-Tell me about a time you did something without the proper equipment and ended up regretting it.
-Let’s be honest, we all know better and yet we both made the decision to do what we did. Why would we do that?
-Why do people do things without the proper equipment?
-Here’s the reality, all of us try to do as little as possible to get the results that we want. What we learn along the way is that there is a right way and a wrong way, a hard way and an easy way, a painful way and a pain free way of winning. Having the right tool and knowing how to use it helps us to avoid wasting time, hurting ourselves and actually accomplish the task at hand. It helps us Win.
A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth….. —Ephesians 6:10-14
-What do you think this passage is about?
-What do you know about the belt of truth?
It allowed them the maneuver. They would pull their robes up into the belt so they could run and move freely.
It provided a place to hold the sword.
The breastplate would attach to it so that it would not flop around and leave them exposed.
Without the belt of truth, the rest of the armor was less effective.
-Why is truth like this belt?
Our enemy is a liar. We defeat ourselves by believing lies, being unbelted to truth!
Something doesn’t need to be true to negatively affect you, it just has to be believed.
You are told that you have cancer.
You are told that your spouse is cheating on you.
You are told that your company is going to lay you off.
You don’t have to be physically told anything, you could just believe the little internal whispers about yourself or your situation and it can affect everything from that moment forward.
Without knowing the girding yourself, anchoring yourself to truth, you are already on the path to losing a battle that needs not be lost!
-What are the lies that you have or currently are believing?
You aren’t good enough
Your situation is impossible
There is no hope
Nobody loves you
You are alone
You cannot be forgiven
God only loves me when I’m good
I need
I am going to fail