What is your battle? God has the answer.
“Put on salvation as your helmet” (Ephesians 6:17a, NKJV).
Paul uses the imagery of a helmet because it protects your mind. When you fight the good fight off faith, you put the Truth of your salvation on like a helmet to protect your thoughts. God’s Truth then continually renews your mind (Romansn12:1-2). When your mind is renewed by Truth instead of the enemy’s lies, the incorruptible seed of the Word is planted in your heart. God's Truth produces His fruit in your life. It produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. With these truths in your life, no law is needed. However, the only way to know and understand and flow in the freedom Christ has given you is by abiding in God’s Truth (1 Peter 1:23, John 15:7-8, Galatians 5:22-24).
“But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation” (I Thessalonians 5:8, NKJV).
In this verse in Thessalonians, Paul mentions a breastplate of faith and love. In Ephesians, he says it is a breastplate of righteousness. This is proper since the only way we can receive righteousness is by putting faith in the grace and love of God. When we put on faith and love, we put on our promise of salvation and all that our salvation gives us.
God has promises for your life. Be sober and vigilant. Your adversary wants to destroy you (1 Peter 5:8). Don’t allow any thought or lie or deceit or untruth to keep you from the promise of your salvation.
“Be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-23, NKJV).
When you are renewed in your mind by God’s Truth you put on the righteousness that is yours in Christ. You live out of that truth when you are convinced it is true for you. God wants you convinced your old person is gone and you are a new person born by faith in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Hence, put on your salvation by choosing to believe the Truth of God’s Word and placing trust in the righteousness He has given you (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Always be continuously renewed in your mind by His Truth. “Hear” His Truth. Don’t live by having “heard” His Truth. Keep your mind focused on what God declares is true. Guard your mind and heart with it. When you are in a battle, your emotions get out of control, and your understanding is compromised. You have to intentionally guard your mind and heart. When you have the Truth of His righteousness convincing you, you experience His peace and wisdom. Consciously and consistently review again and again in your mind who you are in Christ.
When you are in a battle to keep what Jesus has bought for you—it is a mental battle. You have to take every opportunity to take each thought captive and make them obedient to Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4, NKJV). Don’t believe that you have a weak faith because you are struggling or have problems. You will always have issues in life, but you can be of good cheer. When you trust Christ, you know and believe, that He has overcome the world (John 16:33).
The enemy will put images in your mind of death or sickness or defeat or problems or of things that have not even happened. Keep casting them down and bringing your thoughts to good images that you desire (2 Corinthians 10:5). You have to counter the assaults in your mind with the mind of Christ in you (1 Corinthians 2:16). To be carnally or emotionally minded is death, and to be spiritually minded is life and peace (Romans 8:6). You must fight against emotional images and earthly reports and things that are put in your mind that are contrary to the Word. And make your thoughts obedient to God’s Truth (1 Corinthians 10:4).
God saves, forgives, and heals. He never forsakes us. Don’t allow your thoughts and the images in your mind to create beliefs that are contrary to God’s Truth. Think on good things that are of Him. He will guard your mind when you keep your thoughts on Him (Isaiah 26:3, Philippians 4: 6-8).
Every time a battle comes, consciously and intentionally put on the promise of your salvation. Don’t allow the enemy to paint pictures in your mind. Allow the Word to paint imagery of God’s promises to you.
© 2022 Lynn Lacher
www.lynnlacher.com/2022/08/put-on-your-promise-of-salvation.html
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