1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:13,159 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Welcome to the Crosswalk devotional. We are so 2 00:00:13,240 --> 00:00:17,160 Speaker 1: glad to have you listening. I'm Michelle Zurich. Today's topic 3 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:20,600 Speaker 1: is put on the Armor of God. We'll be back 4 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:35,560 Speaker 1: after a word from our sponsor. Put on the Armor 5 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:40,080 Speaker 1: of God, written read by Michelle s Lasuric, For our 6 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:43,400 Speaker 1: struggle is not against flesh and blood. Put against the rulers, 7 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:46,479 Speaker 1: against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, 8 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:51,080 Speaker 1: and against the spiritual forces of evil and the heavenly realms. Therefore, 9 00:00:51,240 --> 00:00:53,320 Speaker 1: put on the full armor of God, so when the 10 00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:55,960 Speaker 1: day of evil comes, we'll be able to stand your 11 00:00:56,000 --> 00:01:00,960 Speaker 1: ground and after you've done everything to stand Ephesian six, 12 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:06,160 Speaker 1: verse twelve and thirteen. Churches can have their share of problems. 13 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:08,920 Speaker 1: In twenty five years of the industry, we've seen many 14 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:12,679 Speaker 1: churches that constantly have conflict. The weekly drama can become 15 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:15,920 Speaker 1: too much for a leadership to bear. The spiritual battle 16 00:01:15,959 --> 00:01:19,080 Speaker 1: that Christians face can become the strongest in church settings. 17 00:01:20,040 --> 00:01:22,200 Speaker 1: People who think they know better about how to run 18 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:25,119 Speaker 1: a church can drive a leadership to the point of breakdown, 19 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:30,520 Speaker 1: leaving them feeling isolated and alone. In these situations, it 20 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:32,319 Speaker 1: can be easy for a leader to see that the 21 00:01:32,319 --> 00:01:35,520 Speaker 1: problem lies with the people. However, the people are not 22 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:40,520 Speaker 1: the problem. The problem is with the enemy. The enemy divides, deceives, 23 00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:43,880 Speaker 1: and as against any vision for possible success or movement 24 00:01:44,319 --> 00:01:47,920 Speaker 1: toward the Holy Spirit. The above rus reminds us that 25 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:51,280 Speaker 1: this is to be expected Christians, no matter how healthy 26 00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:54,640 Speaker 1: their church is, how a battle they must fight, their 27 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 1: battle is against the enemy. Daily, we are instructed to 28 00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:01,440 Speaker 1: put on full armor of God, which consists of the 29 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:05,559 Speaker 1: belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of peace, 30 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:09,800 Speaker 1: shield of faith, and the helmet of salvation. When we 31 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:12,640 Speaker 1: choose to arm ourselves with these elements, we are better 32 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:15,280 Speaker 1: prepared to thwart the enemy than when our minds are 33 00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:19,560 Speaker 1: cluttered with thoughts that do not align with scripture. Take 34 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:22,400 Speaker 1: a moment to analyze your life. Do you equip yourself 35 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:24,799 Speaker 1: with the full armor of God every day? Do you 36 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:27,440 Speaker 1: start your day by reading the Word, praying, and asking 37 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:29,959 Speaker 1: God to help you in every situation throughout the day. 38 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:33,280 Speaker 1: Do you shorten your devotional time so you can get 39 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:36,040 Speaker 1: done what's on your to do list, forsaking the very 40 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:37,960 Speaker 1: person who can help you get through that list in 41 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:41,120 Speaker 1: the first place. If you find you are not fully 42 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:45,680 Speaker 1: equipping yourself with God, there's hope. Start your day with 43 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 1: half an hour in the Word of God. Read a 44 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:51,440 Speaker 1: couple of chapters each day. Journal about your thoughts on 45 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:54,480 Speaker 1: the matter. Take notes of what you read, and use 46 00:02:54,560 --> 00:02:57,760 Speaker 1: commentaries to study what you read. Don't just read it 47 00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:00,400 Speaker 1: to check off your to do list, rather replied to 48 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:02,760 Speaker 1: your lives, and then no area of your life will 49 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:08,160 Speaker 1: become vulnerable to Satan's schemes. Pray without ceasing. Every time 50 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:10,239 Speaker 1: you come into a situation you don't know how to handle. 51 00:03:10,639 --> 00:03:14,000 Speaker 1: Pray to God. Ask him what he would have you 52 00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:17,480 Speaker 1: do in that situation. Help him to eliminate the situation 53 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:20,440 Speaker 1: with his eyes rather than your own. When you get 54 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:22,320 Speaker 1: in the habit of asking God how he sees the 55 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 1: situation rather than how you perceive it, it will lead 56 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:28,519 Speaker 1: you to reflect and how your perspective changes an other 57 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:32,080 Speaker 1: love and compassion you have for others. When you shift 58 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:34,560 Speaker 1: your perspective for one of selfishness to treating others as 59 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:36,960 Speaker 1: if they bear the image of God, you'll become more 60 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:40,000 Speaker 1: like Christ. Will also help you grow in your grace 61 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:43,840 Speaker 1: and mercy with everyone in your life. Then only is 62 00:03:43,840 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 1: it important to equip yourself with the armor of God 63 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:48,560 Speaker 1: every day to fight the devil's schemes. But it is 64 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:51,160 Speaker 1: also so you can withstand the devil's plan to get 65 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 1: you to move away from God. Satan is relentless and 66 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 1: want you to worship him and not God, who will 67 00:03:57,040 --> 00:04:00,520 Speaker 1: do anything to get your attention and approval. Someone who 68 00:04:00,520 --> 00:04:02,560 Speaker 1: can see ray through the devil and call him to flee. 69 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:05,360 Speaker 1: When you can do this, you can not only withstand 70 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:08,360 Speaker 1: Satan schemes, but also stand on your own two feet, 71 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:12,760 Speaker 1: blandd firmly on the word of God. Father. Let us 72 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:15,240 Speaker 1: be people who equip ourselves with the armor of God 73 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:18,080 Speaker 1: so that we can be protected from the devil. Let 74 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:21,039 Speaker 1: us enter this spiritual battle with ease. Let us be 75 00:04:21,080 --> 00:04:23,560 Speaker 1: equipped with the helen of salvation and the Word of God. 76 00:04:24,279 --> 00:04:26,680 Speaker 1: Let us fight the greatest battles on our knees so that 77 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:29,480 Speaker 1: we can be closer to You and further away from 78 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:35,039 Speaker 1: the enemy. Amen intersecting the faith in life, What is 79 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:37,520 Speaker 1: one step you can take to equip yourself with the 80 00:04:37,560 --> 00:04:40,680 Speaker 1: armor of God today? How can you make this a 81 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:50,480 Speaker 1: daily habit? Further reading James four, verse seven, The Crosswalk 82 00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 1: devotional is a production of life audio and Salem media 83 00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:57,320 Speaker 1: If you liked what you heard today, please take a 84 00:04:57,360 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 1: second to rate and review this podcast in your favorite 85 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:03,680 Speaker 1: podcast app so that more listeners like you can find 86 00:05:03,720 --> 00:05:09,159 Speaker 1: the show. For more faith filled, inspirational podcasts, visit us 87 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:18,320 Speaker 1: at lifeaudio dot com.