MENTAL WELLNESS # 3 ARMOR

LAST ONE. For NOW.. MENTAL ILLNESS/WELLNESS
#3 ARMOR OF GOD

Go back and read 1 and 2 if you haven't, about Shame and Intimacy! This is the more Meaty Post because the Bible is important.

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FAITH is a powerful thing, it’s a gift given to us (Eph. 2:10), and it’s also our shield (Eph. 6), but sometimes when we don’t feel something, we become discouraged. Feeling isn’t our truth, our experiences don’t define truth. The word promises that God never leaves us, his love for us never fails, THAT is the truth. And I will hold onto it no matter what I am feeling, because the reality is my feelings tell me I need to realign myself with truth.
Let’s go deeper into the ARMOR of GOD.

3. Put on Armor
To put on armor, we must also realize the reality of Satan. The enemy has plans to harm us, all he wants to do is kill steal and destroy(John 10:10). Selfishness, and insecurities can be sin because you’re thinking more about yourself than anyone else. Selfish ambition is even considered among the list that breaks God’s heart, like idolatry, jealousy, hatred, witch craft, (Phil.1:17, 2 Cor. 12:20, Gal. 5:20). These are things that we can fall into, especially with enemy’s luring. But the Lord promises a fullness of life, and in order for us to be sent out we need to understand the strategies of the enemy. “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” (Matt.10:16)
Shrewd and wise as the enemy, the serpent, but still innocent as doves.

Last night we had a worship night, lead by the First Year students, but others were invited. After a Small Group meeting I felt anxious, heavy, sad, lonely. 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 describes how its easy for us to associate different gifts and intuitions of people like gods. For example, they thought that someone who had incredible wisdom tapped into THE GOD OF WISDOM. But in fact, all of these giftings are from the same God, Yahweh. Now, I have the gift of discerning of spirits. Because I can tell what spirits are in the room. For example, My normal is joyously in love with Jesus. But after small group the atmosphere changed and I felt weighty and sad. I was happy moments ago, so I must have been experiencing something around me. I asked Papa what it was and he showed me a huge cloud trying to oppress the Sanctuary. It couldn’t quite touch it, but certain people were sad, and anxious and heavy because they may have felt it too but thought it was them and held on to it. While the worship leaders were practicing they started singing “Break Every Chain”, and I started to pray and speak in tongues, another gift from Holy Spirit. Then I saw in my head that with every note they sang, and from my prayers, the dark cloud was being shattered and hit and sliced and that the students tonight who came were going to have chains fall off of them, and they were going to step into new freedom and joy. I kept praying until the burden lifted on my heart. I have learned in those moments to rest in Papa. The enemy was trying to attack the freedom that was going to happen, that’s why prayer is powerful and necessary (1 Tim 2:1, Phil 4:6-7), we need a covering over the body.

“10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Eph. 6:10

You have such a huge call on your life, you are so beautiful, and an incredible lover. You GOT THIS. Think about the testimonies, think about the promises that have been spoken over your life.

The LORD IS GOOD. He loves you, Jesus has interceded for us on the cross(Is. 53:12, Rom. 8:34), he rose again and has already defeated the grave. We all know that there is victory and the Christ wins in the end, we are free, wherever the spirit of the Lord is there is FREEDOM (2 Cor 3:17), and the spirit of the Lord is INSIDE of you (Romans 8:9), if you didn’t have the spirit of God inside of you, then you don’t have a weapon against the enemy, because you don’t belong to God. But there are battles that still have to be fought, we have free will and choice. Every day we have the choice to go deeper with Papa or farther away. And everyone around us is perishing or living.
We have power and authority against the enemy because Jesus overcame him and lives inside of us. (1 John 5:4, James 4:7, Is. 60, Daniel 7:14, MATT. 10:1)
Put on the helmet of salvation, you are SAVED, YOU HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST, AND is constantly in the process of being RENEWED(Rom.12)!

Sometimes it takes extra effort to realize your thought patterns are still under the influence of Satan's lies, but that's when you decide, I am going to start thinking thoughts about what GOD says. I am kind, I am smart, I am important. Even if you have to say it out loud. I am thankful... your words change your reality.

STEP ONE of Putting on the Armor is taking EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE. Align yourself with what he thinks and recognize what thoughts aren’t YOURS, and what aren’t HIS, but of the ENEMY. 2 Cor 10:5

STEP TWO, THE ARMOR
Verbally or in your mind, put on and ask the Lord where you need more covering.
-You have the chestplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS, He's covering your HEART you are RIGHT with Him and he is right inside of you.
-You have the shoes of PEACE. That wherever you go you sanctify the ground and are covered by his goodness and peace.
-The belt of TRUTH wraps around you and holds all of these pieces together, Jesus is the way the truth and the life. He leads you to the Father and to the Holy Spirit, Who has lead you into all TRUTH.(Jhn 16:13)
-Shield of FAITH keeps back every attack and mental downspiral. *Hold unto faith not your feelings in times of war* , hold onto his promises and his word and the arrows will be extinguished and fall to the ground.
-You carry the sword of the SPIRIT. every word that comes from the mouth of God, written or unwritten has the power to cut through bone and Marrow, SOUL and SPIRIT. He knows your heart and soul and spirit and innermost workings and combines your entire body into one being with Him. It cuts off lies and exposes all.
Righteous warrior, take your sword. Eph. 5:1 Eph 6, Romans 8:37-39.

You are more than equipped. Sometimes fighting looks like worship. I intercede through painting, dancing, laughing- the devil HATES IT. If we resist him he flees! But we don’t have to complete ignore the negative situations, take them to Jesus and ask for HIS solution, and because you have the armor from His spirit, nothing can touch you!
You are a mighty warrior, full of love, peace, comfort, and the worship from your heart brings light to the darkness. Well done. Your thoughts and mind may be a battlefield, but run to God and put thankfulness on your lips. For you have the power and authority.

This was a lot, and I could unpack so much more, so if you have questions or comments please let me know. I speak complete freedom over you right now in Jesus name. No more spirit of depression or suicide! We command all lying spirits to be silenced! SHUT UP Satan! God I thank you for these beautiful minds that are renewed in your presence, come close to the Father, let him hold you and speak over you, read his word, let it renew your spirit. And I speak peace to your heart and mind and they come back into alignment, in JESUS’ BEAUTIFUL NAME,
AMEN.