Welcome Friends,
Is has been a week of “mind-blowing” learning and lesson for me
How about you?
One of the best ways to mature in our faith is by sharing with one another.
Let’s keep learning and growing together, encouraging each other in our walk with God!
Most of us have seen or heard of the classic 1971 movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Charlie finds a golden ticket to visit the chocolate factory and can take one person with him.
Charlie chooses his Grandpa Joe to join him on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
Grandpa Joe, who had been bedridden for 20 years, suddenly springs to life. He throws off his covers,
stands up and starts singing — “I’ve Got a Golden Ticket!”
It’s as if that small piece of paper gave him a renewed purpose, shaking off decades of weakness in an instant.
This scene makes me think about my own Christian journey.
When I accepted Jesus as my Savior 43 years ago, I received my own “Golden Ticket”
Eternal Life In Heaven and I was now a Child of God
But like Grandpa Joe, I too was bedridden- spiritually bedridden
Not really knowing what to do now with the life God had entrusted me with
Ephesians 6:10-18
Paul is under house arrest and writes a letter to the Ephesians.
He reminds them that their real battle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces
We have a powerful enemy-
He wants to deceive us, divide us and ultimately destroy us.
His purpose is to cast everyone into eternal separation from God, where we will be cut off from His presence forever.
but when we put our trust in Christ, he cannot do that.
So, his 2nd plan is to keep us from being useful to the Lord and even cause destruction within the Christian faith.
We are not left helpless though and there is a way for us to be victorious
1 John 4:4 says-” You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them,
because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”
John is reminding believers that, while Satan may have influence in the world,
God’s Spirit within us is far greater than Satan or any worldly influence
As Christians, God has equipped us with everything we need to face each day
God doesn’t send us into the world unprepared
Ephesians 6:11 says-“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the
devil’s schemes”
While Paul was under house arrest, guarded by a Roman soldier around the clock,
he uses the imagery from the soldier’s armor to illustrate the Armor of God.
1. belt of truth
2. breastplate of righteousness
3. shoes of the gospel of peace,
4. shield of faith
5. helmet of salvation
6. sword of the spirit
all 6 pieces are necessary
No part of our life can be unprotected or exposed
We are told to put on the whole armor of God not just which everyone we want
Any piece that we refuse, will leave us unguarded in some vulnerable place and prey to the enemy
This was all new to me
I had never learned about the Armor of God, let alone, how to put it on or even how to use it.
It took me 41 years to feel like Grandpa Joe, springing out of bed with joy in my heart,
singing “I’ve Got a Golden Ticket!”
All along, I had the power to stand firm against satan and his deceitful schemes.
I’m no longer bound to the bed, letting him overtake areas of my life.
I am learning how to stand in victory, learning how to refuse to submit to him
Ephesians 6:14:-“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist…”
The Belt of Truth
This was more than just a leather belt
it also included an apron-like piece to protect the Roman soldier’s loins, one of the most vulnerable and sensitive areas in battle.
Without this extra protection, a soldier could be wounded in a way that would leave him defenseless.
In the same way, God’s truth-His word protects the most vulnerable parts of us
— our hearts, minds, and identity — from the enemy’s lies and deception.
Without understanding God’s word, we’re like soldiers without armor,
lost and easily overpowered by Satan’s deceptive schemes.
The more we know about God’s word-
the easier it becomes to recognize and turn away from the enemy’s lies and deceptions.
The Belt of Truth is the first piece of armor that we put on every morning before we get out of bed.
This is the foundation of a believer’s strength—God’s truth—which holds everything together
To wear it, we must be grounded in His Word—reading it, studying it, and knowing it deeply.
What did Jesus do when satan tempted Him in the wilderness?
Jesus responded, “It is written,” and quoted verses from Deuteronomy, using the truth of God’s Word to counter every attack. Matthew 4:4-10
Through the power of the word of God, we can all be victorious in our Christian life
When a Roman soldier was awarded a medal, he would pin it to the belt around his waist.
I too, have my golden ticket pinned to my belt
I’m a child of God and proud to be one of His warriors.
Instead of asking, “What would Jesus do?” I now turn to the Holy Spirit and ask, “What should I do?”
Are you ready to buckle up and walk in truth today?
As I close, my prayer for each of you is-
Colossians 3:16
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another
in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
Coming soon-part 2- The Breastplate of Righteousness
I invite you to join me on this journey
Let’s allow God to transform our hearts.
True change starts from within, and when He changes us, we can better impact the world around us
https://echosofmyfootsteps.com
