The Armor of God

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. – Ephesians 6:13

At no time in history have we needed the full armor of God more. The fiery darts of the wicked one are coming from all directions. But we are not without protection.

Gird your waist with truth. Who can we believe anymore? There was a time when journalism could be trusted. Yes, the press has always slanted the news, but these days the finest magazines and articles are riddled with unsubstantiated facts written by well-respected journalists. How are we to tell the truth in all the mumbo-jumbo? Consider the source. Trust the testimony of two or three witnesses. Perhaps most of all, use the discernment of the Holy Spirit Who resides within.

Put on the breastplate of righteousness. None of us are righteous without Christ. Repentance is essential. Daily. Repentance is a process, not a one-time thing. And we must not forget to support those who fight for righteousness. Don’t let our fellow-laborers stand alone. In our politically correct world, I fear we are too silent.

Shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Yes, be prepared to spread the gospel. This is our foundation and daily Bible study is necessary.

Take the shield of faith with you. Those fiery darts are incoming more often. Our faith is tested as never before. Good is called bad and bad is called good. How can we withstand the arguments without our shield before us?

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit. The word of God affirms our salvation, and that sword cuts deep—into the marrow. We live in a culture that doesn’t want to hear the truth and will flock to those who tell them lies to affirm their evil ways. If we proclaim the Word boldly, as we should, we won’t survive without that helmet on our heads and the sword in hand.

I pray that each of us will put on the full armor of God and fight the good fight, counting it a blessing to be on the winning side.

I used Ephesians 6:12 as the Scripture reference for my historical romantic suspense, Pursued, since it's about an idealistic librarian and a troubled rancher who fight wickedness in high places, and not always wearing their armor. 

Carianne Barlow never expected to leave her comfortable Philadelphia townhouse and travel to the wild-west, but when she inherits a fortune, conditions are attached. She must carry out her grandmother’s vision of a western culture center anchored by a library to rival those of the east. Such an undertaking requires political support, and no one is more influential than Rhyan Cason, a handsome cattle baron with the reputation of hardened businessman and rabble rousing lobbyist. Carianne gets on the westbound train with no thought of the treacherous world awaiting her in the little prairie town near Rhyan’s sprawling ranch.

When Rhyan asks her to catalog his library, Carianne jumps at the chance without considering the ramifications. She learns too late Rhyan is pursued by a sinister enemy determined to destroy everything he cares for—including her.

Be sure to check the Weekly Windup to see if you're a winner!

Building Spiritual Strength

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” Matthew 7:24-27

We all watched in horror fourteen years ago when the twin towers fell in New York City as a result of a terrorist attack. Prior to the collapse, the buildings were considered some of the strongest in the world with their reinforced steel beams, solid bedrock foundation, and hundreds of tons of concrete to construct them.

According to Skyscraper.org, Faced with the difficulties of building to unprecedented heights, the engineers employed an innovative structural model: a rigid "hollow tube" of closely spaced steel columns with floor trusses extended across to a central core.

Despite their strength, each tower fell in a rubble due to the weakening of the steel columns by the intense heat of the fire.

As horrifying as that was to watch, the Bible warns of another kind of building collapse. One of our souls. In Ephesians 6:10-18, the Apostle Paul talks about putting “on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”  We do that with regular prayer and Bible study. How regular? Paul admonished us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). That means prayer is an integral part of a Christian’s life.

Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30). You have to be all in or the attacks by the enemy will find the chinks in your armor. The collapse is often subtle at first, like the Casting Crowns song Slow Fade says, “People never crumble in a day.” The opposite is also true. Spiritual strength isn’t built in a day. There’s no way to counter the blind-side attack when it comes, if our armor isn’t in place. Regular Bible study, prayer, and encouragement of Christian friends keep us battle ready.

Paul experienced challenges far worse than those we face as Christians, yet he remained solid in his beliefs that Christ was his bedrock, his sturdy foundation to withstand the strongest storms, attacks, or devastation that life could assault him with.

I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 2 Corinthians 11:23b-27 

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39 

What tremendous reassurance during the difficult trials we often face!

The new World Trade Center is touted as a one-of-a-kind construction with many more safety measures and reinforcement, one of which is its specially designed high-strength concrete. Learn more about the challenge of designing the new towers and building facts by clicking the embedded links.

Do you have a life verse that gives you strength during tough times? I’d love for you to share it.

Laura Hodges Poole blogs regularly at  "A Word of Encouragement." Her devotional, "While I'm Waiting," is available on Amazon.com. She recently participated in the serial "Path to Love," written by fourteen different award-winning, best-selling, and indie authors. It’s available FREE on Amazon.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Laura_Poole

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/#!/LauraHodgesPoole

https://plus.google.com/+LauraPoole#

https://www.pinterest.com/lhpoole/

“Lower Manhattan” image courtesy of James Barker/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.  

