SCRIPTURE READING
Eph 6:10-13 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put
on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the
devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the
authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual
forces of evil in the heavenly places. 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.
We are fighting a war and the stakes are higher than they have ever been in human history.
Our enemy? Not flesh and blood, no human foe—we fight against a much more fearsome
opponent whose forces are described in verse 12. Our adversary, Satan the devil, and
his host of demons have a single, driving purpose: obliterate the children of God. Faced
with the cares of this world we can easily forget about the severity of this battle. But make
no mistake our spiritual lives and futures in God’s Kingdom are on the line. If we lose this
war, we lose everything. What can we do in the face of such overwhelming odds? Is there
any hope? Paul has the answer in verse 13, as he gives the call to arms. By putting on
all of God’s armour we can be assured of withstanding our enemy’s onslaughts. In verse
10, Paul exhorts believers to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. The
strength is not our own but is God’s strength. Paul is telling believers that they can be
strengthened not only by the person of the Lord but also by His resources.
PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Ask the Lord to reveal further to you what it means to be strong in the Lord. Where does
your strength come from? Where should it come from?
2. Ask the Lord to show you how and where you have been depending on your own
strength instead of relying on His. Ask Him to show you a specific situation. After
confessing this as sin, ask Him what steps you need to take in order to be depending on
Him and His resources instead of yourself.
3. Thank God for the strength that we can have in Him! Ask Him to grow your reliance
upon this strength.
