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all things through Christ, breath of God, denial, denying reality, encouragement for the weary, encouraging words to get you going, head in the sand, how do i stop denial, how to stop denail, living free, living in continual victory, relying on God, relying on God's strength, stopping denial, the armor of God
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the Armor of God. You know, in Ephesians 6, where God reminds us this life is an all-out war, all of the time. I avoid dwelling on that too often and it leads to more issues than if I just admit the war and deal with it. I’m like an ostrich in the sand instead of a soldier ready for war.
Ephesians 6:10-11 says, “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.”
Yep. There it is in black and white, but I often act like an ostrich with my butt up in the air and my head in the sand instead of putting on the armor God has provided.
Peace time is much easier and that’s where I want to believe I am.
In peace time, I don’t I don’t have to wear armor. In peace time, I don’t have to live prepared. In peace time, I don’t have to think about a war.
What I’m learning though is that living like an ostrich is suffocating. I’m not designed to breathe in sand. I’m not designed to live in denial. I’m designed to fly and breathe the air in deeply. I’m really designed to soar like an eagle, not hide like an ostrich.
Isaiah 40:29-31 says, “He [God] gives strength to the weary and strengthens the powerless. Youths may faint and grow weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who trust in the LORD will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint.”
So, how do I switch from living like an ostrich to flying like an eagle?
Eph. 6:10 says that it’s about being strong in the Lord and in the power of HIS might. It’s not about my strength. It’s about His.
When I have my head in the sand, I’m focusing on the darkness surrounding me, praying no one notices me, thinking the enemy won’t think I’m worth the trouble…not being able to breathe.
When I am depending on God’s strength, He renews my energy and makes me soar…armor and all. All denial gets me is sand in my face, but depending on God’s strength gets me the pure breath of the Spirit of God.
Job 32:8 says, “But it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding.”
When I am breathing in the breath of God, I have understanding of the war I’m in, the subtle nuances that would otherwise go unnoticed of the battle around me.
When I have my head in the sand, I don’t understand anything because I can’t see clearly, or breathe deeply.
The breath of God equals understanding.
Head in the sand equals denial and, dare I say… stupidity.
The choice is mine (and yours) …
Head in the sand, or head up breathing in all God has for me today?
I’m ready to get my head up, breathe in the breath of God once again and receive the strength that not only gets me to the front lines, but wins the war.
*image by Pixabay
