Fear. Discouragement. Anxiety. Depression. Worthlessness. Unwanted. Unloved. Defeat.

Have you ever experienced such feelings as these? Experienced a pain that utterly plagues and swallows you to a point of lifelessness?  Such anguish that covers your entire countenance to the point of spiritual death?

Spiritual death can only happen through the loss of a battle.  A battle of success for one, but of surrender for the other.  Success is achieved by the soldier who was fully armed, prepared, well-trained, and had no doubt. For the soldier who despairingly surrenders, there is often a measure of unpreparedness: going to battle without his sword, armor, shield, and an untrained mind tormented by the thought of losing.

Evaluate who you are in Christ and make sure that you have clothed yourself with each element of God’s armor.

Examine your spiritual battles from the past: What did the ending conclude? Were you victorious or defeated? Or maybe at times with different seasons and trials we have experienced both results.  Of course, we all plan, aim, and strive to be victorious through God.  We all hope and pray to climb to the top of the mountain and shout with the voice of triumph. And yes, it most certainty can be done. But first, we must know that it can only become reality to the ones who face their spiritual battle with preparation and fearlessness.

A couple weeks ago, as I was trying to hustle and bustle my way to school, I got in my car and turned on a sermon. It is always nice to fill your car with encouraging songs or sermons while driving from point A to point B.  The sermon, “Dressing for Spiritual Success,” is a powerful, uplifting message by Sis. Claudette Walker. The sermon centers around a relevant matter that we tend to forget, that of our daily walk with the Lord. She stressed how vital it is that we should pray on the armor of God everyday, and that by doing so, it prepares us to stand firm against the evil schemes that Satan has designed to continually throw our way.

You and I know very well that the U.S. military troops would never go out on the battlefield without their weapons and necessary, protective gear. That would be absurd!  If they did so, we would probably panic and say, “Have they completely forgotten who they are?!” They would surely die without those defense mechanisms. Those soldiers have been thoroughly equipped and are ready to use their weapons at any given moment for an attack; furthermore, why do they enlist and fight? We know the answer: for freedom.  So why not enlist in Gods army and face the devil and all his imps to fight for our own spiritual and eternal life?

Give no place to the devil. Put off the old man in favor of the new transformation…The devil knows if we use our weapons with faith and God before us that he has no chance, and he will tremble and flee.

Ladies, we are soldiers fighting in the battlefield every day. As Sis. Walker so wonderfully stated, “We must dress for spiritaul success and pray on our armor.” Praying on our armor daily is preparation for fighting spiritual warfare. If we don’t, we will be vulnerable to Satan’s attacks.  So what does dressing for spiritual success look like? Let’s just say it isn’t quite like a Dainty Jewell’s dress full of layered lace or pretty pattens. Additionally, it isn’t actually physically putting on an armor but spiritually praying it on. Remember, this isn’t a physical fight but a spiritual one.  The Bible says that we must put on the WHOLE armor of God which is the Helmet of Salvation, the Breastplate of Righteousness, Loins Girt about in Truth, Feet Shod with the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace, a Shield of Faith, and the Sword of the Spirit.  This is what depicts the image of being geared in the armor of God.

Once we have prayed on and spiritually dressed in armor, then we pick up our weapons to fight the good fight of faith.  Most of us already know what the weapons are.  To those who do not know what kind of spiritual weapons I am referring to, let me share. You see, God never intends for us to fail.  In fact, the devil knows if we use our weapons with faith and God before us that he has no chance, and he will tremble and flee.  There are seven weapons of our warfare.  These mighty weapons are the following: 1) Praise, 2) the Word of God, 3) the Blood of Jesus, 4) Prayer, 5) the Power of your testimony, 6) the Holy Spirit, 7) and the Name of Jesus.

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds” (2 Corinthians 10:3-4).

Now that you know your armor and weapons, use them.

Don’t just simply have the knowledge of what it is, but overcome by applying it fully in your spiritual everyday walk. Choose not to let your armor rust, but frighten the Devil with your polished armor. How incredible is it to know that you are the most undefeated soldier on earth being led by the ALL POWERFUL God. Really, you are if you you choose to be. After all, it is a choice.

At this very moment, stop and think of your current spiritual/physical/ or mental battle. Now, close your eyes and visualize overcoming this battle through all the elements God has given you. It is good to visualize situations to convey and motivate more effectively. Just by speaking His name to your storm or pleading the blood of Jesus over your mind is a leap of faith towards victory. Just because you haven’t seen that victory yet does’t mean we should fold our arms and pout. Refuse to be intimidated. Give no place to the devil. Put off the old man in favor of the new transformation.

My parents and grandparents have repeatedly told me that “You can’t keep a bird from flying over your head, but you can keep it from building a nest in your head.” In the same sense, you can’t keep the devil from fighting you, but you can stop him from defeating you. Will your weapons and armor be tangible or spiritual? Will your life story be one of triumph or tragedy?

I hope that you all can gain from this “Dressing for Spiritual Success” and become a valiant soldier in Gods army. As you take that last peak of your outfit in the mirror before you dash out the door, take a deeper look to check for your amor.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12).