Maintain Your Armor Daily

Swim Through Life Protected

My friend sent me this picture of his “Nemo” fish swimming near his anemone.  My first impression without knowing anything about the fish or the anemone was to think of the armor of God.  In researching this week I found out the most interesting things about little “Nemo” and his anemone.

Check Your Relationships

This fish is a clown anemone fish. They are bright orange as you can see.  The three distinct white bands are balanced on their body and hedged in with thin black lines.  I could not help but think about true followers of Jesus.  If you follow Jesus you shine brightly in your surroundings.  You are balanced like the three white stripes in communion with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Your relationship with the triune Godhead keeps you hedged in and safe from worldly temptation.

Be In The World But Not Of It

The anemone looks like a soft, billowy plant but is in fact a predator that kills and eats other fish.  It reminded me of the world which can appear harmless yet swiftly offer situations that are most toxic.  The clown fish has a layer of mucous that acts as a protection against the anemone poison.  Little “Nemo” is immune to the deadly venom.  They actually have a symbiotic relationship which allows the clown fish to swim safely among the anemone.  Think of the blood of Jesus that covers you as a believer and protects you from the poison of the world around you.  If you choose to follow Jesus and His ways you are protected from worldly toxicity.  You are able to be effective for Him in the world but not be of it.

In praying for His followers, Jesus says:  “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”  (John 17:16)

Live The Gospel

One of the actions of the clown fish is to preen the anemone and remove parasites.  As a believer you go through life praying for and leading others to the Lord to be cleaned up and relieved of the parasitic issues that may be plaguing them.  You may do this simply by letting the light of the Lord shine forth in your life as you go from day to day.  You represent the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. You live in the world but are not poisoned by the world.

Jesus says:  “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”  (Matthew 5:16)

Do Not Leave Home Without Your Armor

The clown fish is active and defends its territory.  As a believer your call is to bring the Gospel of Jesus to the world around you.  You are active in your circle.  As a believer you defend the territory of your family, community, and country.  You realize that you are not in battle against people but rather enemies in the spirit realm.

To effectively defend your territory you must put on the whole armor of God daily.  Read Ephesians 6:10-17 to get the armor deep into your spirit and clothed around you.  It does not matter if you have read it 1,000 times or if this is the first, read it slowly and let it sink in for the armor of God is what keeps you suited for battle especially when you pray.  You would not enter a battlefield in the natural without appropriate gear.  Nor should you enter any spiritual battle without armor and the appropriate weapon.

The only offensive weapon in the armor of God is the sword which is the Word of God.  The latest statistic I heard is that one in five read the Bible regularly.  Sixty one percent of those surveyed wish they read the Bible.  Seventy seven percent believe the country is losing morals.  The correlation is obvious. As we move God out the moral foundation crumbles.

As we move God out the moral foundation crumbles.  Click To Tweet 

To be a follower of Jesus you must follow Him and His ways.  That is not possible if you do not know what He said, did or charged His followers to do in His name.  Put on the whole armor of God and make sure to pick up and open up your Bible!  The truth of the Lord will only set you free if you know the truth and walk it out.  

Jesus prays for His followers:  “Sanctify them by Your truth.  Your word is truth.”  (John 17:17)

A Prayer Request

Thank you for your continued faithfulness to pray.  Please keep all who serve our country, our servicemen and women and their families in prayer for salvation and safety.  They are our frontline on the battlefield, let us be their frontline in the spirit.  Also, let us cover all who have come home wounded that they and their families will receive the kindness, help and support they need to go forward in their lives.  God bless all our diplomatic and military personnel and their families.  Please pray for all in authority over us, for the full truth to come forth concerning Benghazi, for all affected by recent devastating weather conditions and for safety in Israel.  May God richly bless the United States of America and keep her safe.  May we may arise united in this auspicious season in our country’s history.

Please Pray This Prayer With Me

Father I thank You that through Your Word we are equipped to walk out the journey You lay before us.  Thank You for establishing our way and going before us to make the way clear.  Let us not look to the left or to the right but to ever keep our focus on You and Your direction.  Let our light shine forth in the world for all to see the glory of Your Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.  Keep us ever hedged in with Your protective grace and mercy.  Thank You that You are our shield, our rear guard and our exceedingly great reward.  I thank You and I pray this in Jesus’ precious name.    Amen and amen.