Strap it On

Whew! What a week.  I have been taking care of my fourteen month old great niece while my niece is out of town on business.  I had forgotten what it was like to be responsible for a baby/child. 


One of the days just wore me out! [More than the rest].  I went to my sister's house to pick her up early in the morning.  I had to get her car seat, strap it in, strap her in, then head out.  I got home, removed the shoulder strap and belts when I got a call to go meet the contractor a few miles away at the other house. 

You guessed it.  I had to put her back in, strap the shoulders, strap the waist and head out.  I got there and had to remove the straps, carry her in and answer a question which lasted all of about three minutes.  He needed something I had to go get so again....straps.  I arrived at the store and unstrap,  Made my purchase and again, strap her in.  About this time I had enough.

I thought for one second "I'm not doing this again!" I'm just strapping the top.  It was way too time consuming for the many stops I had to make and all were for very short stays and I still had a few more stops.

That's when it hit me.   What if I got frustrated or tired of "putting on the full armor of God?"  What if took short cuts and said that I didn't need the helmet of salvation or the breastplate of righteousness or worse what if I left the sword of the spirit.  That's my weapon against the enemy!

Just like every buckle is important for my small niece in her car seat, every cover of my armor is important to my spiritual life.  I learned a lesson with that car seat.  I will strap on every buckle and I will put on every piece of armor....everyday I will strap it on!

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...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 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.  Ephesians 6:10-11 and 14-17