For
Your Heart
DON'T
JUST KNOW IT...LIVE IT
MAIN SCRIPTURE: "Use every piece
of God's armor to resist the enemy in the
time of evil, so that after the battle you
will still be standing firm. Stand your
ground, putting on the sturdy belt of
truth and the body armor of God's
righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace
that comes from the Good News, so that you
will be fully prepared. In every battle
you will need faith as your shield to stop
the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan.
Put on salvation as your helmet, and take
the sword of the Spirit, which is the word
of God. Pray at all times and on every
occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Stay alert and be persistent in your
prayers for all Christians
everywhere." (Ephesians 6:13-18, NLT)
OTHER SCRIPTURES: Matthew 7:24-27;
Romans 5:1- 5; Romans 10:14-17; Ephesians
2:14; 2 Timothy 2:22; James 1:22-25; 1
Peter 3:8-12
WHAT JESUS MIGHT SAY TO YOU: I hear
your thoughts when you sit in class at
school and ask yourself, "What does
this have to do with the real world?"
Facts trapped in your head that don't
affect your everyday life do you little
good. The same is true of my Word and me.
Rather than allow your knowledge of me to
stay in your head, let it penetrate your
heart and flow throughout your body. Your
faith in me does you no good unless it
affects your everyday life. My heart
breaks when I see you facing battles
against Satan that knock you off your
feet. You need the firm footing that comes
from putting your faith into practice. In
the same way you put on a pair of shoes,
put on the peace that comes from the good
news so that you will be prepared for any
situation. My good news becomes peace to
you when you know deep inside that it's
true. And you know it's true when it has
become real in your life. What does this
mean for you? It means allowing me to
become real in you. Let me live in you.
Let me live through you. I am your peace.
I am the good news. I am the real world.
Talk about my love, but love the people I
place in your life, too--even those you
may view as unlovable. Believe in my power
but also believe that I have the power to
change your seemingly unchangeable
situation. Be thankful for the patience I
show you but also show patience to people
who get on your nerves. When you
experience the peace that comes from
knowing that the good news is true, you
not only prepare yourself to withstand any
attack, but you also put on...me. Your
Peace, Jesus
SUMMARY CHALLENGE: Put your faith into
practice so that when you face an
overwhelming spiritual battle, you're
standing on the solid ground that comes
from knowing deep inside that the good
news is true.
