Stand Firm

 Prayer - Lord God, help us to stand firm…to put on our armor and be prepared to face suffering and spiritual attacks. Only with Your help we can do it. It is good to have a relationship  with You—and to stand firm in Your love  

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the 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 addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. Ephesians 6:10-18

Put on God’s armor so that you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. 
Belt of truth 
Body of armor 
Shoes of peace 
Shield of faith 
Helmet of salvation 
Sword of the Spirit – The Word of God 
Has there been any time that is without evil? Certainly not today. Evil is all around us. Take care that it is not within you! Put on God’s armor so that you will be able to resist the enemy.

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are. 1 Peter 5:8-9

There is the admonition again…Stand firm.

But the LORD's plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken. Psalm 33:11

Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13

It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us…. 2 Corinthians 1:21

This final verse above gives us the understanding and provides hope that it is GOD who enables us to stand firm. What does it mean to stand firm? To begin with we can’t do it on our own—but God can and does help us…enables us. He gives us the strength and courage to stand our ground. To stand firm—to be decisive, not to waver in our decisions, to resist temptation and satan’s attacks on our character…and even on choices, what we think, say and do. Stand firm. Stand up for the Lord—do things His way. We know the difference between right and wrong…love the Lord by following His way, His commands. If we are unsure, there is a great book—the Bible—that can guide us and teach us. Prayer is essential. Develop a relationship with the Lord and keep in touch with Him and with other Christians daily. Encourage others to stand firm, too. Reread the verses from 1 Peter 5:8-9. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are. And worse. Everyone has suffered due to the COVID-19 situation, but there are some Christians who are suffering a persecution much worse that most of us can even imagine. Stand firm. Pray for them.

Verses of Salvation ~ The LORD is my light and my salvation—so why should I be? The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident. The one thing I ask of the LORD—the thing I seek most—is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, delighting in the LORD's perfections and meditating in his Temple. Psalm 27:1-4

Memory verse of the week ~ Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13. 

© 2022 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. 

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