Why Your Outfit Matters

Hi Everyone, it has been a minute since I have written anything, but I just needed to today. I was in my morning reading and studying through Priscilla Shirer’s He Speaks to Me Bible study and came across this section about the shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16) and the explanation of the Romans soldier’s shield:

“Heavy and cumbersome, the shields caused them discomfort but often proved necessary to save their lives. Like those shields, faith in Christ can cause discomfort. In a world that does not believe in the validity of God or His Word, faith will often demand difficult choices.”

The question listed after that was, “How does our faith function like the Roman soldier’s shield?”To which I wrote in my study book: it protects, absorbs things intended to kill me, it saves and gives the perspective to me and those around me that I am a WARRIOR.

So the topic to think about on this first of November has to do with that saying, “Dress for the job you want…” Are you tired of getting beat down by the same issues over and over? Are you tired of feeling powerless in the recurring themes of your life? Are you tired of the battle inside your head with the thoughts that you are just not enough or you are too much? Are you tired of feeling and thinking and living like things will never change? Are you tired? I’ll answer for myself… YES!

I have been dealing with a recurring theme in my life and went to bed with heaviness in my heart, the kind that makes you tired in a whole different way. So when I sat down this morning with coffee in hand and read this part of the study, it struck me. I wasn’t dressing for the job I want. I wasn’t dressing like the victorious woman of God, I am. I wasn’t dressing like the woman who was saved by a King thirteen years ago. I wasn’t dressing like I have a Wonderful Counselor who gives me all the wisdom I will ever want or need. I wasn’t dressing like I know that I have the victory because Jesus loves me. And I certainly wasn’t dressing like the woman that God created in His image.

I’ll tell you what outfit I had on….doubt, insecurities, fear and a sense that my old self had creeped in to say, “Remember me, the girl you were?”

I wish we could sit down together so I could tell you why this contrast is so very real to me, the old Sonia up until the age of 35 versus the born-again Sonia from 35 on, but I will say this to you today: God gives us the perfect outfit to put on each and every day to ensure our safety and our ability to be in this fight called life so I pray I don’t miss that. I pray you don’t miss it.

Happy November, friends. Time to put on those outfits, hand picked and crafted by the One who loves us most and best. With all my heart, Sonia

The Armor of God

Ephesians 6:10-19

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. ¹⁹ Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel

Mile 18

“You’re in the middle of a run when things start to fall apart. Your legs feel like concrete, your breathing grows labored, your strides turn into a shuffle. Negative thoughts flood your mind, and the urge to quit becomes overwhelming. Unfortunately, if you run long enough, you’re bound to experience this some day.” – Runner’s World article by Nancy Averett WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2011 

I did a race walking marathon in 1998 in Anchorage, Alaska for the Mayor’s Run during the summer solstice. It is one of the accomplishments that still shocks me that I did. One of the things that seasoned marathoners kept talking about was “The Wall”. It’s that point in the marathon when you feel like what was explained above. I trained for about nine months and when I got to about mile 18 this was when I hit my wall. Thankfully at this point in the course there were so many people with signs cheering us on. One sign cracked me up. It said, “I LOVE SWEATY WOMEN!” I needed a good laugh right about then because I was going to start crying. The cheering was like a shot in the arm. I did finish the race and when I crossed the finish line and heard the announcer call out my name I cried like a baby. I’d made it even though mile 18 threatened this victory.

Last night I was talking with someone who was at their own mile 18…fatigue, discouragement and the doubts were in full effect. I was the one holding the sign and cheering them on. I know today it is for them and one day it will be for me too. We all have our “mile 18 days”, and we need each other to hold up those signs and remind each other that, “WE LOVE SWEATY PEOPLE!” LOL!

We are in the race of our lives, my friend, so let’s be there to cheer each other on and to my sweet Mile 18’er out there facing the day, I love you. God’s got you!

Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

³¹ but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

 

With all my heart,

Sonia