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Spiritual Fitness: Equipping Yourself with the Armor of God for Life’s Battles

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In this journey we call life, we face numerous challenges that test our strength, resilience, and character. Just as physical exercise keeps our bodies fit and healthy, spiritual fitness is essential to navigate the complexities of life. This article explores the concept of spiritual fitness, particularly the symbolism of donning the Armor of God, and highlights how a strong relationship with Jesus can provide focus, strength, and guidance in our daily battles.

Spiritual fitness goes beyond organized religion and delves into nurturing the inner self and our relationship with Christ Jesus. It involves developing a deep connection with something greater than ourselves. Spiritual fitness empowers individuals to find meaning, purpose, and inner peace amidst life’s challenges. We must make this a daily, active pursuit in order to train ourselves to be in the best spiritual shape of our lives.

The Armor of God, as mentioned in the Bible (Ephesians 6:10-18), symbolizes the spiritual protection and readiness required for life’s battles. Each piece of the armor represents a crucial aspect of spiritual fitness:

a. Belt of Truth: Embrace truth, honesty, and integrity as guiding principles in your life. Tighten your belt as a reminder that even when no one is watching, your integrity must remain steadfast.


b. Breastplate of Righteousness: Cultivate a moral and virtuous character to guard your heart against negativity and temptations. This is one of the most vital areas as if left unprotected, you can suffer a mortal wound,


c. Shoes of Peace: Walk in peace and harmony, spreading love and understanding of the Gospel of Jesus wherever you go.


d. Shield of Faith: Develop unwavering faith in God’s presence, providence, and guidance. Protect yourself from the slings and arrows of the enemy.


e. Helmet of Salvation: Protect your mind with the assurance of salvation and eternal life through Jesus Christ. Another incredibly vital area to protect from the world and keep yourself focused on Jesus.


f. Sword of the Spirit: Equip yourself with the Word of God, studying and internalizing its teachings for guidance and strength. This piece is for offense as the Spirit and the Word of God will drive back your foes.


g. Prayer: Maintain a constant and fervent connection with God through prayer, seeking His guidance and surrendering your worries. Through prayer you are maintaining your armor as well as asking God to place your armor on you DAILY. What good is armor if you don’t wear it? Prayer, in this case, is vitally important to your fitness as it equips you for battle.

A strong relationship with Jesus Christ plays a pivotal role in spiritual fitness and staying focused on your life’s path. Here’s how it can help:

a. Jesus provides a guiding light, illuminating your path and helping you make wise decisions. By following His example and teachings, you will be able to keep yourself on the narrow path,


b. When facing life’s battles, Jesus offers unwavering support, comfort, and strength to overcome challenges. If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31). Let His Spirit indwell you and rejuvenate you. The Lord will fight your battles and give you strength to endure.


c. Jesus embodies virtues such as compassion, forgiveness, and selflessness. By emulating His character, you can navigate life with grace and righteousness. Living a life like Christ will inspire others to walk in His path alongside you, thus advancing the Kingdom of the Lord.


d. Through a relationship with Jesus, you can experience profound peace, knowing that you are unconditionally loved and accepted. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27).


e. Jesus reveals your unique purpose in life, enabling you to serve others and make a positive impact in the world. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6). Let Jesus gude you to your purpose and helo you to fulfill that purpose.

Spiritual fitness is a transformative journey that equips individuals for life’s battles. By donning the Armor of God and cultivating a strong relationship with Jesus, you can find the strength, focus, and guidance needed to overcome challenges and stay on your path. Nurturing your spiritual well-being not only benefits you but also positively influences those around you, creating a ripple effect of love, compassion, and purpose in the world. May you embrace spiritual fitness and experience the profound blessings it brings to your life.

Be sure to check out “Spiritual Fitness” – Episode 3 of the 3 Pillars Podcast here: https://youtu.be/7okyBROjpl4

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To My Daughter

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My dearest daughter, my eldest child,

You are such a beautiful force in this world. People literally light up when they see your face and your smile. Remember that the Holy Spirit works through you and helps you fulfill the Lord’s purpose within you. This is why you are so special. Never lose that Spirit and your light will always shine.

There will be times when you’ll find the light will dim. You will be tired, you will face failure, and you’ll want to give up. Do not be afraid, my daughter, for our LORD God in Heaven will always be with you. And so will I.

