I love this time of year! Families have either just finished preparing for the new school year or are doing it right now. It's similar to New Year's resolution time. Many are looking at all the possibilities of learning, growing, and transforming within this new school year.
.
I love the butterfly analogy when it comes to just about anything. It's about TRANSFORMATION!!!
.
.
This week as I think about myself as a SINNER SAVED BY GRACE, my mind immediately goes to our scripture memory for the month. Without God giving us His own armor to wear for this journey of life, there would be no protection... no victory... He doesn't have to let us wear His armor - but, He does! That's called GRACE! You and I can STAND in confidence because of that gift!
.
When speaking of GOD'S ARMOR, Ephesians 6 tells us two things to specifically do: STAND FIRM and PRAY!
.
Ephesians 6 also tells us about 6 pieces of GOD'S ARMOR to wear and use. TRANSFORMATION occurs in the wearing and the using:
- BELT OF TRUTH: Transformation from listening to the devil (who the Bible refers to as the "father of lies") to listening, trusting, and obeying "The Way, THE TRUTH, and the The Life" - Jesus Christ! Thank You, Jesus, for Your grace gift of truth! You are the great I AM... You are THE TRUTH!
- BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS: Transformation from trying to earn our salvation by "doing the right things" to understanding that our own righteousness is "filthy rags" in comparison to Jesus' righteousness. "Doing the right thing" then becomes an offering of thanksgiving to Jesus Christ for letting us wear His righteousness. Thank You, Jesus, for Your grace gift of righteousness! You are OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS!
- FEET / SHIN PROTECTORS WITH THE READINESS OF THE GOOD NEWS / GOSPEL OF PEACE: Transformation from buying into the devil's bad news, negative thinking, and argumentative ways to becoming a bearer of good news, positive thinking, and peaceful ways. And then there's that word "readiness" - always being ready to be a bearer of good news and peace. Thank You, Jesus, for Your grace gifts of good news and peace! You are THE GOSPEL and our PRINCE OF PEACE!
- SHIELD OF FAITH: Transformation from worrying, distrust, and disbelief to trusting/believing that Jesus is who He says He is and that He will do what He says He can do. Thank You, Jesus, for Your grace gift of Your own faith! You are FAITHFUL & TRUE, our STRENGTH & SHIELD.
- HELMET OF SALVATION: Transformation from eternally lost... hopeless... without a savior... to eternally found... full of hope... with The Savior... Thank You, Jesus, for Your grace gift of salvation! You are SALVATION, the SAVIOR of the world.
- SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD: Transformation from words full of lies... empty words... to a living & active word that you can stand on and trust. Thank You, Jesus, for Your grace gift of being the living & active Word of God! You are THE WORD and JUDGE.
.
Are you making the connection? When you put on the FULL ARMOR OF GOD you put on JESUS. What a grace gift!
.
Transformation starts with an acorn that is watered and given Son-shine.
.
It takes time for it to become an oak tree.
Transformation begins with a caterpillar having lots of pains and struggles to experience the metamorphis to a flying, soaring, and graceful beauty. Be patient with yourself.
.
This old life journey is a battle... it's hard... it takes time...
We already know who wins! Jesus is the KING of kings and LORD of lords... He and only He can get us through the TRANSFORMATION... He is our VICTORY!
1 comment:
I love these verses. Thanks, Patti. Also, I love your beautiful new blog layout. I really want to be a transformed mom. Thanks for taking the time to write these words for us to take to heart and learn.
Post a Comment