Put Them To Use!

"And that about wraps it up.  God is strong, and he wants you strong.  So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials.  And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way.  This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours.  This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels."

Ephesians 6:10-12 MSG

God has given us all we need to fight our daily battles.  Every day it is our choice to fight like we mean it, or keep struggling and suffering because we refuse to fight using God's tools.  Satan's attacks will not stop until we are secure in heaven.  He will always fight us with his lies and manipulations to get us to fall, fail, or cause someone else to stumble.  That is why God has given us everything we need in advance.  He has set out the tools we will need and it's our responsibility to use them.  God can certainly fight for us, but we have a responsibility to defend ourselves in certain situations.  This defense doesn't come in the form of physical weapons, like the world would suggest, no, God has given us something more powerful.  He gives us His truth which is strong enough to defeat satan's lies.  He gives us righteousness that protects our hearts, and peace that surpasses anything the world can offer.  Our faith is used to see things through God's perspective and not get discouraged when things don't go our way.  Salvation is ours and keeps us from doubting our future and that God can and will save us in His perfect timing and plan.  And one of my favorites......God's Word, which has been laid out for us to use in every situation to help guide us through problems and give us words to fight back with and stand on.  

Friends, we are in this for the long haul, and it's time we use His tools to protect our families and friends and ourselves.  God has gone before us and knows the struggles we will run into.  God has prepared a way for us by leaving behind some very important armor that we are to put on and wear boldly and confidently in His Name.