The Antidote for Anxiety and Depression: Trust in Abba Father’s Care – Pt 34
Breastplate of Righteousness – The Heart’s Protection
Stand therefore…and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
– Ephesians 6:14
Who am I? Where is my place in this world? These are questions that I have asked myself for a very long time as I struggled with my identity and to fit in. I had come to define who I am based on my life’s experiences – a failure, worthless, dirty, unclean, a victim, to be used by others, an alien, just to name a few. Moreover, from a child I was always different and I felt like I didn’t belong anywhere. I just couldn’t and didn’t fit in – not in my family, not at Church, not at school, not at work nor in my community. It therefore begged the questions: Who am I? Where is my place in this world?
I’ve known rejection, abandonment and abuse that impaired my perception of who I am, and not fitting in I resorted to isolation. Isolation became my main coping mechanism in a quest to maintain my sanity. Yet I yearned to belong. Therefore, I looked for love and acceptance in all the wrong places from all the wrong people only to feel rejected time and time and time again. Why did I feel rejected? I was too needy. I couldn’t find the balance between needing people and needing people too much.
Therefore, I lived with the guilt of being a burden or a bother to others and the shame of not being able to hold my own. It was difficult for me to accept who God says I am in His Word. Among other things, I am accepted in the beloved and I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. I needed the breastplate of righteousness in order to keep my heart free from the hurts of my past.
The Roman soldier’s breastplate protected the heart and central organs of the body against assault. It was an indispensable defensive piece of weaponry.
The Apostle Paul enlightens us in Ephesians 6:14 that included in your spiritual arsenal to be used in this spiritual warfare against your adversary is the “breastplate of righteousness” which defends your heart. Attire in the breastplate of righteous enables you to “keep your heart with all diligence…” (Proverbs 4:23). Why is it important for your heart to be protected? It is important to protect your heart “…for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). What is your heart protected from? It is protected from the adverse effects of the enemy’s assault on your mind such as anxiety, depression, guilt, blaming, shaming, fear, rejection, et cetera, which negatively impacts your relationship with your Heavenly Father.
In yesterday’s devotional I emphasized that once God’s Word is central in your life, you will have a sense of righteousness that protects your heart like a mighty breastplate. What does God’s Word say about you?
As a believer in Christ you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus because Jesus is your righteousness. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Hence, when God sees you He sees His righteousness in Jesus. You are blameless in the eyes of God just as though you have never sinned. Psalm 103:12 tells us that, “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”
Do you believe the Word of God concerning you? Do you know who you are in Christ Jesus? Or, are you allowing the devil to assault your mind with lies because of past mistakes, failures, ungodly lifestyle, et cetera, to the point where your heart is in distress? You can break free today by deciding to put on the breastplate of righteousness. Would you?
God bless you!
MY PRAYER FOR TODAY
Heavenly Father I bow my knees before Your throne in worship and adoration and praise. It is my desire to bring You pleasure Lord. Thank You for Your Word that is inspired by Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for equipping me with the breastplate of righteousness to guard my heart and for sending Jesus to take my sins so that I can become Your righteousness in Him. What an honour and a privilege to be accepted and loved by You as Your very own child. I declare that I will daily dress in the breastplate of righteousness and guard my heart with all diligence. Therefore, my life is enriched and triumphant because only the Word of God penetrates my heart. I pray this by faith in Jesus’ name with thanksgiving. Amen!
