Daily Devotional

The morning we were leaving for my husband Gary’s archery tournament in Las Vegas I read this passage and it totally caught my attention. Gary has spent a lot of time and energy learning how to shoot and hit the target dead center. He obviously doesn’t hit it every time but when he does there is great satisfaction. One time he hit a “Robin Hood.” That’s when you hit the center of the target and then your next arrow hits the first arrow straight in the end! We have his “Robin Hood” on our wall at home in a display box that a neighbor made for him. So you can see how hitting the target can cause such a celebration. But in this passage it talks about how the “wicked” practices shooting their arrows in order to shoot at the upright in heart. Their purpose is to destroy our foundation. How do we keep that from happening? We can’t keep them from trying but we can keep them from accomplishing their purpose…
 
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—“  Ephesians 6:10-18

When we stray from putting on His armor is when we are weakest. It is the perfect time for the enemy to secretly attack. Without it we are prone to doubt and question what we know as God’s truth. And like Gary celebrates when he hits the center of his target, I can imagine the enemy is celebrating when his arrow hits and he sees our doubt. So I urge you, continue putting on the whole armor of God and thwart Satan and his hosts of wickedness from destroying your foundation! That is something to really celebrate!

New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.