Gird Up

(Day 2 of our 8-day study, “The Struggle”, on the armor of God)

“The devils assault us in the things that belong to our souls, and labour to deface the heavenly image in our hearts. We must resolve by God's grace, not to yield to Satan. Resist him, and he will flee. If we give way, he will get ground. If we distrust either our cause, or our Leader, or our armour, we give him advantage.” –Matthew Henry

By Katie Gibson

The first piece of armor Paul instructs us to put on is the Belt of Truth. Noncoincidentally, the belt was also the first piece of armor that Roman soldiers would put on before a battle.

Hang with me, ladies, because this next part gets interesting. Ahem.

This “belt” went not only around the waist, but came up in between a soldier’s legs to gird up his loins so he would be free to move in battle.

Eeek.

But seriously, I think we can gain a bit of new perspective on this today. After all, Paul intentionally made it a point to say, “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth…” (Ephesians 6:14, KJV).

Now, I’m not a guy, but I am certain that trying to run around and battle without being girded up, would make for a whole lot of frustration, and very little victory.

Loins are flesh, and flesh tends to get in the way.

I believe the lesson in all this is that we need to be diligent to “gird up” our flesh (human nature) with the truth of God’s Word. After all, is it not the lies of our fleshly feelings and desires that are always in the way of us moving freely in the plans God has for us, too?

Friend, the flesh lies.

Our thoughts, our feelings, our limited understanding—  they will trip and tangle us up all day long, if we let ‘em.

Oppositely, Jesus said in John 8:31, “…If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

When our mind repeats, “It’s not possible,” we can tie up that lie with the truth: “With God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).

When our heart screams, “There’s no hope!” we can know that “faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1).

If we want to be free to pursue the abundant life God has planned for us, we’ve got to get in the truth...

The Word is Truth (John 17:17)
The Spirit is Truth (John 16:13)
Jesus is Truth (John 14:6)

Every time we open the Word;
every choice we make to walk by the Spirit;
and every moment we spend in God’s presence,
we are tying up our flesh to keep us unhindered from God’s will for our lives.

Today, as Hebrews 12:1 says, “…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,” by walking in truth.

 

Takeaway:
We must tie up the lies of our flesh with the truth of God’s Word.


Memorize:
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16


Application:

1.     Pray and ask the Spirit of truth to reveal to you any lies you’ve been believing (i.e. I’ll never be free from ______; I can’t trust God with _____; I need _____ to feel fulfilled)

2.     It takes 21 days to make a habit. Make a plan and stay committed to spend time in God’s Word and presence daily, for the next 21 days. At the end of that time you will have established a healthy habit of putting on the Belt of Truth, daily!


Prayer:
Father, sometimes it’s so hard to hear your truth over the lies of my flesh. Help me to “gird up,” daily, by getting in your Word and your presence. Thank you that the truth will set me free to experience the full life you desire for me. Help me to always seek the truth, and walk in it. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

---

Subscribe to our daily devotions & gain exclusive access to a FREE kids devotion companion on the armor of God that will teach your kids how to "win against sin"!