“Bible” image courtesy of Janaka Dharmasena/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.  

“Armour” image courtesy of Salvatore Vuono/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.   

Author Interview: JA Marx

I had the chance to chat with my friend, JA Marx, over the weekend, so kick back and enjoy the show!

J.A.: Jennifer, you just happen to be one of my favorite people—and we haven’t even met in person, YET. Thanks for inviting me for a chat. *pours tea into cup*

Jennifer: You define yourself as an “Embattled Spirit” author. *sips latte* What does that mean and what kind of fiction comes out of that?

J.A.: I have to give a double answer. First, it’s my own term for spiritual warfare, which, sadly, people tune out the second it’s spoken.

And second, Embattled Spirit represents the believer who is fervently seeking first God’s Kingdom and eager to be equipped for warfare. I’ll let pastor/author Bill Johnson sum it up:

“God is changing the way Christians think about the so-called impossible. He is teaching us to work hand-in-hand w/the Kingdom so the reality of heaven comes crashing into earthly problems and overwhelms them… A return to the authentic.”

Jennifer: Love that quote from Bill Johnson. I think we all need more Heaven in the midst of our earthly problems. 

I just met Frank Peretti at the last ACFW conference and I’m a huge fan of his stuff. I read your first book and while you have a style all your own, I couldn’t help but think of Peretti’s first couple books as I read. Lots of spiritual battles interlaced throughout the story. Destiny Defied released in April, 2013. Can you tell us a little bit about the story?

J.A.: Yes, but you must know I am extremely jealous of you because Peretti is the author who not only inspired me to write, but he was the pioneer of my genre. *living vicariously through Jennifer…*

Destiny Defied in less than 50 words:

18-year-old Riki will choose death over returning to captivity unless she finds a power truly great enough to overthrow Darkness. Lord Vétis will stop at nothing to reclaim her. The underground will never allow Riki to live out her dreams of a normal life . . . something she has never known.

Jennifer: It's intense - but playful too. Can you tell us anything about books 2 and 3 of The Destiny Series?

J.A.:  Book 2, Destiny Delivered, will let the reader experience the bulk of Riki’s healing from her past (sex trafficking and occult influence). And book 3, Destiny Defended, will follow her journey in discovering who she truly is in Christ and her future calling, which is to pursue the underground that put her in bondage and bring the truth where no other human would dare to tread. (Fulfilling the “future calling” takes place in books 4 thru 9. Yes, I’m an ambitious author.)

Jennifer: Okay, 9 books? Wow! *takes BIG gulp of latte* Tell me, why did you choose to write a series? Is the series really one long story, or are there three separate stories to follow? What are some of the challenges to writing a series as opposed to a stand alone title?

J.A.: Great question, Jennifer. A series can be a challenge because you have to keep the characters consistent while giving them a transitional character arc. Also, by the time you get to the 3^rd or 4^th book, you might think, Uh oh, I should’ve set that scenario up back in book 1.

For me, Riki’s story just kept coming and coming, and I actually had to find logical stopping points, which created six of the nine books.

Jennifer: I'm so impressed with people who can write the sweeping epic stories. I can't wait for the rest of this series. 

Now let's have some fun. Name three of your favorite books of all time (because of course, you can’t pick just one).

J.A.: Oh, that’s easy. Tosca Lee’s Demon, A Memoir because of the spiritual depth and truth that Tosca so vividly illustrates. The Hunger Games (trilogy), which is so well written that it sucked me in so deeply that I emerged totally disoriented to the real world (I hope to write like S. Collins when I grow up).

I guess that’s 4 books, so I’ll stop.

Jennifer: If you could have dinner with a literary character “come to life,” who would it be?

J.A.: I don’t know. They’re all fake to me. LOL. But seriously, I think more than doing dinner with one, I’d like to sit invisibly in the Narnia setting and observe all the Chronicles of Narnia play out before me.

Okay…I might have to go snuggle Aslan once, or twice.

Jennifer: Oh, Narnia would be amazing! Great choice. We just quoted Mr. Tumnus last night at the dinner table. "He's not a tame lion . . ."

Thanks so much for joining us today. For readers who are new to J.A. Marx, check out the links below:

Destiny Defied is available for purchase on Amazon:  http://amzn.to/15CpreH. If you want to learn more about J.A. Marx, you can find her online at http://online.jamarx.net or https://www.facebook.com/embattledspirit

Have you read any "Embattled Spirit" fiction lately? What's your favorite?