Healed Marriage Testimony

Holiday Protection
By Marilyn Conrad

Holidays are family times and the realization that some of our families may not be together can be depressing and even devastating. The outcome is determined by us. We can allow the pressures of the holiday season to give us the right to be depressed, discouraged and full of self-pity. This "I've got a right" spirit, although very subtle, many times can open the door for strife not only with our mates, but our children, families and friends. James 3:16 says, "Where there is envy and strife there is confusion and every evil work." Getting into strife is like waving a red flag at the devil and saying, "Come over here, Satan, and bring confusion and every evil work with you!" 2 Corinthians 2:11 says we are not ignorant of Satan's devices. Therefore, we can be informed and prepared  for his attacks this Christmas and dress in God's armor of protection. (Ephesians 6:11-18)

God's Armor

FIRST, we must determine to walk in love and forgiveness with family, friends and those we work with. We need to make a daily commitment as we "shod our feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace" to walk in peace and forgiveness with all men.

SECOND, we must gird our loins with the belt of truth. God's Word is truth and we need to study it daily. During this holiday season God's Word will keep us from sin or sin will keep us from God's word!

THIRD, strap on the breast plate of righteousness. Thank God that Jesus became sin for us and that we stand righteous before Him. We must determine to live a righteous life during the holidays.

FOURTH, lift up the shield of faith that stops all the fiery darts of the enemy. By faith destroy all Satan's plans and schemes against us each day. Speak death to any of His plans to get us into self-pity or strife that day.

FIFTH, as we put on our helmet of salvation we need to thank God for renewing our minds with His Word. Thank Him  for protecting our minds from depression, stress and the attacks of the enemy. We need to declare that we are dead to lust, greed, hate, anger, pride, fear, doubt and worry. Then declare that we are alive to love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)

SIXTH, we use our sword of the spirit by speaking God's word. This sword is sharper than any two-edged sword and we must determine to use it in  every prayer and every situation.

SEVENTH, we must pray in the spirit at all times. When situations arise this Christmas that we don't have answers to (and they will) we must pray in the spirit. For then we are allowing the Holy Spirit to pray through us and He always prays God's perfect will for every situation.

Fret Not

During the holidays it seems to be easy to get our eyes off the Lord and onto circumstances and situations. At times it looks like we who are standing for God's best for our marriages and families are not winning at all. We often have difficulty with our finances while it appears our mates are being rewarded with prosperity and happiness. If you feel this is happening to you, I recommend reading Psalm 37. Verse one says, "Do not fret because of evildoers, be not envious toward wrongdoers." To fret means to glow or grow warm with anger, jealousy, or grieving. God desires to show Himself strong on our behalf but He can't do it if we are fretting and worrying. David says we are to: trust in the Lord; do good; dwell in the land; cultivate faithfulness; delight thyself in the Lord; commit your way to Him; rest in the Lord; wait patiently for Him; cease from anger; and forsake wrath.

Obedience Brings Results

When we are obedient the results will be: He will give us the desires of our hearts; He will bring forth our righteousness as light and we will inherit the land. Then verse ten says: "Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more; and you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there." Verse thirty-six says: "I sought for him, but he could not be found."

The person your mate is involved with will soon be gone if you fulfill your part and are obedient.

This holiday season protect yourself with the armor of God and fret not. Protect yourself from  the "right" to be depressed, discouraged or full of strife. God is a partner to righteousness and we shall reap what we sow... life if we sow to the spirit and destruction if we sow to the flesh.

The Full Armor

The Christian life is a warfare, a spiritual conflict. We are told, first of all, to put on the full armor of God so that we "may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil." Ephesians 6:11

We put on armor because we are in a real battle against a real enemy. Spiritual warfare is serious business and the Lord does not want us to be defeated. Trying to fight life's daily battles without putting on the full armor of God will bring about defeat and discouragement in our lives, and we will not last long in the battle.

According to Ephesians 6:14-18 we are to, "Gird our loins about with truth, put on the breastplate of righteousness, shod our feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace, take up the shield of faith, take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God and pray at all times in the Spirit".

Begin your day by covering yourself and your family (name them) with the blood of Jesus and submitting to God. Say: Father, I submit my life to You this day to do Your work and to do it eagerly. You can use me, cleanse me, purge me, anoint me, teach me and financially bless me for I am Your child. You can use me any way you want to. Then dress in God's armor (Eph.6:11-18) by praying the following prayer:

Belt of Truth:  I put on the belt of Truth. I thank You Your Word is Truth. Sanctify me by Your Word today (John 17:17). I will study Your Word today to show myself approved unto You as a workman that has no need to be ashamed because I can rightly divide the Word of Truth (2 Timothy 2:15).

Breastplate of Righteousness: Now I strap on the Breastplate of Righteousness. I thank You that Jesus became sin for me and I am now Your righteousness according to 2 Cor. 5:21. I thank You that the devil cannot hit me with guilt or condemnation today.

Gospel of Peace: I put on my feet the preparation of the Gospel of Peace. I thank you, Father, I am prepared to witness to every person You bring across my path today. I am ready to give a defense to anyone for the hope that is in me and to do it courteously and respectfully. 1 Peter 3:15

Shield of Faith: I lift up the Shield of Faith which will quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. (Eph.6:16) I destroy all of Satan's plans and schemes against me today in Jesus' name. Thank you that my faith is authored and finished by Jesus, Himself. (Heb.12:2)

Helmet of Salvation: I put on the Helmet of Salvation. I thank You that I am going to heaven because I have the Son and so I have eternal life. (1 John 5:11) Thank You that my mind is set on the things above and not the things of the earth. (Col.3:2) I thank you, Lord, for protecting my mind from depression, stress, and the attacks of the enemy. I am dead to sin (lust, greed, hate, anger, pride, fear, doubt, worry) and alive unto Christ Jesus (love, joy, faith, peace, patience, all the fruit of the Holy Spirit) (Rom. 6:11)

Sword Of the Spirit: I lift up the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. With it, I can conquer all my problems because it is sharper than any two-edged sword (Heb.4:12). I will speak the Word in season and out of season, whether it is convenient or inconvenient (2 Tim. 4:2). I will speak the Word in every prayer, to every person and situation, in Jesus' Name. I use my Sword of the Spirit to knock out all the fiery darts that stuck in my Shield of Faith yesterday. I hold up my Sword of The Spirit which is the Word of God. Now being fully armored I pray always with all supplication in the Spirit.

Pray In The Spirit At All Times For All The Saints: I will be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving I will let my requests be made known to God (Phil.4:6). I will make entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority (1 Tim.2:1). NOTE: Praying in the Spirit is praying in tongues (1 Cor. 13-15). The event which happened in Acts 2 and is happening in the lives of Christians throughout the world is identified in three ways: speaking in tongues (1 Cor. 14:14); praying in the Holy Ghost (Jude 20); and praying in the Spirit (Eph.6:18). They all refer to the same manifestation which is speaking in an unlearned language.

Break all curses: I come against every curse, negative word, negative prayer, every hex, vex, chant, spell, white magic, black magic, voodoo, Jezebel Spirits, Babylonian Spirits, and every demon assigned against me and my family. I break your power and I cancel your assignments and effects in Jesus' name. I cover my family and all that we have to do with, with the blood of Jesus. I take my Sword of the Spirit and spring every trap that Satan has set against me.