Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life.  

Ephesians 6:13  Message Bible

Years ago, we had a family reunion at a beach house on Galveston Island.  My nephew and niece were about 6 years old and they were standing looking out over the Gulf of Mexico with a telescope.  They were pretending to be on a ship that had encountered stormy weather and pirates.  Their dialogue went back and forth about the things they could do, and when those failed, what they could do next.  This went on for a while and they became convinced that their ship was in trouble and they were running out of solutions.  Finally, my niece turned to my nephew and said, “Do what you can, Captain.” The look on his face revealed that he wasn’t so sure he was the captain!  I can’t even count the number of times since then when I felt out of options that I have remembered those words and had to grin.

Whatever you are up against – financial pressure, physical limitations, relational problems, bad doctor’s reports, Ephesians 6: 13 tells you and tells me that we aren’t without weapons.  We have the Word of God which is an indispensable weapon, but only if we use arm ourselves with the truths we find within the covers of His book.  The Bible isn’t too effective laying on our table collecting dust.  Neither are truth and righteousness and faith if we don’t appropriate them.  If we don’t apply the truth, we are too easily led astray by the devil and his lies.  When we fail to recognize that the righteousness of Christ has been imputed to us, we will falter and hesitate to approach God for help.

When we place our faith in these weapons and the God who supplied them we are better prepared for whatever storm comes our way. Then after applying the weapons, we stand firm.  We can confidently say, like my niece said “do what you can, Captain.”  Then let God do the rest.  Won’t that day be awesome when it is all over but the shouting and we are still standing?

Lord, be the Captain of my ship.  Deliver me safely through the storm, I pray.  Thank You for the weapons You have given me – peace, righteousness, truth and prayer.  Help me to learn how to use them so that You get the glory when my ship sails to safety.  In Jesus’s name, amen.

I would love to hear from you. Please let me know if I can be praying for you as well.

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