ARE YOU DWELLING IN THE PEACE OF GOD ? PUT ON HIS ARMOR !

4/5/2020

This morning when I woke up, I found myself caught up in how different things feel right now. The things we get so used to in our lives have been turned upside down. My simple routines feel very distant in some ways and I am truly missing my friends. It has been a rough week with our beloved Belgian Sheepdog Cassie resting and hopefully recovering from an unknown liver issue far away in a vet hospital. She is an old girl, coming up on fifteen years old. She is that warm presence that makes our home complete, and right now, things feel pretty empty. I want to be beside her, gently rubbing her ears and telling her how much I love her. Thankfully we are blessed with incredible neighbors and had the chance to have breakfast on our patio with our dear friend Janet. We started talking about the crazy times we are in, and we began to talk about some of the things we are worried about. Our kids, their jobs, our jobs, our finances….when this virus will be gone, and what the future will look like. We so want to be with our families for Easter, but we are erring on the side of caution lest anyone get sick. Patience, patience, patience. We need to be strong and let things run their course. Enjoy the things we can do, and look forward to the things we enjoy and are missing right now. The gals went for a walk, and I plugged in a podcast that centered on just how far our world has moved away from God. I dozed off, and then, I could hear God’s voice gently speaking in my head.. I’m still pondering what He said to me, and the full meaning of it, and yet, He spoke clearly and powerfully to me. “Jim, it’s time for you to put on My Armor. Put it all on, and abide in Me.” “Put on My Armor and be Strong.” “I am your Peace”. I listen for God’s voice in my life a lot, but this was different. It was so clear and so powerful, and it had urgency.

THEREFORE, 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 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 THE 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 LORD’S PEOPLE. Ephesians 6: 13-18

I sat on the couch in our sunroom for quite a while contemplating again what I had just experienced. God’s voice was so real and clear and powerful, and the more I thought about Him, I found myself in prayer. I found myself thinking about finding Peace in Him. Abiding and trusting in Him. When we fit our feet and prepare for readiness in the Gospel of Peace, we are turning over our emotions and worries to Him. If we live in our worries, they make us weak and tossed to and fro. We live so much of our lives trying to solve our own problems. The truth is that we need to put our trust in Him to handle everything that comes our way. We also need to mature and become stronger. We need to put on His Armor and start using the gifts and power that He is freely giving to us. His Truth, His Righteousness. His Peace and His Grace and Mercy. The Power Of His Word, and the Shield Of Our Faith In Him ! His Spirit, which guides us and shows us how to pray and who and what to pray for.

YOU HAVE SEARCHED ME LORD, AND YOU KNOW ME. YOU KNOW WHEN I SIT AND WHEN I RISE; YOU PERCEIVE MY THOUGHTS FROM AFAR. YOU DISCERN MY GOING OUT AND MY LYING DOWN; YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH ALL MY WAYS. BEFORE A WORD IS ON MY TONGUE YOU, LORD KNOW IT COMPLETELY. YOU HEM ME IN BEHIND AND BEFORE, AND YOU LAY YOUR HAND UPON ME. SUCH KNOWLEDGE IS TOO WONDERFUL FOR ME, TOO LOFTY FOR ME TO ATTAIN. WHERE CAN I GO FROM YOUR SPIRIT ? WHERE CAN I FLEE FROM YOUR PRESENCE ? IF I GO UP TO THE HEAVENS, YOU ARE THERE; IF I MAKE MY BED IN THE DEPTHS, YOU ARE THERE. IF I RISE ON THE WINGS OF DAWN, IF I SETTLE ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE SEA, EVEN THERE, YOUR HAND WILL GUIDE ME, YOUR RIGHT HAND WILL HOLD ME FAST. Psalm 139: 1-10

I truly believe that the Lord was telling me that I have reached a point in my life where I need to put everything I am into Him and His Kingdom. I don’t know where each of you who read my blog are in your relationship with God, but I do know that He also wants you to put on His Armor. It is time to move toward His Kingdom, and to use your time and life to dwell with Him in His peace, and to show that peace to others. No matter how far away you may feel in today’s circumstances from God and peace, He knows right where you are, and He is there waiting to strengthen you and love you. Put your worries and emotions on his Altar and give them to Him to deal with. Let Him show you a place to dwell in peace. His armor is light, yet strong. His armor is fulfilling and complete. and He has a set of armor that is made just for you. I am putting mine on, and seeking His Peace and Strength….I hope you do too ! Armor Up/JAA

AND SO WE KNOW AND RELY ON THE LOVE GOD HAS FOR US. GOD IS LOVE. WHOEVER LIVES IN LOVE LIVES IN GOD, AND GOD IN THEM. 1 John 4:16