is what will hold you together in spiritual warfare.  It is your core protection.  

    You use the belt of truth as protection by allowing the Bible to build and affirm your standards in life.  It is the source of boundaries.  You commit yourself to God's way of living.  You align your attitude and expectations in life by what you learn in God's Word everyday.   You allow your character to become like Jesus even when it makes you unpopular.  God's Word will only protect you if you are in it and use it everyday to direct your physical and spiritual life.  You decide how much protection you want.  

Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Psalm 119:153-160, Ephesians 2:11-18, 4:14-23, 6:13-14, & James 1:2-4

Prayer Stategy

 

    God has a plan for you.  Satan has a plan for you.  Do you have a plan?  Prayer and faith is your defense against Satan's plans.  It also makes it more clear of what God's plans are for you, even if He may only reveal one step at a time.

    Satan is the original schemer.  His plans are full of manipulation.  He is systematic on how he attacks your habits, activities, hobbies, mindset, and goals.  He will use discouragement to disarm you.  He will sabotage you in your blind spots.  He fights dirty.  You can't afford to be blind and hope for the best.  You have to be active in your spiritual life that carries into your personal life.

    It starts with faith and prayer.  The more precise and thought out your prayer life becomes, the more you are in the fight.  If you are not blind, then you can be prepared.  You may be deep in the fight, but you are still better off than the blind.  

    Your prayer strategy needs to be using the name of Jesus not a ward, but as your protective power.  His name activates your spiritual armor.  It provides the ability to have victory.  You have to be grounded in prayer to be grounded by Jesus.  

    Your strategy also needs to include thanksgiving, gratitude, intercession for others, direction, protection, future, dreams, request, and recognition of who God is.  When you are reading God's Word, use what you are reading to pray over your day.  There are many scriptures that are prayers, but you can create your own from what you got out of your Bible Study. 

    Do not pray a general or vague prayer.  Be specific with what you want, need, or whatever else is going on.  Keep it authentic and true to your heart.  Do not try to pray like someone else or the way you think you need to pray.  Keep it real with God.  It is okay to be messy.  God will work it all out.

Proverbs 3:5-6, Isaiah 26:1-6, 2 Corinthians 10:3-6, Ephesians 6:10-19, Philippians 4:6-7, & James 1:5-8

The Target

 

    Satan is the master at deception.  He can't read your mind or know what you will do, but he can bait you to do what he wants.  He studies you and has a good idea of what you will do.  He also knows when you are more vulnerable.  That is normally when he will attack.  If you are strong, then he will try to wear you down.  You are his target.

    Satan is not above hitting below the belt.  He plays dirty.  He will go after past trauma that he caused to hurt you more.  That is why it is important to allow God to heal you completely.  If you are healed, then Satan does not have that trauma to hurt you again.  This is part of spiritual warfare: God trying to heal you and Satan trying to destroy you.

    Do not live in fear or anxiety because Satan will target it as weakness.  Trust God to take care of you and He can protect you.  If you refuse His protection, then you are facing evil on your own.  The more you lean on God the more clear Satan's tactics become.   You are able to start seeing his intention which gives you time to prepare.

    In spiritual warfare prayer is how you can be proactive and alert.  It makes Satan work for you to stumble.  You don't have to make it easy on him.  The more you mature in your Christian walk the more you become a threat to his plans.  He will come after you, but you don't have to allow him to affect your mind or heart.  

    Satan wants to make you insecure, doubt your faith, and cripple your walk with God.  When you know to expect it, then you are able to prepare for it.  He will hit you where it hurts most.  He goes after what you care about.  He tries to twist your passions, interest, and curiosities into something ugly.  If he can keep you vulnerable or beat down, then he wins.  

    Fear is a strong weapon in his playbook.  Fear will drive you to do things that you normally would never do.  Give it over to God and he can make you stronger.  He can help remove your fear and vulnerabilities.

    Remember Satan comes after your identity in Christ.  He will use your passions, focus, and relationships to trip you up.  He wants to break up the family leaving soul wounds.  He attacks your confidence and your calling to cause you to doubt.  He attacks your resolve to stay pure for God.  He interrupts your sleep and rest to weaken your resolve.  He will try to manipulate your heart to self-sabotage relationships or put ungodly people into your life to cause you to stumble.  This is His playbook to target you, but God has placed blockers in place to keep you safe.

Genesis 3:1-7, Deuteronomy 5:12-15, Joshua 14:6-9, Isaiah 59:1-3, Luke 10:18-20, Romans 12:1-2, 2 Corinthians 10:3-6, 11:12-15, Ephesians 1:15-23, 6:10-20, 1 Timothy 2:8, Hebrew 12:14-17, 1 Peter 5:8-9, & Revelations 12:10-12

Being Alert

 

    God and Satan are both real.  They both have an agenda.  God brings light and life into you.  Satan brings devastation and darkness into you.  They are both intent and active, but the motives and ways are different.  Satan attacks and tries to control while God loves and tries to direct.

    If you are a Christian you can't be destroyed, but you can get distracted, discouraged, disable your testimony, or get confused.  Satan wants you miserable so that you do not help God's Word spread.  He may even let you become comfortable so that you become complacent.  

    God commands that you stay alert, aware, and avoid Satan's attacks.  It keeps you clear headed and on your guard.  This means that you may have to spend seasons of your life being uncomfortable to be able to walk with Jesus faithfully.  It does not mean that you can't find comfort in God's presence.  

    Being alert is fighting against becoming apathetic, disinterested, spiritually lethargic, or run from fighting for what is good and right.  You fight for your pure relationship with God.  It means you live differently than the world and resist sin.  You fight to keep your passion for God burning bright and armor of God holding strong.  

    Embrace every spiritual blessing that God gives you because it makes life worth living.  God gives you gifts and responsibilities, but they are blessings.  You are already victorious because you abide in Him.  You know this because you know that He is victorious, so don't let the right now keep you from growing in your relationship with God.  

    Be strengthened by God's armor.  It comes from being intentional in your relationship with God.  You are consistently pursuing Him and faithfully spending time in His Word and prayer.  There is no retiring or days off from spiritual warfare.  You also don't have to be beaten down by it.  You just need to be aware, so get rid of your vulnerable spots in your armor.  Your Christian walk is strategic and intimate.

Matthew 24:42-44, Mark 13:32-33, 14:37-38, 1 Corinthians 16:13-14, Ephesians 6:10-18, Philippians 2:12-13, Colossians 4:2-6, 1 Thessalonians 5:4-8, & 1 Peter 1:13-16, 5:8-9