Praying for Mel

In case I haven’t mentioned it enough, my wife is serving on a short terms missions trip to Romania until Sunday!  This is good for her and the kingdom…bad for me, because I miss her and I’m out of clean socks.

On my wife’s Prayer Calendar today it says “Persevere in Warfare” and the scripture is fitting, from Ephesians 6:10-20 about the armor of God, a good reminder for all of us in our daily battles of how to equip ourselves:

¹⁰Finally,^(A) be strong in the Lord and in^(B) the strength of his might. ^11(C) Put on^(D) the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against^(E) the schemes of the devil. ¹²For^(F) we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against^(G) the rulers, against the authorities, against^(H) the cosmic powers over^(I) this present darkness, against^(J) the spiritual forces of evil^(K) in the heavenly places. ¹³Therefore^(L) take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in^(M) the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹⁴Stand therefore,^(N) having fastened on the belt of truth, and^(O) having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵and,^(P) as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶In all circumstances take up^(Q) the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all^(R) the flaming darts of^(S) the evil one; ¹⁷and take^(T) the helmet of salvation, and^(U) the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ¹⁸praying^(V) at all times^(W) in the Spirit,^(X) with all prayer and supplication. To that end^(Y) keep alert with all perseverance, making^(Z) supplication for all the saints, ¹⁹and^(AA) also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth^(AB) boldly to proclaim^(AC) the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰for which I^(AD) am an ambassador^(AE) in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

• Belt of truth: truth support us, rely on it.
• Breastplate of righteousness: protect your heart, know that if you are with Christ, you are righteous before God thru Him
• Shoes for your feet:  Go Mel, Go.  Preach it!
• Shield of faith:  Our defensive weapon, our faith in Christ will protect us, don’t rely on ourselves or give in to worry
• Helmet of salvation:  keep your head – you are saved.  Rest in that. Don’t let the battle get to you
• Sword of the Spirit:  our offensive weapon. God’s perfect Word, written and recorded — the Bible.  However, we can’t use it if we don’t know it.
• Pray.  Always.  Melanie has my iPod, so I pray for her a lot…every time I look for my iPod.  🙂
• Paul starts all this by exhorting them to “Stand Firm!”

-M