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TODAY’S WORD…

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Grow strong in the Lord,

with the strength of His power.

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Put God’s armour on

so as to be able to resist the devil’s tactics.

For it is not against human enemies that we have to struggle,

but against the Sovereignties and the Powers who originate the darkness in this world,

the spiritual army of evil in the heavens.

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That is why you must rely on God’s armour,

or you will not be able to put up any resistance when the worst happens,

or have enough resources to hold your ground.

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– Ephesians 6:10-13 (JB)

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REFLECTION…

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St. Paul says something very important:

all of us need to be prepared

to struggle against and to conquer

evil passions, temptations, and the wiles of the devil

who Christ has already overcome,

but against whom we have to contend.

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This is a struggle which must be pursued to the end

and St. Paul, using terminology describing the armour and weapons of Roman soldiers,

tells us that we must put on the “armour of God”

– spiritual weapons, which God supplies to those who love him.

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The weapons (which St. Paul goes on to describe in verses 14-18) are

Truth, which we buckle round your waist;

Integrity as our breastplate;

Peace, thatbecomes the shoes that give us the eagerness and determination to spread theLord’s Gospel;

Faith, as our shield against the burning arrows of the evil one;

God’s Salvation which is our protective helmet;

and the Word of God – the sword which the Holy Spirit gives us.

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Finally there is Prayer, on-going prayer,

which must come from the heart,

and which is the outstanding supernatural resource

and the most powerful, all-conquering weapon the Lord gives us.

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All these are supernatural munitions,

they are from God and, therefore, a guarantee of victory.

They enable us to engage in our struggles cheerfully and confidently,

because we know that with God on our side, we shall overcome!

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THE ARMOUR OF GOD…

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"So stand your ground,

with truth buckled round your waist,

and integrity for a breastplate,

wearing for shoes on your feet the eagerness to spread the gospel of peace

and always carrying the shield of faith

so that you can use it to put out the burning arrows of the evil one.

And then you must accept salvation from God to be your helmet

and receive the word of God from the Spirit to use as a sword.

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Pray all the time, asking for what you need,

praying in the Spirit on every possible occasion."

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– St. Paul (Eph 6:14-18)

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Lord Jesus, I now put on the whole armour of God,

knowing that I am strengthened by Your grace

and that Your love will help me overcome all evil.

I love You, Jesus. Thank You, Jesus!
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