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I‘m pulled in so many different directions every day – most of us are. Work demands, the kids, being a wife, making sure we are there for our friends, eating well and staying in shape can sometimes feel unmanageable. Add to this, the pressure that social media places on our lives. As we observe everyone else living perfect, filtered and stress-free lives, I sometimes want to crawl in bed and pull the covers over my head. Yet, I’ve learned there’s a much deeper truth behind each photo I view. Behind the filters, make-up and perfect pose – lies a story. A story like mine, filled with vulnerabilities we all desperately try to hide, even if we don’t realize it. I’ve learned to resist the urge to check social media and put myself on a disciplined schedule, only engaging it a few times per day. I’ve learned that when I start to feel a sense of anxiety and stress – that’s when I need to lean into what God says about me. Instead of listening to the lies in my head, telling me I’ll never be good enough or measure up to everyone else, I turn my focus to Jesus.

 

Let’s face it, no matter how hard we work at being perfect in all that we do, we will make mistakes. We will lose our temper with our kids, forget our friend’s birthday and burn the meal we spent hours in the kitchen making. I know I have. But the key is, don’t wallow in your mistakes and failures. Don’t stay down when you fall. Get up each day and try again and again and again. Keep moving!

In order to keep our body, soul and spirit connected with God, we must have the protection of His armor. Only then are we able to step into His calling upon our lives, grounded in and protected by our Father who deeply loves us. This armor is found in the Book of Ephesians. Let this text sink into your soul and visualize yourself as these words reveal His protection over your life:

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. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests (Ephesians 6:13-18).

Take up the full armor of God and stand firm in His truth. His love casts out all the schemes of the enemy – all fear, worry, anxiety and doubt, and refocuses us back to Him…back to love. Every day, equip yourselves with these pieces of armor:

 

Belt of truth

Breastplate of righteousness

Feet fitted in the Gospel

Shield of faith

Helmet of salvation

Sword of the Spirit (word of God)

Prayer

 

Remember this: You are loved, made in God’s image, forgiven, destined, a daughter of the King, made for a heavenly purpose and absolutely beautiful. Any other voices telling you otherwise are all lies. Of course, this doesn’t mean we get to sit around, not taking care of ourselves, pursuing goals and listening to the call God has placed on our lives. But, we can rest in the peace that God loves us and is with us through it all. As we take up God’s armor, our fears, doubts and worries are washed away, leaving us standing strong and ready to step into the destiny God created us for.