Stand-Up-Straight

"Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength.  Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.  For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.  Stand, therefore, with the truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace.  In every situation 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.  Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints."  Ephesians 6:10-18 CSB (emphasis mine)

We have talked about the sword (here) and the shield (here).  This morning, instead of another breakdown of another part of the armor, the key words that keep coming to me this morning is "STAND WITH THE TRUTH".  

You know as well as I do that there is so much false social media thrown at us-- to keep us twisted up in our thinking.  Enough to make us bitter, broken, and backbiters of one another--it's nauseating.  Often I have to guard how much "news" I let in--because it's so heart-rending -it keeps my mind in a mess. 

Where's the truth?  And WHAT is the truth?

The TRUTH is the WORD.  And it's the unshakeable, infallible --and unchanging Word of God.  It will stand forever.  We can grab on to the Word and stand with it.  That's all that will hold our hearts and minds in place and in peace.

Paul has already told us in verse 13 to get it together and put it on--but before he goes into details--he's telling us one key factor of wearing the armor and being able to resist the devil--is our stance.   Stand.  All the elements of the armor are most effective in the way we wear them--in our stance.  

He says "stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest..." (emphasis mine).   I pictured in my mind my skinny 21 year old grandson.  Size 28 waist and still they are loose.  A belt is needed.  

Standing with the truth--in my mind--is like having on a very secure belt--with which every other article of clothing depends on it to keep it all together.

Standing in such a way with the truth is not sloppy.  It's standing up straight--no hunching over.  

Raise your hand if your mama ever said to you, "Stand up straight, hold your shoulders back".  I can promise you, I heard it regularly.  

If you watch old westerns like we do (almost every night), the good guys always sit up straight and tall in their saddle.  (Granted, there are some bad guys in these westerns who also sit up straight.).   But if you ever see a cowboy slumping in his saddle--he is either injured--badly, or he has absolutely no confidence. None.  Zippo. Nada.  If I saw one slouching I would naturally think he was lazy--or depressed.   Cowboys just generally sit up straight.  Like they know what they are doing and where they are going...even if they don't.  

Often, our posture says a lot about our confidence in who we are and/or what we are doing.  Paul was reminding us how to--STAND.  Stand in such a way that you are immovable.  To stand firm means--you have dug your heels in and are not budging--GOD IS WITH YOU.

I know for a fact that when I have worn spiked heels outside--the heels sink into the ground.  I can't count the times I've walked outside with high heels on and walked right out of one of my shoes because the heel stuck in the ground and it wasn't tight enough to stay on my foot.  He is talking about a firmness in our stance that is not swayed by the things going on around us.

I remember growing up, we had Wednesday night testimony service in our home church.  As each person stood up to share- in so doing it seems--they were making a declaration of God's faithfulness in something during the past few days.  They were sharing their experiences of God's faithfulness in order to encourage someone else in whatever they may be going through--to stand--and God will stand with you.  He never leaves our side.

Our family has been walking through some tough terrain--much like yours, I imagine.  And it might seem impossible to maintain a strong stance in some cases --especially to others who may be onlookers at some of the situations.  But God went to the extreme to give us something to "stand ON"--promising that He would always be standing WITH us.  His Word--His Son is our promise.  Sometimes it takes a difficult intervention in someone's life who is in a dangerous situation; or for you, it may feel like you are walking solo.

Whatever you may be going through--whatever you may be up against--know this:  As you hold on to God--wearing every single piece of the armor--you will not fall.  Stand firm.  He is with you.

Now, as my mother says, stand up straight.  Walk like you know it.

© Angie Knight 2023.  Copyright protected.  All rights reserved.  

 God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 1 Peter 4:10 NLT