Happy Good Friday everyone are you ready for another Faith talk Friday?
I can honestly say I wasn’t sure about my faith this past week. I kept expecting to feel better without doing the work. I guess it can kind of be like thinking you are going to gain six pack abs without doing sit-ups or the proper exercises! I know it is the same thing when it comes to how I start my day. The choice to be in God’s word or the choice to not be in God’s word that is the question I face every day.
I know I am not the only mom when I say there are not enough hours in the day! I believe how I start each day is critical to how the rest of my day is going to be. For instance, I recently had the craziest day and now when I look back I laugh because if I had put on my armor that day it would not have been so hectic or overwhelming. This is where I find myself when I don’t spend time with Him. I love this scripture that speaks directly to this..found in the book of Ephesians. “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” –Ephesians 6:11
I have been studying Ephesians in my weekly women’s bible study and this is how I have learned to break down what this means. I have also been using the Blue letter bible app for a few months now and it really takes all the guesswork out of how to use a concordance. I read and study out of the New American Standard version, but I also love to read other versions like the NIV translation.
Put on the full armor– Renew your mind and your thinking. If I just wake up and hit my daily chores etc. without ever acknowledging my time spent in the word or with God I am left with a tank half full on the verge of empty. Colossians 3:10 says, And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him” and Ephesians 6:13 says, “Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” So that crazy day I recently had I would have been able to stand firm instead I was annoyed and impatient over silly things like just running into Target to pick up something at Customer Service (no shopping required) to have their fire alarm go off! I was like are you kidding me don’t they know I don’t have time for this let alone a fire drill! Instead of wow there might actually be a fire or worse someone could actually be hurt. I was only thinking about my circumstance and no one else. My two girls were with me too and I think I realized it best when my girls kept trying to ask me questions like, “mom is there a fire”? I lacked patience, concern, and grace in that moment and over what? A five-minute inconvenience.
Schemes of the devil- I know my Target example is probably on the minor scale and I know you mamas can relate, but I know this is how it starts these are the schemes of the devil. This is the part of me that needs to be renewed daily. I am so grateful that this didn’t go further because you know how once you are in a bad way it can be like a ripple effect. I could have easily attacked my husband over something trivial or even something my girls did later that evening. I’m really grateful I became aware during that fire drill of where I was truly at. I think that fire drill was exactly what I needed like your morning alarm telling you, “wake up, wake up”!
Can you relate? Do you have these fire drill moments? I am so grateful because I know it is God knocking on my heart. Below I have linked a few resources that I find super handy during my devotions.
A great way to study scripture more deeply: https://www.blueletterbible.org/
Simple prayer from Proverbs 31 ministries (I keep a copy in my bedroom dresser drawer): A Mother’s prayer
Happy Easter He has Risen!