You are a force to be reckoned with, my child. You WILL do great things on this Earth. For now, be happy and content to live your life, to play in the green grass, to explore the world around you, and to be filled full of wonder at all of God’s creation.

My advice to you: Live your life to the fullest. Laugh at things you find funny. Love those around you dearly.

I am proud to be your Father. I will love and protect you always.

Love,

Dad

Daddy Loves You
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Hedges of Protection

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What keeps you and your family safe? Your house? Your guns? Your fitness or fighting ability? How about your faith?

When we are instructed by Paul in Ephesians 6 to “Put on the Full Armor of God”, this is not a task to be taken lightly. This act is not just something you do occasionally or once in a while, but EVERY SINGLE DAY as the enemy is constantly seeking for a weakness in your armor. A gap in your battle line. Your Achilles’ heel. The Armor of God protects us individually and like the Spartan Phalanx, we can interlock shields with our brothers and sisters in the faith to form an impenetrable wall of FAITH that the Devil and his cohorts cannot break through. Always remember that the Armor of God must always be maintained, and for it to work properly it MUST BE PUT ON. This is our individual hedge of protection.

As a corporate entity, the Children of God, the Body of Christ, are spread across all nations. Israel and Judah during the Divided Monarchy found themselves in quite tumultuous times. Having a King who did good in the eyes of the Lord placed a hedge of protection around the people. My Sunday School teacher (rest her soul) always used the metaphor of a dome or a bowl being placed over the Kingdom while a good king was head of state. This dome represented God’s hedge of protection from the evils of the world. When a bad king came in and led the people astray, the dome or bowl would be lifted and invaders or trouble would come rushing in. The prophets would be lifted up and would give warnings to the Kings and to the people to turn back to the Lord, but ultimately we know what happened to the 12 Tribes of Israel. The 10 Northern Tribes (The Kingdom of Israel) would be lost and scattered by the Assyrian Captivity, and the Kingdom of Judah (Southern two tribes) would ultimately be led into exile by the Babylonians (see chart below).

While it was a time of great apostasy and turmoil, it is highly resonable to consider that there were some people in the land who were righteous and true to the Lord, but still suffered through this strife. Their indiviual armor and small hedges of protection for their families would keep them afloat and keep them focused on the LORD. Their FAITH would earn them a seat with the Father in Heaven even though their mortal bodies be battered, beaten, and broken.

What’s the point of having arms and armament if it’s not to be put to use? No weapon formed against you shall prosper, but that does not mean they won’t be formed or used against you. Trust in the Lord, Our God. Trust in the Armor that He has provided you. Lock shields with your family, your brothers and sisters in Christ, and with Jesus, Himself, and together, we will emerge through the tumult as VICTORS!

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Requirements

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8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Micah 6:8 King James Version

Father God, Lord of Mercy, be with your children as we prepare for Lent. Help us to focus on YOU and understand you on a deeper level through our prayers, fasting, and study. Open our eyes, open our hearts, and open our minds as we grow closer to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

What does the Lord require of us daily? Our reading in Micah lays this out quite clearly. First, we are required to do justly. Justly is an adverb defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as “in a way that most people consider to be morally fair and reasonable.” As the Lord requires, we must follow His Commandments and apply them to others just as we expect them to apply them to us. Live a life that is above reproach and allow the Lord to work through us.

Second, we are required to love mercy. As with living a just life, we must also have mercy. Our LORD God is a merciful god as He loves us even when we are most undeserving. HIS mercy for us if far beyond our mortal comprehension. However, if we strive to have mercy in our lives upon people in our lives who have been dealt a bad hand or have wronged us in a way that we are able to forgive, then we can follow the example set by God.

Finally, we are required to walk humbly with the Lord. To be humble is not a sign of weakness. Quite the contrary. It is a sign of great strength to be able to swallow your pride, give glory to the Lord, and give thanks to Him for the talents bestowed upon you. Let your ACTIONS speak much louder than your words, and do not perform acts for accolade or praise. Let the Lord work through you daily and accept His blessings as you allow Him to bless others through your work.

Joshua 1:9 reads, “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” As we prepare for Lent, brothers and sisters, do what is required of you, and do it with great courage. This is what is required.

God Bless you all!