The Full Armor

I was awakened early in the morning, around five thirty, praying, “Lord, thank You for Your love.” I knew then it would be a challenging day, and the Holy Spirit was preparing me. A friend called with a series of questions about events happening in their life. We often talked about the complexities and direction of our paths.

As we spoke, I shared that God has a plan for each of us.

The question was asked why I thought a particular person in their life wanted to destroy them. I thought about that and whispered a prayer to ask the Holy Spirit to guide my response. The words came to me immediately: “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:11, NIV).

I shared that it was the evil one, working through their friend. The war between good and evil rages on. I warned my friend against becoming discouraged but rather to seek the promises of God—for that is where the answers can be found.

My friend further admitted struggles with knowing who God is and how to accept His ways as a path to a better, more meaningful life.

As I searched for memories of past blessings and answered prayers, my mind felt like a roller coaster, tossed and turned every which way.

Silently, I continued to ask the Holy Spirit for calmness and stillness to clear my thought process. The inspired Word from Scripture came: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7, NIV). I admonished my friend to search for God in every facet of life, to look at current circumstances, and to complete an inventory of past experiences when grace and mercy had carried and supported them all along.

We continued to talk for more than an hour, and I hoped the conversation was as refreshing for my friend as it was for me. As our visit over the phone continued, an incident came to mind. A few years earlier, a situation had befallen me, and I was dumbfounded that it was happening to me. I recited what I had gone through and the support I received from others and shared it was that encounter that had led me to proclaim God as my personal Savior and Lord.

Debi Slack