Hi! My name is Marty McGinn. My wife Corey and I have been married for almost 20 years. We are parents to three teenagers and a ten-year-old. We are part of the North by Northwest Home Group led by Dale and Cathy Shreve. I spend most days preparing lessons and teaching students math. In my free time I enjoy reading, running, and playing music. After writing this devotional, I recognize that I desperately need to spend more time praying.
Read Ephesians 6:10-24
Paul wrote this letter from prison. Perhaps he was even chained to a Roman soldier. No doubt he saw firsthand the protective equipment they wore and the weapons they had. But Paul also recognized that the Roman soldier was not his enemy. Verse 12 states that people are not our enemies; Satan is our enemy. We are no match for Satan, but he is no match for Christ. Whether we recognize it or not, we are caught in the middle of a very real spiritual battle. Verse 16 implies that we are being shot at! We need to protect ourselves from the enemy using the armor God provides and the shield of faith. We can fight back with the Word of God and prayer. 2 Corinthians 10:4 states that our weapons are not carnal, but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds. Our strength does not come from our own resources; it comes from the Lord (verse 10). I’ve read to the end of the Book and I know who wins! (See Revelation 19-22.)
Paul did not ask others to pray for the removal of trials, but for boldness to speak and to stand for the gospel (verse 19). Would I pray the same way if I were in his shoes?
Here are some other questions to ponder:
- Do I recognize that I am in a spiritual battle?
- Do I prepare my mind each day as if I am going into a spiritual battle?
- Do I pray for others as if they are in a spiritual battle?