... having prepared everything to take your stand and resist evil

... having prepared everything to take your stand and resist evil

Ephesians 6:10-18 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil. For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. In every situation take the shield of faith, and with it you will be able to extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God's word. With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and stay alert in this, with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.


APPLICATION:
This is a good reminder. That like most things we need to prepare.
I think this along with Colossians 3 is a timely reminder to be prepared to take a strong stand against evil  to keep myself pure before God and to be transformed by Him in this world, in this day, in this moment.   But it take intention and preparation.  (Col 3 - putting off and putting on - see my post on "it matters what we wear") 

I say it again the armor of God takes intention.  And  I love how this starts... by being "strengthened by God and God's vast strength", because I/we have come to find out we simply are not strong enough to handle tough times (or even good times) successfully by ourselves (at least not for very long), we soon find out that our strength is finite and not enough.  Perhaps that is my blessing that I am so very aware of how little and weak I am.  The problem I have is that I want to be strong... you know it want it to be MY strength ... but what I need to do is allow God's strength to be present in me in my weakness.  (Rom 8:26-39, 2 Cor 12:9-10, Isa 40:29-31).

I am about to change out of my sleep clothes into my work clothes.  As I do this I choose to "strip off the old unregenerate self with its evil practices,"  (though the tense is in congruent I will let the scripture finish my thought) ...  "And have clothed yourselves with the new spiritual self, which is ever in the process of being renewed and remolded into fuller and more perfect knowledge upon knowledge after the image (the likeness) of Him Who created it.  ...  Clothe yourselves therefore, as God's own chosen ones (His own picked representatives), who are purified and holy and well-beloved by God Himself, by putting on behavior marked by] tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, and patience which is tireless and long-suffering, and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper.  Be gentle and forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has freely forgiven you, so must you also forgive.  And above all these put on love and enfold yourselves with the bond of perfectness which binds everything together completely in ideal harmony.  And let the peace (soul harmony) which comes from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state to which as members of Christ's one body you were also called to live. And be thankful (appreciative), giving praise to God always.  Let the word spoken Christ have its home in your hearts and minds and dwell in you in all its richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom in spiritual things, and as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with His grace in your hearts.  And whatever you do no matter what it is in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus and in dependence upon His Person, giving praise to God the Father through Him." (Col 3:9b-10, Col 3:12-17 AMP)



the Word of God is so full of power and hope
it is my prayer that all this doesn't fall out of the front of my mind by noon
it will indeed have to be the power and strength of God 
because my spirit is willing but my flesh is weak

pressing on