Although the alarm clock continually buzzed for what seemed like forever, I could not wake up on that rainy Monday.
My right foot slowly pushed back the covers to test the severity of the chilly room temperature. Brrr, I thought, while continuing to roll over for a quick and final snooze. The alarm clock was set to my regular talk radio show that was now blaring with news reports which immediately got my attention.
Domestic and international terrorism, continued and declining recession, and dangerous road rage causing gridlock traffic were media headlines flooding the airwaves with negative vibes. Just as the morning had gotten off to a bad start, the phone rang incessantly. Friends and relatives were blaming and complaining about everything.
I finally managed to stand and walk around my house. But by the time I left the bathroom to get dressed, I felt beaten and worn down. “Why would anyone call me to argue in the morning?” I murmured to myself. The answer to that question was lodged in my short-term memory from the previous night’s Bible study lesson. The answer was from God’s instruction to Joshua.
When the ruckus of the day began, I remember feeling confused and overloaded—but not discouraged. Taking the advice of the apostle Paul given to the saints at Ephesus, I chose a second layer of battlefield attire to accompany my standard business work clothes. Rather than selecting a particular outfit or wearing my favorite Anne Klein shoes, I put on the whole armor of God.
By the time I finished dressing, I felt clad with the breastplate of righteousness. My feet were shod with the gospel of peace. My upper body was covered by the shield of faith and the helmet of salvation. And my entire body, mind, and soul were protected by the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Several years have passed since that harrowing, rainy morning with its chock-filled sleepiness and unwanted distractions. Fortunately, it was an awakening experience to the power sources available, but often underutilized, through a relationship with Christ. Through His indwelling Spirit, I was able to stand in an uncertain world where I was faced with negativity.
Life’s challenges can be conquered when you are clothed in Christ.
(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)
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Billie Joy Langston is a Christian Hospitality Specialist and freelance writer of positive living and inspirational literature. She conducts hospitality ministry workshops for churches and faith based organizations. She is a trained journalist who enjoys sharing her knowledge of the written word. Email her at bjoyful4hymn@gmail.com.