Among other issues, this Holiday season is a marathon of sorts. With Christmas and New Year just ahead, what do you do to prepare yourself for this time a year? Do you go on auto-pilot and fly by the seat of your pants? Or are you a planner, marking out game-plans and budgets, meals and time-management strategies?

Regardless of the approach you take to Holiday survival, we have a God that has provided a protective safeguard to keep us in-step in any given situation, even this one. It’s called the Armor of God and is found in Ephesians 6:13-18.

In scripture, the armor of God has a physical representation with a very real spiritual significance. And each piece is likened to what a soldier would need to wear in war for protection on both fronts.

The Holiday season is certainly no exception. In fact, it can be one of the toughest times of the year. Truthfully, we are in a battle for our minds, our spiritual growth and stability, our families, our finances, and our sanity, among many other challenges.

How about you? How do you fare during this crazy season?

Do you find yourself wanting to buy presents for your kids that you can’t afford? How do you handle engaging in strained relationships that push every emotional button you possess? Do you tend to lose self-control over indulgences lurking around every corner? I’m tellin’ ya, this season is full of temptations waiting to swallow us whole if we are not careful and fitfully prepared.

This, my friend, is where our spiritual armor comes into play. God outlines six specific items: Belt of Truth, Breastplate of Righteousness, Shoes of Peace, Shield of Faith, Helmet of Salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit.

The goal of the armor is to enable us to “stand firm” within our own personal battles. The ones that tend to steel our joy or tempt us to sin. Ultimately, he wants to teach us to gird ourselves with his truth in order to live in harmony and peace with him, ourselves, and each other. And to do that we need to know how to dress for success.

First, we are called to put on the Belt of Truth. Its purpose is stability. It keeps our core strong in battle as it fortifies us with the truth of Gods word.

As it relates to the coming weeks of Holiday Hoopla, let us put on and wear our belt of truth in order to filter every purchase, every thought, every action to line up with the will of God for our individual lives.

Each of our lives and God’s individual will for us will be different. That is a fact. But one thing that will never change is God’s truth. It is our responsibility to seek it out and apply it to our lives in order to stay in step with the ultimate plan and purposes of God.

Psalm 119:130 implores us to unfold the truth of God’s word and allow it to illuminate our path and give us understanding and clarity. For our intents and purposes, let’s look to our scripture this week and draw out one truth we can stand firm on to help us through this exciting and challenging season.

Reflect and Respond:

When you find yourself in a situation that needs clarity this week, say this scripture out loud. Let it penetrate to the deepest parts of your soul and let the Spirit illuminate the path in which you should take.

Remember, you are not alone. Be blessed as you stand firm in the TRUTH this week.