Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
John 17:17 (NKJV)
Series: Standing Strong
When I think of starting a new year, one of the first words that comes to mind is “strength.” I tell myself I am going to need a lot to move forward into this next year. Why? Because sometimes I get stuck reprimanding myself for all the missed opportunities and unmet goals of last year. How can I set new goals, change habits, take adventures, or have new experiences in the coming months with so much left undone?
Focusing on the lack of completion might lead us to be hesitant to pray or even ask God what He wants to do in or through our lives. Where will we find the passion, ability, and strength to accomplish what He may have purposed for us? Do you think about His plan for you? Or do you ask yourself, “How will His plan fit into my plans?” As backwards as that may sound, we all might be a little guilty of this, especially as we open our calendars and begin recording upcoming obligations, before seeking His guidance. In Proverbs 16:9 we read:
A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.
We must seek the Lord before we make our plan or, as Maryann shared last week, we will find ourselves on “thin ice.” Over-scheduled lives fall prey to unfortunate situations. Sometimes, these hard things happen because we make bad choices, and other times we may try—and even believe—we are choosing well, but we get misled by the facts, or the truth, in the matter. With so many options before us needing attention, the master illusionist can gain ground, and soon our focus is warped, and we are worn out. That deceiver’s name is Satan, and he has a plan of his own for you.
This enemy of ours offers a false impression of reality. He tries to woo us by convincing us that God does not mean exactly what He says. But God, is His perfect holiness, has provided us with the power and the equipment to overcome these obstacles and tear down those lies. It is only when we take part, by using the equipment, that we can stand strong against the attacks. This year, let us strengthen our core by knowing what God says and holding fast to that firm foundation of truth.
Paul teaches us about the full Armor of God in Ephesians 6:13-18. We need this armor to withstand the evil that comes at us, and to help us stand firm. Today we will discover the first piece of armor mentioned in verse 14a, the Belt of Truth:
Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth,
In scripture, the belt of truth is also regarded as “girding your loins.” If you were a Roman soldier heading into battle, it would have been important to be sure the belt of your uniform was tightly attached. The soldier would not have been able to run or fight well without it being secured. Similarly, when we walk out into the world, we must fasten the truth of God’s Word around us to stay grounded and ready to fight deception. We must visualize ourselves “girded in truth,” or choosing a lifestyle that upholds, encourages, and affirms God’s standard as the standard for our life. His truth is our truth. We cannot uphold God’s truth if we don’t know His Word. We cannot get partly dressed for battle and have any chance of winning.
Of course, this raises the question: what is truth? For a follower of Jesus, truth is God’s opinion on every matter. We enter every battle, every discussion, every situation, understanding that our measuring stick is God’s Word. That is the simplest way I can describe it. Priscilla Shirer, in her Bible study, Armor of God, writes that Truth is your core support.
It is written in Psalm 119:160 (NKJV):
The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.
In John 14:6 (NKJV) Jesus claims this:
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
When we put on the Belt of Truth, we put on Jesus. We claim to agree, to follow, to obey, to love Jesus. How incredibly powerful is this statement? Take that Satan. Your schemes cannot measure up to Christ. He holds every victory.
We must strengthen our core—our truth—in order to stand tall and resist injury. If we do not spend time reading, studying, soaking in God’s Word, our strength will fail when put to the test. We will fall prey to slight discrepancies, mediocre living, allowing the world more access to us than Jesus gets. No matter how strong we think we are, or how much we think we know, there will always be an attack ready when we falter. Are you ready for a truth checkup today?
Stay encouraged! God’s Word is unchanging, and every time you open your Bible He speaks His unfailing Truth to you. Turn the pages, one at a time. Hear His voice. Know His Word. Start your new calendar off with space for Him and buckle up!
Holding Fast to Hope,
Jen
Scripture References: John 17:17, 14:6; Proverbs 16:9; Ephesians 6:13-18; Psalm 119:160