Bound around my waist, in the center of my body, a belt squeezes me tight. No room to shift around under this belt. It has a sure hold. The grip is undeniable. Although, my waist wants to push it off and become flabby with exorbitant delicacies that belt holds tight. It is a certain length and cannot be added to. I have found that it is actually much shorter than I once thought.
That belt points up to my chest where a protective covering sits. This covering protects my heart. The lifeblood that pours through me is filtered underneath this covering. Removing impurities. Filling it with life-giving oxygen. Pumping it through my veins to every extremity. Providing flow that keeps me moving in the right direction.
That great pump pushes down deep so that I am prepared to step out in peace. Giving me direction in front of my toes. Pointing me onward in this rat-race. Not looking back.
But as I move forward fiery darts are thrown my way. Because I am moving forward and not backward, those darts come fast and furious. Aimed at the most precarious of places. Aimed to kill. But they can’t. Of that I am certain. Every flame of death will be extinguished.
Gushing waters bombard and overtake my head. Swirling torrents slap and twist around me turning me violently from one side to the other and then back again and then up and then down and sometimes right back up. But my head is covered with a helmet. And the helmet contains a great flotation device that prevents me from being held under too long. It buoys me back up with great gentle strength.
And all this so I can swing my sword. Awesome and powerful is this sword. Sharp and precise. Made in the greatest refinery. Purest of metal. No dross. Unmatched weapon of war.
The whole package wrapped in the most delicate but durable of wrappings. Sheer and airy at times. Dense and thick at other times. Impenetrable all the time. It cannot be removed from this package. You can slip inside and reside there but once you are there, you are there to stay.
Leaves me in a sure-footed stance. Truth and righteousness abound with peace in salvation protected by the word and wrapped in prayer. Alert and ready. For myself and others.
Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. Ephesians 6:14-20 (ESV)
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