Retreat…but stand firm! (and eat some yummy bread while you do it)
Today at a woman’s retreat up at a lovely cabin in Logan Canyon we were reminded of the importance of daily Bible study in our quiet times each day. After going through, giving us ideas on what we could do for quiet times, we were given the opportunity to practice the new skills.
We studied Eph 6:10-18, most commonly known as the “Armor of God” verses.
You know, the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of the gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and sword of the Word. Here are some of my thoughts on the passage. I tend to always end up with many questions after doing these sort of things.
Like:
Pants? Shirt? Back? Arms? What about these non-protected areas of our body. Why aren’t they listed, and how should we protect them?
To put something on, we have to first take something off… Right? Are we to become “naked” before God, before we put on the armor?
To put on truth, we must first take off deceptions and lies. To put on righteousness, we must be stripped of our sinfulness and unforgiveness. To dress in peace, we must disrobe disharmony and distractions and anger. For faith, we must cast off doubt and fears. Putting on salvation, means that our bondage and being lost are gone, and to wear the Word means to stop wearing falsehoods and my limited human understanding about things in my life.
While sitting there I had this image of my toddler trying and getting dress. She’s just barely learning and never gets it correct. Pants go on her head, socks on her hands, a shirt around her foot. I have to help her get dressed, sometimes wrestling her down to the ground when she throws a fit and doesn’t want to wear what I’ve picked out. I thought that is what I really want, for God to dress me. I’m tired of messing it up. Don’t let me fumble through it anymore, with my stuff on inside out and upside down. Wrestle me to the ground if You have to, because I would rather wear the beautiful dress you have than this ripped and ugly sackcloth I’m trying to put on.
And finally my thought was, is there ever a time, when we can rest from wearing this battle gear? Can we ever take off the armor and just relax? Do we wear it waking and sleeping? Or are we always to just Stand firm on the Battlefield, and let Him fight the battle around us? Do we rust?
As I said. Lots of questions, and I probably won’t get many answered, but it’s how my mind works. I enjoyed delving into the Word and seeing some new things I hadn’t before. I hope to do it more often, and I’m sure you’ll read more about it on this blog as I do.
Tina
How do I send you the pictures to this site? Do you have an email address, also?
Deb