28th July 2025
Stand firm
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 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 spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 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…
Ephesians 6:10-14 (NIV)
I didn’t stand firm when I pulled on that broken tree branch, and it finally gave way; I promptly lost my footing and tumbled to the ground with it. It could have been quite embarrassing, but no one was around to see. Yet, though I did laugh at myself, I was glad to get the job done and win the battle against that branch.
In Ephesians 6 we read about the need to put on the full armour of God and to stand firm against our enemies, but the first thing we are told to do is to be strong as it says in verse 10. When I first think about this statement, I feel as if I need to power up my strength, as I did against that tree branch, but that is not what this verse says. The verse says I need to be strong in the Lord. So how do I do that? It is not asking me to be strong by my own power, but to rely on the strength of God. On my own I am quite weak, but with the Lord behind me giving me strength, I now have the ability to stand.
How do I stand and what do I stand for? Why do I need to stand? I have been built to stand physically, and I need to stand spiritually against the tricks and attacks of the enemy who would like to see all of God’s children fall. Adam and Eve relied on their own strength to do this, and we are living in the result. We need God by our side in this battle, brandishing his sword, covering us with his shield, granting us his wisdom and power. When we as God’s children gather together in the power of God’s strength we are able to stand against the enemy. I stand firm to protect myself, and I stand firm to protect my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
We also need to be strong because of who we are. We are God’s children, and we represent the one we belong to. I represent my family, my town, and my country, but most of all my God. I want to bring honour to his name because he is deserving of this honour. I stand firm for his sake as well as my own. I do not need to take up my sword in order to do this, that is his job. I do need to be all that he has made me to be, and he helps me with this. As I trust him, as I speak of his name and glory, as I represent him to the best of my ability, I stand firm in his strength and power. I do not even have to say words, but just to stand my ground in faith, and the fact that I still stand under the weight of this world, will encourage others to trust Jesus as well.
Prayer
Mighty and loving God, we wish to stand firm in your might and power. Clothe us God with your armour that we may represent you as we should against the tricks of the evil one and become a beacon of hope to those around us, to point them to you and your love. In the name of Jesus, we pray! Amen.
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Study by: Anne Gillam About the author: |
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