CARPE DIEM and Eph 6:13-17

 

After services were over in the new church I visited, upon exiting the parking lot, I passed by a thought provoking sign. It simply said, 

“You Are Now Entering The Mission Field.”

Although I haven’t returned to that particular place of worship, I’ll never forget its final admonition.

Each day, I am like a boot camp recruit, sent off to spiritual training. My particular “mission” is to follow Godly principles in my workplace; yours may be to labor on the home front, teaching and nurturing your family. Whatever our assignment, we must be prepared for resistance to our efforts. To keep my eyes upon the goal, sometimes as I’m dressing in the morning, I recite Ephesians 6:13-17 to myself:

Eph 6:13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

Eph 6:15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

Eph 6:16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;

Eph 6:17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God

As I’m putting on each article of clothing, I reflect on Ephesians’ corresponding verse to help concretize the importance of this prayer.

When I’m through dressing, and combing my hair (helmet of salvation), then I am ready to finalize my armor: I read from my Bible and only then, am I truly ready to seize the day.

Dear Lord, you are showing me more ways of being in Your presence. Open my eyes, so I might see more opportunities to reflect on you in my busy day. Help me to be Your emissary in all that I do today. Amen.

~ by Andrea T on August 1, 2008.