Live Right



"Stand firm then . . . with the breastplate of righteousness in place" (Ephesians 6:14)

Righteousness is one of those super religious words that is easy to gloss over without truly understanding. In its basic form righteousness is right living, living in a way that honours God by honouring others. Ultimately our righteousness comes through Jesus and what he did on the cross for our sins, but our right living even after salvation has an incredible impact on the success or failure of our spiritual warfare.

I once counseled a young man who was struggling with an addiction to alcohol. He wanted to stop but couldn’t seem to get over the hump. When I asked him where he worked his answer stunned me not just because of what he said but because how he didn’t seem to connect the dots: he worked part-time at a local bar. When we make stupid decisions, we face stupid consequences and we give the enemy a beachhead from which to harass and chip away at the spiritual victory that is rightfully ours.

When we make wise decisions, when we avoid foolish and harmful situations, when we honor God and honor others with our actions, those decisions act like a breastplate, covering over the largest part of our bodies. At the end of the day, spiritual warfare is not wizardry. Make better decisions and you will protect yourself from the dangers of spiritual warfare.

When we perpetuate unwise decisions in our life, we’ll be like the young man wondering why he can’t break free from alcohol as he wipes down the bar and pours another drink for a customer.

ON THE COUCH WITH GOD

1. What decisions have you made in the past that led to bad consequences, even spiritual oppression? How do you think the decisions you make impact your spiritual warfare?

2. What decisions are you facing right now that could have an impact on your spiritual warfare? What is a situation or a circumstance that needs to be made right before it becomes an invitation to spiritual attack?

NEXT STEP

The next step in living right is to make something right. What’s a situation that needs to made right? Are you struggling with addiction? Get help. Is a relationship broken that is causing you heartache and pain? Mend that relationship. Is there a habit you need to stop? Stop it. Make a phone call, ask for help. Do something. Make something right in your life.


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