by Andrea Irish on October 10, 2025
Recently I asked a few women to share some personal experiences or thoughts with you in the form of our usual devotional. Please enjoy this devotional from one of our own friends at Timberline: Andrea Irish
A few weeks ago, while driving, I heard the Lord speak to my heart to not allow any cracks in my armor. I instantly thought of Ephesians 6:13-19 where Paul talks about the whole armor of God. In verse 13, Paul tells us “Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day (of danger), and having done all (the crisis demands), to stand (firmly in your place).“ (AMP) Roman soldiers went to battle covered completely in armor with a sword and large shield in hand. They never entered a fight with missing battle pieces, yet as Christians, often times we go into our day, spiritually unprepared, no armor on, facing an enemy who is “…as a roaring lion, walking about seeking whom he may devour” (I Peter 5:8) But, when we read the first half of this verse, Peter tell us to “Be sober, be vigilant…” The amplified tells us to be “be cautious at all times”.
We live in a time and season that is like no other. There is a spiritual harvest going on, revival for the Kingdom of God. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who goes after the one lost sheep and leaves the ninety-nine because He does not want even one to perish.(Matt. 18:11-14) At the same time, we have an enemy who is fighting tooth and nail to prevent this from happening. We see throughout history, the devil has always tried to wreak havoc in the lives of God’s people.
So as Christians, how do we battle this enemy of our soul? First, we have to stay prayed up. Paul instructed the church at Thessalonica to “pray without ceasing”. This wasn’t an instruction to stay in a prayer posture all day, but rather in fellowship with the Father, staying connected. Our God desires time with us, that’s why James told us to “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” As we spend more time with Him, He shows us how to pray and expand our prayer life beyond ourselves. God’s power is in us through the Holy Spirit, and Jesus delegated His authority to us. In the Old Testament, they had to wait for God to move on their behalf, but it’s not like that for us. Because of Jesus, we can stand on the rights we have in Christ. Ephesians 2:6 tells us that “He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together (giving us joint seating with Him) in the heavenly sphere (by virtue of our being) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One).”(AMP) We have authority wherever we go because where we go, God goes. Jesus taught that “whatsoever you bind on earth, is bound in heaven and whatsoever you loose on earth is loosed in heaven”. (Matt 18:18) Heaven is backing up our prayers and what we are taking authority over. The Lord began teaching me a few years ago the importance of praying scripture over my life and situations that would come up. There have been a few scriptures that I have consistently prayed and stood on for my family. Psalms 91 is a powerful one to stand on for safety and protection over your life. These are sweet promises that we have in Him. Hebrews 1:14 in writing about angels says, “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister FOR them who shall be heirs of salvation?” That’s us! “For He shall give His angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways.” (Ps. 91:11) Because angels hearken to the Word of God, we want our prayers and confessions to line up with what God says.
The good news is that through the blood of Jesus, we can experience victory no matter how bleak our situation might look. Every victory begins with knowing what God’s Word says. That is our strategy to win. Jesus defeated Satan through the cross; therefore, it is not in our strength and ability that we stand against the enemy. We stand on Christ’s victory. We can enter the battle prepared with all our armor on, ready, “unafraid of the terror by night, nor the arrow that flies by day” (Ps 91:5) When we eliminate the cracks in our armor, we “withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand!"
