Ephesians 6:13 – Therefore put on the full armour 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. (NIV)

Recently, a mother was listing all the gear she had to purchase for her son to play hockey. Her list of items included shoulder pads, shin guards, elbow pads, skates, a helmet, and, of course, a hockey stick. "Hockey is an aggressive game," she reminded me. "He has to be prepared in order to protect himself from a stray puck."

As I thought about this conversation later, I was reminded of the gear Christians are urged to wear in order to be overcomers in our spiritual battle against Satan. In Scripture, Christians are urged to put on the full armour of God:

Ephesians 6:14-17 – 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 all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (NIV)

In the game of hockey, no matter what skill level the players have, they will be far more effective if they recognize the importance of team play. Christians are also urged to recognize the value of being part of the team. We are told to stay alert, and always to keep on praying for all the saints.

Last, but not least, the hockey player puts on the all-important hockey jersey. We, too, are urged to put on the garment of righteousness, so that the people watching our lives can identify us as followers of Christ.

Prayer: Dear God, remind us today of the importance of putting on Your whole armour, in order to be protected against Satan's attacks. Thank You for Your protection. Amen.

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About the author:

Elaine Ingalls Hogg <authorhogg@yahoo.ca>
Smiths Creek, New Brunswick, Canada
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