Playing Darts with the Devil

I have discussed this issue before, but I do really struggle with it. And I know that many have already dissected these verses before but this is very applicable to my situation.

Satan has been throwing lots of darts at me lately. (Eph 6:16) I will explain:

As many of you know, I am currently a salesman at a large horse trailer dealership. This job is a wonderful blessing- manageable hours, ability to earn commission, wonderful coworkers, etc. I get to meet a lot of great horse people and will get to work horse shows during the fall and winter. I really am enjoying myself in the "real world", even with its hardships.

This means that I am constantly surrounded by big, beautiful, horridly expensive horse trailers. If you are not familiar with living quarter trailers- take a gander at Outlaw Conversions. Just watch the slideshow on their home page- I have about 10 brand new ones sitting outside my window, with 3 more coming in the next few months. A bare bones basic package, not including the actual horse trailer, is about $45,000. "The Big One" as we affectionately call her, sits right outside my window. I get to stare at her all day long. It sold yesterday for well over $100,000. She's top-of-the-line, drop dead gorgeous and fully loaded.

Satan is using these trailers, silly as it sounds, as darts. He is trying to fill my mind with lusts of the world and I am struggling in my fight. I have let these thoughts continue past what is required of my job and let them seep into my spare time. The trailer I have now needs to be replaced, due to structural issues. But instead of only buying what I need (which isn't much) I find myself demanding much more. I'm getting greedy.

Ephesians 6:14-17 "14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;"

The fight we fight as Christians is not a physical one, but a spiritual one. Paul talks about this in 2 Corinthians 10.

According to Ephesians 6, I need to "gird my waist with truth"- my translation of this is that I need to know the truth of God's word so I can know when the devil is trying to convince me otherwise. Matthew 7:15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves."

"Breastplate of righteousness"- this armor is protecting my heart, so it needs to be more than bullet proof. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is my righteousness, no where else can you obtain it. John 14:6 "Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

"Shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace" - shod your feet basically means to put on shoes. How am I to prepare with the gospel of peace? There are two ways of thinking with this phrase. One way is that the gospel of peace, the gospel of Jesus Christ, should release our burdens and bring peace to our souls. A worry-free warrior is much more effective than one distracted by doubts. Another way is that what should be beneath us, our foundation, should be the gospel of Christ. Everything else depends on that central belief. A solider with flimsy shoes can't march long or far. Romans 5:1-2 "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

"Shield of faith"- my faith in Christ Jesus will help me overcome my temptations, to overcome Satan. Where does faith come from? Romans 10:17 "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Read your bible and increase your faith, its that simple.

"Helmet of salvation"- without a helmet, a solider is vulnerable and not equipped for close combat. Your salvation protects you from a spiritual death. This helmet also displays who we fight for; we fight for the Son of God, who came to die for our sins and set us free. Jesus is the only one who can guarantee our salvation. John 10:9-11 " I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep."

"Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God"- The Holy Spirit works on our hearts through the words of the Bible. Knowledge of God's Word is the most powerful weapon in the world. Acts 17:6 "But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too." Your knowledge and understanding of this book gives you the power to turn the world upside down.

This armor set up allows me to battle each day with the devil, and to WIN. The tools God has provided to me won't take away my temptations (they will always be there), but allows me to overcome them to achieve victory.

1 Corinthians 15:55-57

“O Death, where is your sting?

O Hades, where is your victory?”

56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."