Girding Your Loins with Truth

Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH.
Ephesians 6:14a, NASB

Truth.  What is truth?  Isn't that one of the questions of the day?  Remember at the beginning of this series when I mentioned the tactics that the devil uses.  He is the father of lies.  Is it any wonder that one of his methods is to try to muddle the truth- to get us to question whether or not God really said something.  In contrast, Jesus said the He is the Truth.  I am once again reminded how important it is to know and study the book God has given us.  We need to be lovers of truth.  We need to know that truth so well that Satan is not able to trick us with his lies.

So what does it mean to gird up our loins with truth?  Other translations refer to this as the belt of truth, but in my research I have come to prefer the image of girding our loins.  I was fascinated to learn that this was something that was done before engaging in anything strenuous and physical, such as going into battle.  The photo I found is actually of a woman who has "girt her loins" as an aide in doing her labor.  Can you imagine trying to carry that load and manage a long skirt about your ankles.  By girding her loins she has her hands free to carry even more, rather than needing them to deal with her skirts as she walks. 

This girding up of your loins was more than simply tucking the long fabric of your robe into a belt.  The fabric of the knee length tunic was pulled up in front until it reached your upper thigh and collecting the extra material in the front-so that the back of your tunic was snug against your backside.  Next, you would tuck the extra material in front between your legs and gather it behind you.  Then you divide the material evenly on each side of your back and wrap each side around your waist, tying it together in the front.  Now you were ready for battle with your robes tucked neatly out of the way.  Girding you loins has come to mean "to get yourself ready for battle," and now it makes sense to me.

It is the Truth that will keep us from stumbling as we engage in this spiritual battle.  Before we can do anything else we have to make sure we have prepared ourselves, we have girded our loins.  The rest of the armor won't do us much good if we are tripping and stumbling because we have not taken this very first step.

I had the honor of sitting under a pastor for many years who often reminded us that those whose work is to identify counterfeit money spend their time studying the real thing, not the counterfeit.  They have to know the real thing so well that they easily recognize the counterfeit.  I recently read an article about that whole process, and it confirmed this idea.  This idea is vital for us as we contemplate girding our loins with truth.  From the beginning Satan has been at work trying to twist the truth, sometimes with very bold, blatant lies, and at other times just ever so slightly.  Praise God, He has provided us with what we need to counter these attacks.

Blessings,
Deb

Take up the Full Armor of God

Continuing my thoughts on the Armor of God:
Ephesians 6:13

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.


We need every piece of the armor God provides.  If we are missing even one part of it we leave ourselves vulnerable.  This verse exhorts us to "take up" the armor.  Imagine what would happen if all I did was keep the armor polished but never actually put it on.  All the preparation in the world won't do me any good if I leave my armor home in the closet when I go out.  Before my feet even hit the floor in the morning I need to be aware that I am engaged in a battle and take up that which God has so graciously provided to defend myself.  When I do that, Paul tells me that I will be able to resist whatever Satan comes at me with.  When I put every piece in place I will be able to stand firm.

What does it mean to stand firm?  It means we resist, we refuse to abandon our beliefs, we refuse to budge, we oppose and defend, we withstand.  Do you see how important this armor is going to be?  Oh, the enemy is a good one for finding out our weaknesses and pounding us in those areas.  God has given us the perfect armor to be able to stand even amid these onslaughts. I can hardly wait to start taking up each piece and really looking at.

Blessings,
Deb

The Armor of God

Last night several ladies and I wrapped up our study of Ephesians.  Our final study covered the Armor of God. I would like to share with you what I got out of that section of Scripture before I leave it behind for now.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, stand firm.  Ephesians 6:10-13, NASB




We are engaged in a battle, but it is not with the people we meet on the street.  It is not with politicians, or the media, or scoffers, or judges, or whomever else we might be tempted to focus on.  Our battle is spiritual in nature and we need to do everything we can so that we can "stand firm."  We need the full armor of God.  We need every piece of that armor or we will be vulnerable to attack.  And we need to "take it up."  It won't do me any good if I leave it sitting in the closet, or at the foot of my bed, or tucked away some place collecting dust.  I have to make an effort to put it on every day.  It sounds so easy- but armor can feel a bit awkward-sometimes it even requires the assistance of another person to put it on.

What I love about Paul's exhortation here is his statement about where our strength comes from- the Lord.  Thank goodness I do not have to rely on my own strength as I face the world with God's armor in place.  I also love that I am putting on God's armor and not something that I have fashioned for myself.  Satan is a schemer and we cannot become complacent about his role in the world.  I think it is important for us to know our enemy.  And we know plenty about the ways of this evil one.  From Genesis we learn that he is more cunning than any. That he tries to get us to question and doubt God's Word.  He tries to make us believe that we can be lord and master of our own lives. (I fall for this one far too often.)  He is the accuser of the brethren (Rev. 12:10), he is a  murderer, a liar, and the father of lies (John 8:44), and he is a tempter (Matthew 4:3: 1 Thessalonians 3:5).  But God has given us the armor we need to stand firm against him no matter what he tries to throw at us.  This armor is important stuff and I think it is beneficial that we understand how each piece has been specifically designed to protect us against very specific threats.  So I hope you will join me as I delve deeper into the armor of God over several posts to come.

Blessings!
Deb