Isaiah 52:7
How beautiful upon the mountains
Are the feet of him who brings good news,
Who proclaims peace,
Who brings glad tidings of good things,
Who proclaims salvation,
Who says to Zion,“Your God reigns!”
In our prayers and requests we invite God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, into our lives. The prayers that we offer are heard and answered by our merciful and gracious Father. In the manner that we believe in His righteousness, given to us in Jesus, and in the power of Holy Spirit we can receive His wisdom and guidance. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that through His righteousness the world could be saved. God cares for us…all of us. Our faith in believing what we cannot see, but know to be true, pleases God. Carla
Ephesians 6:14-20
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— (NKJV)
The shield was the soldier’s primary defense in battle. In the same way, the believer’s trust in God provides protection against the devil and his schemes.
The assurance of God’s salvation protects the believer just as a helmet protects a soldier in battle.
The sword of the Spirit helps believers proclaim the gospel message, act on God’s behalf, and combat attacks from the devil.
Paul’s use of the Greek word rhēma, for word, here primarily refers to the proclamation of the gospel and its ongoing work in the life of the believer
Prayer should not be an afterthought for believers, but rather their primary source of strength.
Mystery of the gospel might refer generally to the good news about Christ, or it could point specifically to the inclusion of Gentiles (non-Jews) into the people of God (Ephesians 3:4–6). Faithlife Study Bible
Truth is considered crucial by Paul (4:15, 25), because a dishonest Christian cannot hope to withstand the father of lies himself. The truth referred to here is integrity, a life of practical truthfulness and honesty.
The righteousness that the breastplate represents is not the righteousness of Christ, which all believers possess, but the practical, righteous character and deeds of believers.
Above all may mean that the shield is to be used against everything. The Christian’s shield offers protection against all the fiery darts of the wicked one. Flaming arrows could not penetrate the fireproof shield of the ancient Roman soldier, nor can the assaults of Satan penetrate to the believer who places his or her faith in God.
The sword of the Spirit is the only offensive weapon in the believer’s armor. This weapon is not necessarily the Bible as a whole, but the specific word that needs to be spoken in a specific situation. To have the precise word ready, a person must know the Bible intimately.
Without prayer, all the armor in the world would be of no use. General prayers and specific petitions in the Spirit are to be made for all and at all occasions. Perseverance and patience in prayer are essential.
The apostle Paul was not ashamed to ask other believers to pray that he would have the courage to proclaim the gospel. Even as a prisoner, Paul still wanted to be a faithful witness for the Lord. Paul was an ambassador in chains in Rome for the gospel of Christ. His prayer was that he might speak boldly, as an ambassador for the King of kings ought to speak. The NKJV Study Bible
1 Thessalonians 5:8
But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.
Colossians 4:2–4
Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains…
Isaiah 11:5
Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins,
And faithfulness the belt of His waist.
Stories about kindness and courage in small ways—regardless of when they happened—can carry with us today.
These reminders of graciousness, keeps us in touch with another life-giving truth: We are, literally, repairers of the world.
It is from Jewish tradition that we learn our job title; “Tikkun olam”.
Tikkun—to repair the soil of the world with nutrients: kindness, a balm of generosity, a capacity to accommodate fragility, and a softness of spirit. What Eve Ensler called, “The daily subtle simple gathering of kindness.”
Working to heal—Tikkun olam—isn’t only for the spiritually or intellectually inclined.
Working to heal is in our DNA. As children of our creator, we are healers. In kindness, we affirm dignity. In empathy, we see value and build connections. With compassion and justice, we right wrongs and create sanctuaries.
And I know this more than ever: In the world we live in, I believe in the necessity, and healing power, of sanctuary—fueled by empathy and compassion.
Here’s the deal:
Empathy matters.
Compassion matters.
And community backbone matters. Sabbath Moments
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