Ephesians 6:17 “Take the helmet of salvation . . . ”
Tonight, I watched my nine-year old niece, Rachel, play softball. She plays first base for the Pink Panthers, and she is quite the athlete. Although she is the smallest girl on the team, she is a formidable opponent. Each time she went up to bat, she wore a helmet that was nearly as big as she is. She hit that ball every time, and made it to base without being tagged out. She even hit a couple of doubles! Although her helmet was heavy and awkward, it provided the necessary protection for her head, and kept her from being seriously injured by a wayward ball.
A Roman soldier wore a helmet made of brass. It was one of his most important pieces of equipment, for an injury to the head would prevent him from fighting well, and would quite possibly end his life. In the same way, we Christians must wear our helmets. We must guard our minds, and protect them from being injured by Satan’s weapons.
Satan uses many tactics to attack our minds. He plants seeds of doubt. He causes us to be confused. He deceives us, he tries to divide our loyalties, and he discourages us. He knows that if he can get to our minds, he can win our hearts. Therefore, we must wear our helmets of salvation, and guard our minds.
We receive our helmets when we make the decision to follow Christ. It is a decision that involves both our hearts and our minds. We give Christ our hearts, but we must also change our minds by repenting of our sins, by turning from our former ways of life and following Him. We must continue to guard our minds by studying God’s Word, and growing in our knowledge of God. When we fill our minds with the things of God, we thicken our helmets, so to speak. We prevent Satan’s arrows of deception and doubt and division from breaking through.
When we forget to wear our helmets, or we fail to keep them in top condition, we put ourselves in great danger. Satan will bombard from every angle – television, radio, billboards, magazines, even our peers – and will try to divide our minds. But James 1:8 tell us a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. And an unstable warrior is a weak warrior. So by all means, keep those helmets on, keep them strong, and keep your minds protected!
Dear Father, Thank You for the helmet of salvation. Please help me to guard my mind by filling it with Your Word and Your ways.
Amen
Dear Renae,
good word again.
Rather than hiding behind the cross I’ll try to wear His Helmet of Salvation wherever I have to go.
I am after all no hiding type, neither do I find camouflage outfit suitable.
About a year ago, when I started writing with Terry, I told my daughter, “I’m feeling insecure about just how I fit in with these people (would they accept me, even if I’m not all like them?).
She went out without a word and placed a coca cola cork beside my pc. Inside was written; “Show them who you are.”
That has since been my motto when writing blogs. So far I have connected best with active Christian women of all ages. I like that.
Yours Felisol
Halelujah! Many Christians say they love Jesus with all their hearts. I believe we need to love Him with all our minds, too.
Thanks,
Jean
My Conversations With God at http://www.jeanmatthewhall.blogspot.com
This is a perfect post for those, like myself, who suffer from not keeping their minds on the prize. I read a book that changed my way of thinking a few years ago. It still applies quite well to Catholics (of which, you know I am), because the author is evengelical (or non denominational). The books is Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer. But, your readers won’t need the book, because your posts are sufficient! Still, Satan attacks my mind – what I think. I’ll be going along nice and smoothly, not on my GUARD – and he interjects an ugly thought of some sort (temptation to linger on such things or to do something impulsively that isn’t good for the budget). Simple, innocent enough looking/sounding things . . . So, friends, BE ON GUARD.
Love this post! Keep ’em coming, R. You are a woman after God’s own heart and you are blessing your readers. Well, I think I can speak for them, too. 🙂
Dear Felisol, I am so glad we have connected through the blogosphere! No, you don’t need to hide. You just need to stand firm, wearing your armor. The next post is my favorite piece – the sword, so stay tuned! 🙂
Jean, you are right! Our minds need to be 100% committed to Christ. Satan attacks our minds more than anything, I think.
And Sarah, I know exactly what you mean. It is a struggle to control those wayward thoughts. That’s why we need to fill our minds with God’s thoughts, so there won’t be room for the others!
Thanks to all of you for your encouragement! Blessings, dear friends!
–r
Amen! The helmet of salvation sure represents the knowledge we have of His word in our minds, protecting and allowing us to exercise wisdom and understanding in accordance to the word of God.
Can’t wait to read on your next post Renae!
Excellent post again, Renae (and yesterday’s, too)! I am finding these so helpful right now. Yes, we are definitely in a battle, and recognizing it for what it is seems to be half of it.
In some ways, I feel like Felisol. My situations are probably quite different from yours, Felisol, but my stomach is tense because of the growing tensions around me, and I hate confrontation and meetings. They make me weak and make my voice shaky. How can we fight the enemy when we are fighting each other? It has really been helping me to focus on the different parts of the armor, the purpose of each, and what happens when we don’t have it on properly.
Daniel, I can’t wait, either! The sword is my favorite . . . 🙂
And Jeanette, I am so sorry you are going through such a tense time. Keep your armor on. Right now, the battle seems like it will never end. But this too, shall pass. I am praying with you that Satan comes out the loser, and that all involved come out feeling like winners.
–r
This series is really great, Renae. Satan surely does go after our minds so we need to wear that helmet all the time.
Thanks, Lillie. You’re right, the helmet is so, so important.