Life Plan Devotion #67 [God's Armor--Breastplate of Righteousness, Part II]

Last time we looked at the second piece of the Armor of God--the Breastplate of Righteousness. Today, we will look at how to put on the Breastplate of Righteousness, and tomorrow, we'll look at what to do if we get a kink in it.
Righteousness is imputed/given to us by God, at the moment of salvation, and it is imparted/worked in us by Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. Righteousness is "right standing before God," and is a most powerful weapon when dealing with the enemy, because we can tell him who we are and what we have in Christ.
In order to put on or put in place our Breastplate of Righteousness, we must be truly saved. Those who have depended on mere religion (nominal beliefs, church attendance, traditions of men) without being born again (praying to receive Jesus Christ as Savior, for the forgiveness of sins, and experiencing a heart change) will find they are ill-equipped to handle the darts of the enemy. Frustration, even defeat, is the result. In order to be righteous, you must "clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 13:14). Otherwise, it's just self-righteousness.
Putting on the Breastplate of Righteousness is not putting on your own good works, integrity, or honesty. It is not putting on Bible reading, church attendance, or prayer. All of those things are wonderful, and they will be the result of a heart truly changed by salvation, but in and of themselves, they do not make us righteous. At salvation, you become a new person, but it's your decision whether or not you will "put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness" (Ephesians 4:24). In other words, you must daily make the decision to put in place what you know about who you are in Christ.
As you submit yourself to the leading and power of the Holy Spirit, sin (in all its forms) will no longer have dominion over you. The person who intends to live the Christian life must yield to the power of holiness and righteousness in his/her life and conduct.
Putting on the Breastplate of Righteousness is something we do consciously. The key is knowing who you are in Christ Jesus. Once you truly know that, Satan can't get to you, because you know who he is and you know who you are and what you have in you and available to you. You will walk in the righteousness of God, and you will be protected. You will desire holiness, holy living, according to the Word of God. Nothing less will satisfy.
Obedience to God is what gives us success on the battlefield of life. The righteousness we display when we are preoccupied with obedience to God's Word will overwhelm the enemy every time, and every promise housed in the Word will be known by the believer, claimed, and evident in his/her life and walk.

Matthew 5:6
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."

What this has to do with weight loss: For too long, we've been hungering and thirsting, trying to fill spiritual needs with physical food, but all that left us was a body with excess weight and a heart longing for something more. When we recognize that what we really long for is a relationship with our Creator, then we're ready to take that all-important step of accepting the gift freely given so long ago (John 3:16). That gift gives one the power to have their needs satisfied in ways that do not involve food and overeating.

Prayer for Today:
"Heavenly Father, in order for me to be able to put on righteousness, I must believe in, accept, and know Your Son, Jesus. There is no other way to live a righteous, fulfilled, and victorious life. I ask You to show me if I even have a Breastplate to put on. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen."

Go forth today, putting in place that which you know yourself to be in Christ.

Life Plan Devotion #24 [Obedience]

When my children were small, I taught them a song. I can hear them now, singing, "Obedience is the very best way to show that you believe. Doing exactly what the Lord commands, doing it happily. Action is the key; do it immediately, joy you will receive. Obedience is the very best way to show that you believe." Obedience isn't a lesson just for kids. God desires, requires obedience, and when we learn to be obedient to God's Word, we experience much joy in life. "Easy," you say? What if God asks radical obedience from you?
In the past week, I've witnessed radical obedience from friends. One, a leader in a church, confessed to the entire congregation that he and his wife had not been good stewards of their money, and now they're forced to file for bankruptcy. God had challenged them to confess and seek forgiveness (from Him and from the church). They have vowed to pay back every creditor, even though not required to do so.
Another friend has been honest about unclaimed income and has contacted the proper authorities, all without knowing what the repercussions will be. It was the right thing to do. This friend, as well as another, have also been nudged by God to forgive the unforgivable. One has been able to, and I believe the other one will get to the place of forgiving.
When has God asked for radical obedience from you? It's often attached to something we desire to hang on to, perhaps even an area where we fear lack. We may not realize that it is by letting go that we come to a place of peace and provision.

John 14:15 [NIV]
"[Jesus said,] 'If you love Me, you will obey what I command.'"

What this has to do with weight loss: We know what to do, to release weight and get healthy. We know to exercise, follow the food plan given to us by our doctor or nutritionist, drink at least 64 oz. of fluid daily, and take our prescribed vitamins and supplements. Yet, how often are we truly obedient, 100% compliant? God honors obedience. You do your part, and He will do His.

Prayer for Today:
"Heavenly Father, I love You, and because I love You, I desire to obey what You have commanded in Your Word. I know it's for my own good, and I know that when I am obedient, I experience great joy and peace. Help me today, Lord, to follow Your plan for me, and if You ask radical obedience from me this day, I pray that I will do what You ask of me. In Jesus' Name. Amen."

Go forth today, and be radically obedient.