Moving Forward Safely

Many of us have watched movies with men or woman dueling with swords. When God instructs us to take up the sword of the Spirit, it’s not because He wants to duel with us or make us prove anything. 

We take the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God so we can move forward into the love and care of God.  Now there’s no doubt that we need something sharp and powerful like a sword.  And that’s why God gives us His powerful words – His truth spoken with the backing of His authority. 

Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  Ephesians 6:17 

We need to commit to memory and speak out the Scriptures which best deflect the temptation, the accusation, the fear, or the doubt we are dealing with. This method of defence will give us the strength to move forward again. Jesus did this and we can read about it in the story in the Bible where he was tempted by Satan in the desert (Matthew 4 or Luke 4) And we are given this reminder so we know that what worked for Jesus, works for us.

Because he himself (Jesus) suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:18 

Perhaps that’s why this sword is paired in this verse with taking salvation as our helmet. We are no match on our own for the ugly attacks of the evil one.  These attacks often begin in our thoughts, don’t they?  When our thoughts move away from trust in God’s acceptance of us and His powerful goodness acting on our behalf, we need to remind them of the truth.

Jesus said there is no truth in the evil one no matter how appealing the thought in the moment.   Whom will we choose to believe and what will we do to silence the lies? Here is what God promises when we speak to our thoughts and allow God’s truth to change them.

So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire     and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11

Heavenly Father, we are so grateful for truth that is reliable and strong.  Help us to learn and proclaim Your words of truth from the Bible, so we defeat our opponent’s enticements which are intended to knock us down and keep us in bondage to past practices or shame and confusion. 

Jesus, You are the way, the truth, and the life and so we want to follow You and do what You did that won the victory.  Amen

So, we have a helmet on our heads to keep the attacks of the evil one out and we have a sword in our hands, the wonderful words of God.  Let’s move forward in the love and care of God today by believing and proclaiming His truth to ourselves, particularly in moments when the evil one seeks to trip us up.