Welcome Friends,
In my last journal, we looked the Belt of Truth
The foundation of God’s Word, rooted in His standards, not the world’s.
Now, it’s time to take the next step and put on the breastplate of righteousness.
Honestly, I didn’t know much about it so be patient as we learn together
Ephesians 6:14 “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place.”
Righteousness is a gift from God
In Romans 5:17- Righteousness is described as a “free gift” received through grace
This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.
This means God no longer sees us as sinners, but as -righteous through Christ.
While righteousness is a gift, it also calls for a response in how we live.
Proverbs 4:23- says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
We need to be mindful of what we allow to influence our minds and hearts,
such as our thoughts and our attitudes as it affects everything we do
They affect how we interact with others
They affect how we treat others
They affect how we make decisions
They affect how we view ourselves
If we’re not careful, these influences can slowly lead us away from God’s righteousness.
All followers of the Lord receive The Breastplate of Righteousness.
Just as the breastplate of a soldier protects the heart and vital organs,
God’s breastplate of righteousness guards our hearts against sin and the enemy’s accusations.
The breastplate of righteousness is exactly what is say- it is flat out, straight up, holiness
Making intentional choices and thoughtful decision.
Throughout our day, we need to be mindful of how we interact with others.
If we are not continually learning to walk in God’s righteousness,
we are risking walking in worldly righteousness.
Creating our own standards, making up our own rules, and justifying our own ways.
God never called us to be “good by the world’s standards.”
He called us to be holy, to be set apart, to walk in His truth, not our own version of it.
Even if we suffer for doing what is right, Scripture reminds us we are blessed.
1 Peter 3:14 “But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats.”
Through my journey of seeking a deeper relationship with the Lord, one of the hardest truths
I’ve had to face, struck me right at the core of my heart,
The image of Jesus on the cross.
Beaten, tortured, with nails driven through His hands and feet, He endured it all out of love.
And yet, for the first 41 years of my life, I lived as if I didn’t truly care.
If I had cared the way I should have, my life would not have had long periods of stagnation.
Yes, there were moments of growth and glimpses of maturity,
My heart aches that knowing these periods where I remained unchanged not only caused pain in my life
but pain in the lives of others as well.
Without growing up in maturity, I didn’t know how to handle difficult situations so I use the
world’s standards to guide me…. strife, anger, bitterness, gossip, complaining
This realization breaks my heart.
I pray that I never again reach a place where I am not growing
where one day looks the same as the last, where weeks and months pass without spiritual growth.
Without continual growth, my focus shifts away from Christ and back onto myself
and before I know it, I start slipping backward
Jesus didn’t die so we could stay the same.
He didn’t endure the pain and suffering on the cross so we could be lukewarm Christians
with self-satisfied lives.
He calls us to surrender everything
not just with our words, but with our hearts, our choices, our very way of living.
A call to wholehearted commitment to Christ—no fence-sitting, no half-hearted faith.
Revelation 3:15-16
“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!
So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”
The armor is not automatic.
This is why Paul instructs believers to-“Put On” The Armor of God.
Just as a soldier wouldn’t last long in battle without his armor,
we too are spiritually vulnerable to temptation and deception if we don’t put on the Armor of God daily.
Without it, we’re exposed and unprotected in the face of the enemy.
James 1:22 says:“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
Hearing the Word of God is not enough. We must also put it into action with our daily choices.
When God shows us an area in our lives that needs change, we should respond with obedience and let Him work within us
When we say no to God, it opens up a little crack in our armor where satan’s attacks can get through,
We should focus on building a reputation that is honorable and pleasing to the Lord.
As we make more righteous choices, we are shaping a lifestyle that reflects a pure heart.
These Godly decisions will then serve as a shield, protecting us better from temptation and deception.
It starts with the belt of truth and a desire to grow and mature.
It begins with opening the Bible, immersing ourselves in God’s Word
and making it the foundation of our lives.
True righteousness is something we intentionally put on daily
walking in His ways, growing in His likeness, and never ever settling for stagnation
“Righteousness left at the foot of the cross is righteousness never worn.”
My prayer today is for all of us to start making intentional choices,
keeping in mind the brutal torture Jesus endured for us.
Let’s not forget His sacrifice and, in return, show our true gratitude to Him through our actions.
This should encourage us all to walk in humility
coming soon part 3- Feet fitted with the of the gospel of peace
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
