Armor
She jerked awake at the sound of her alarm clock and groaned. She’d already hit the snooze button twice; she’d better just get up this time. She stretched, and then rolled her feet onto the floor, wiping the sleep from her eyes. A new day. Ugh.
In the bathroom, Ray Ann took stock of herself as the water in the shower heated up. Two arms, two legs, the proper number of fingers and toes. Hair still reddish and curly, mussed from sleep. Eyes still brown. Yup, another typical day.
After the shower, Ray Ann headed back to her bedroom. As she opened the door, her eyes caught on the treasure chest placed in the corner of her room. She smiled whimsically to herself, knowing what was in there. She approached the chest reverently, settling down on her knees before it. She opened it and looked longingly at the contents: one belt, a breastplate, shoes, helmet, shield, and sword. She had received these items when she had pledged her life to the King, though not in order to defend His life; He needed no defense. It was part of her inheritance upon joining His family, and she was told to wear it and stand firm.
At first she had put it on every morning. It felt clumsy and awkward and made her feel a little silly. She couldn’t seem to learn to wear it skillfully. For awhile she just carried it around with her but it was heavy and seemed to do her no good so, finally, reluctantly, she’d stopped getting it out of the treasure chest every morning, stopped putting it on, stopped trying to learn how to wear it; she had failed.
Today, as she gazed upon it, she ran her hands over it gently, remembering.
One morning after she had stopped wearing the armor, her beloved King had come to her. She had fallen on her face in fear and wonder but He had drawn her up on His lap. “Ray Ann,” He said, “Do you know that I love you?”
“Yes, my Lord,” she’d responded.
“Do you believe it is the Truth?”
“Of course I do.”
“Do you believe that nothing can separate you from My love?”
“Yes, yes I do,” she had said, eagerly.
“Child, take this belt of Truth and remember always that I am for you.” So saying, He had buckled the belt around her waist.
“Ray Ann, did you exchange the filthy garments of your past transgressions for the bright breastplate of My righteousness?”
“I did, My Lord.”
“Do you understand that My righteousness was bought for you through the blood of My Son?”
“Yes, Lord, I do.”
“Put this breastplate on and remember that you are not wearing your past mistakes, but My righteousness.”
“Yes, Lord.” He had assisted her in buckling the breastplate in place.
“Ray Ann, do you know that, wherever you go, you take My peace with you?”
“I’m not sure I understand that, my Lord.”
“That’s ok, child. Slip on these shoes and know that, as you live your life, if you praise My name, many of the people I place in your path will come to understand that I sent My Son in order to reconcile them to Myself. Will you do that?”
“Yes, Lord, I promise.”
“Ray Ann, do you know what pleases Me more than anything?”
“What, Lord?”
“Faith. Take this shield and remember to lift it up when My enemy attacks you with his lies. Have faith that I have done everything in My power – My almighty, infinite power – to make you Mine and he can do nothing to change that.”
“Yes, Lord, I will do that.”
“Ray Ann, do you believe that My Son’s blood has saved you?”
“I believe it, Lord.”
“When you first came to Me, you were sealed by My Holy Spirit. This helmet represents that anointing; it is the Helmet of Salvation.” He had gently placed the helmet upon her head; she could feel it pressed firmly against her forehead.
“Thank You, my Lord,” she whispered.
“With the anointing of My Spirit comes the ability to learn how to use the Sword of the Spirit. This, child, is My word. Keep these words on your heart by meditating on them, memorizing them, and sharing them with other people. This is the way you practice sword fighting.” He had placed His sword in her hands and she held it reverently.
“I will do it, Lord. I will work hard to learn how to wield Your sword.”
“Lastly, child…” He paused.
“Yes, my Lord? Anything.”
“Call Me Father. You are My child. You may call upon Me for anything. And please ask; I want to give good gifts to My children. I am generous and full of lovingkindness. Remember these things always. I am never far, Beloved.”
As the memory faded, she continued, for a moment, to kneel before the treasure chest, stroking the armor and smiling to herself. Then she stood and reached resolutely into the chest, picked up the Belt of Truth, and buckled it around her waist. Next, the Breastplate of Righteousness was put in place. Then she slipped on the Shoes that prepared her to spread the gospel of peace. Next, she picked up the Shield of Faith and the Sword of the Spirit. And the Helmet of Salvation, well, that never came off; it was a part of her now, a seal that marked her as a Child of God. Thus crowned and garbed, Ray Ann boldly strode from her room.
