Stand Firm

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. . . . 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 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. —Ephesians 6:13, 14, 16–18, NIV

I was talking with someone about “truth.” She said, “There is their truth, your truth, and the truth.” I think the word truth has become culturally confused with perspective and opinion. I believe there is one truth, but if it disagrees with our perspective or opinion, we discount the evidence and adopt false narratives as fact.

You have seen it as well. That is where lies often live—in perspective and opinion. Even facts do not get in the way of a person’s delusion. All that is necessary is to trust the wrong person promoting a false narrative. The Bible says it this way: “For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie” (2 Thessalonians 2:11, NIV).

There is truth, the Truth that sets you free, and the only way we can discern it is to pray and ask for it, to lay aside our predetermined ideas and seek with open heart and mind. We must examine the evidence for ourselves. Do not settle for taking anyone’s word on it without proof. Jesus counsels us, “Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16, NKJV). This is a spiritual and mental battle. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12, NKJV).

With so much conflicting information from authorities who claim to be experts, it can be hard to discern what is true. I know. There is confusion everywhere, but as children of God, we do not have to live there. “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. . . . But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15, NKJV).

So, let us put our armor on, pray for discernment, and stand strong in the Lord.

Ann Trout