Armor Up: Final Post

Last post.  Someone needs to remind me that I should never tackle subjects that will take this many posts to cover.  We went a lot places I didn't expect to go.  And this final post is not about the energy aspect of armoring up at all.  No.  It actually kind of is.  Prayer, peace, love, grace, and maybe even faith are really just different words for energy and different ways of using it.

Prayer

You can't finish a discussion of this chapter without saying something about prayer.  So here are my deep thoughts.  Whatever it means to you, do it.  Prayer doesn't have to follow a formula to count.  It just needs to be a way of opening yourself to guidance from whoever or whatever you believe in.  Read Anne Lamott's Help, Thanks, Wow: Three Essential Prayers.

Peace

I mentioned early on in these posts that this whole armor of God thing never really resonated with me because I am such a pacifist.  This morning I realized that this chapter really is all about peace, but Paul needed to use something the people understood, which unfortunately was war.  Right before he starts into the description of the armor, Paul says this:

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

He's not saying, "Go to battle for God."
He's saying you can be protected and strong through God, through truth, righteousness, the preparation of the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the word of God.

Even today, the rhetoric is colored with war.  We talk about a battle against sin and evil, because that is the only way that some people can conceptualize it.  But the real truth (or at least what I believe and feel as truth) is that peace will never come through war.  Peace will only come when we choose peace and love above all else.

Post by Jeannine Robinett.

Paul ends this letter to the Ephesians with these words. 

23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

We quote the verses about armor and battle a lot.  Maybe it's time to start quoting the ones about peace, love, faith, and grace a little bit more.