Are you awake to what is happening in our world today?

Financial crises in handfuls of nations around the world; tensions between world leaders; terrorism apparently loose in the world; natural disasters increasing; the air, water and food supplies becoming more poisonous by the year. And just this last month Pope Francis has started the loud call for a Sunday rest for all people, that the moral decline might be halted in our world. Strange stuff indeed!

If ever there was a time to get ready for the changes ahead, that time is NOW!

Perhaps you are tempted to buy in a year's supply of freeze dried food? Or maybe you are storing up simple necessities like plasters, bathroom supplies, water filter cartridges in case shipping and trucking slows down.

But what about spiritual preparations? Are you aware that God has plenty of messages to help us prepare for these times ahead?

Right at this very minute, yes right now, you can choose with all your heart and all your mind to put on the armour of God, that you may stand in the days ahead of us.

Now this armour is not made of physical materials you can see or touch. No, no, the armour of God is made of much stronger stuff than the toughest material known to man. For God's armour is His supernatural spiritual protection for you, for me, for everyone who chooses to pick it up with their mind and heart and strap each piece to his or her body with thankfulness.

Paul is writing in the book of Ephesians, Chapter 6, starting at verse 10:

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."

Did you notice that Paul tells us TWICE to put on the WHOLE armour of God. That says to me that each and every piece of this spiritual armor is be vital for our protection. I wonder what those pieces of armour are?

Verse 14 onwards:

"Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints..."

Here are your pieces of armour:

Girdle of Truth;

Breastplate of Righteousness;

Shoes of the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace;

Shield of Faith;

Helmet of Salvation;

Sword of the Spirit;

last but not least: Prayer and Watchfulness

There is just one weapon at our disposal in this armour: The Sword of the Spirit - which is the word of God.

Our Lord Jesus Christ used this weapon against the enemy Satan, when Satan was taunting and tempting.

Jesus simply said, "It is written..." And then quoted a piece of scripture from the word of God.

Will you pick up God's armour and start preparing today?