Pre-game
This devotional was written by Kelly McFadden
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish the arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Ephesians 6: 13-18
If you’ve ever been around or seen competitive sports you know at least this: Athletes don’t just show up on game day and compete – there is a lot of preparation that goes on before ever setting foot on a field or in a gym. When I played professional volleyball for the St. Louis Quest we began training a month and a half before our season started. We barely even stepped onto the volleyball court during those weeks – we conditioned. We ran, we jumped, we lifted, we drilled – with three practices a day we ate, slept and breathed volleyball.
As the season began our practices became centered on that week’s opponent. We studied the opposing teams by watching videos and coordinating drills in order to combat their strengths. We worked on areas that we knew would exploit their weaknesses. Our coaches developed strategies and game plans. We trained to win. We prepared to give ourselves the best chance at victory.
Jesus came and died for us. Even he ‘trained’ during his life by studying (Luke 2:41-52), fasting (Matthew 4:1-11), praying (John 17:6-26)…It is so important for Christians to realize that being a Christian is not a one time decision. Being a Christian is a daily decision to follow Christ. And let me warn you, this is usually not the easiest or most popular place to be. In fact, most of the time, it is difficult. That is why we must be prepared. A Roman soldier would never have gone into battle without all of the appropriate equipment, or he would surely have been defeated. Just like a soldier or an athlete if you are not prepared you will lose the battle. Christians are called to be alert and prayerful in their faith. If we are not prepared, sin will conquer.
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GOING DEEPER:
1. What are areas in your life that you have to prepare and train for? What happens when you are not prepared?
2. How can you, as a Christian, put on your armor each day?
3. Why is it important that each day you are prepared and ready to make a Godly decision?
FURTHER READING:
Luke 2:41-52; Matthew 4:1-11; John 17:6-26
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