By: CJ Phillips, Children’s Pastor at Bicknell
The Advent season in which we currently find ourselves is often filled with family gatherings, traditions, and more busyness than usual. So what better time to take a quick pause to reflect on our priorities when it comes to our faith?
Paul writes in Ephesians that our struggles are not against flesh and blood, but rather are spiritual battles. Therefore, Paul tells us, we must put on the armor of God.
While many of us may be familiar with the armor of God that Paul is writing about in chapter six, many of us, if we are being honest, can find it increasingly difficult to remember to put our armor on each day.
Why is this? Could it simply be because we have not made it a priority in our lives?
Some Christmas traditions come and go, yet one that seems to have only risen in popularity in recent years is the “ugly Christmas sweater.”
This time of year it is not uncommon to get an invitation to an “ugly sweater” party or to receive a festive Christmas card with a photo of friends and family decked out in the merriest garb they can find.
It seems like, during this time of year, people are especially mindful of what they wear.
It’s an annual event. Some people tend to spend so much time thinking, planning, and analyzing their closets so that they can be prepared for what people will see on the outside when they arrive at the Christmas get-together–whether it’s an ugly Christmas sweater or the fanciest clothes they can find.
I think that the same can often be said about our spiritual lives. Instead of focusing on the battles that matter on the inside, we instead choose to focus on what others can see on the outside.
We desire to put our very best on the outside in an attempt to address the battles of flesh and blood. But so often we fail to prepare for the actual battles we face.
What do you put on this time of year?
Are you equipping yourself for the true battles at hand? Do you have your armor and is in place daily?
Or are you simply putting on your “ugly sweater” to provide that perfect appearance? Are you addressing only what people see on the outside? Or are you allowing God to address what people don’t see?
As this season of anticipation and reflection continues, let us be sure we are equipped and ready for what battles we must face and place our focus on Christ this Advent season!