Our Victory Outfit Part 10

These weekly devotionals I will be posting come from and are copyright to Pam Iannello, my pastor's late wife who went home to be with the Lord on June 18, 2008.


How do you protect yourself from danger in the spiritual realm? The only way to dress for spiritual success is with the armour of God, as found in Ephesians 6. Are you sure you're wearing it??



This devotion is the final part of the "Our Victory Outfit" series.

As we come to a close in our study of the armor of God today, let's focus on verse 18 of Ephesians 6 which says:

"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints."

As soldiers in the army of the King of kings, we must be sure that we keep the lines of communication open with the Captain of our salvation!  We need to get our "orders from Headquarters", amen?  What better way than through prayer and study of the Word of God!  Prayer and the Word of God should never be separated...  It is the Holy Spirit who prays in us, through us and for us.  As we search the Word of God prayerfully, the Spirit of God also makes clear the meaning of the scriptures, thereby giving us a greater understanding of how to pray, and a clearer understanding of the direction our lives should take.  A wise soldier is a prayerful soldier, and a prayerful soldier prays wisely!  Ladies, we need God's wisdom in this battle against our enemy the devil!  Stay in close communication with your heavenly Father....

Phil 4:6-7, "Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

A soldier dressed in the armor of God ready to do battle would look pretty silly wearing a worried look on his face, wouldn't he?  A soldier dressed in the armor of God ready for battle would look pretty stupid sleeping on the job as well....  That's why our verse in Ephesians 6:18 says to watch and pray.  We are not called to waste time worrying, not called to waste time dozing off in battle - instead, God's children are to be on sober guard at all times!  

1 Peter 5:8, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"

That "whom" Satan is seeking is YOU!  That "whom" he is seeking is me too...  Ladies, we need to be looking out for one another in this fight!  Tell me when the enemy is creeping up on me unawares, and I'll do the same for you, amen?  How can we do that for one another if we are asleep spiritually??  The Bible tells us to be vigilant because of the very reason that Satan wants to devour each and every one of us!  He knows of nothing else to do but be involved in evil activity.  If the Bible says Satan is seeking to devour us, guess what?  You know without a shadow of a doubt he is WATCHING us!  Hence, God says that His children must do some watching of their own....  We are not to be careless Christians, amen?   Don't we warn our children about the kinds of enemies they are to look out for and hope that they will listen to us?  Well, so does God!  Watch soberly for Satan, dear lady.  

Let me ask you this question:  Is there ever a time you are not susceptible to temptation or Satan's attacks?  If you answered 'no', you are right!  Then if this is the case, should there ever be a time when you and I are not found watching and praying??  

1 Thessalonians 5:17, "Pray without ceasing."

It is obvious that the scriptures point out that we are to persevere in prayer.  How are you doing in your prayer life, soldier lady?  Don't stop, don't give up, don't lose hope - pray without ceasing!  Persevere! Keep on praying until the Spirit stops you or until the Lord answers you!  I wonder how many times we quit praying when help was just around the corner.... We are to stay in this fight of faith on our knees, amen?

At our house, we tease our youngest son Luke who likes to report on the other members of the family if they prayed with their eyes open.  I'll ask him the obvious question, "How could you know who had their eyes open during prayer if yours weren't open too?"  "Awwww, Mom!", he answers.  But there is a spiritual application here....  We may think it is wrong to pray with our eyes open, but spiritually speaking, our eyes should be open in prayer!  That's what our verse in Ephesians 6:18 is actually telling us to do - "praying always ....and watching thereunto..."  

Praying with your eyes open means praying wisely in this fierce battle we are engaged in.  It is becoming intensely aware of the strategy that the enemy is using on us, and others, and praying for strength and wisdom to outsmart Satan!   Are your eyes open today to the various ways that the devil is seeking after you?  Are your eyes open today to the various ways that the devil is seeking after your loved ones, your church family members etc.?  Are you praying for them, watching out for them as a good soldier should?  How open are you to a fellow soldier approaching you with concern over your walk with the Lord in a particular area??  Are you defensive and prideful or thankful for their input and honesty?  A surprise attack has defeated more than one believer who forgot to watch and pray.... I hope that doesn't happen to you - or me!

Remember ladies, our heavenly Father has not intended that we go into this battle alone.  We need the Lord's help and the help of one another in striving against the devil and his workers.  God has provided us both...  Let's stand together in this fight of faith and be careful to encourage and exhort one another daily.  Count it a privilege to be a part of the army of God and do right...

Ezekiel 37:10, "So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceeding great army."  

Dress for success daily by wearing every piece of your Victory Outfit!

God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000  Pamela A. Iannello Meet Ms. Pam

Other Rise and Shine Devotionals
New Beginnings Baptist Church Website