How am I supposed to help others when I have been knocked down and I'm hurting too? I don't want to get up yet. I don't want to fight right now, I just want to cry. The war is still all around me and I can feel it, hear it, see it raging...But I am in shock. My body has gone numb, yet the world keeps spinning. I find myself staring a lot and shaking my head a lot. I keep saying, "No, no, no, this cannot be." I tried to move to the front line to fight harder for awhile and I got stabbed in the heart. I used my sword and it got knocked out of my hand. Was I not holding it tight enough? Was the blade not sharp enough? I defended my allies with my shield and it got stomped on. We were ALL wearing our body armor, and we were ALL wearing our belts...And tightly. I sit here in the mud and my helmet is protecting me from the rain. My helmet never fell off or that would have been the death of me. But I rather sit here and be cold for awhile. I'd rather watch you fight for awhile because I'm confused why my sword didn't penetrate the enemy first before it got knocked out of my hands. I'm wounded and I need to heal. I hope that when I am bandaged I can get back up and my shield won't be too bent to do what it is intended to do. I need somebody to fix it. I need my sword sharpened, but right now I just want to mourn over the loss. The pain cuts too deep today. I am knocked down, but I am not out forever.
Ephesians 6:10-18 NLT
A final word: Be strong with the Lord's mighty power. Put on ALL of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. For we are not fighting against people made of the flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.
Use EVERY piece of God's armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will 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.
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