Well, it doesn’t look like spring, but looks can be deceiving!  Spring IS coming.  Last night I went to our Conquer class.  I hadn’t been to it the entire month of January.  We had to cancel 3 and then the last two I’d been gone.  It was the last session.  We now move into the year-long program called 7-Pillars.  I look forward to what God will awaken in me and teach me during this time.

Now that I’m more awake to the new creation I am, I am becoming more aware of what this new creation is and what it offers.  In Ephesians 6 the armor of God is outlined very well for us and we are told to put it on and use it.  When one reads this and sees the components of this armor one would know why God wanted us to use this armor.  However, my entire life has been confused and disappointed with the fact I could never make it work for me.  Last night’s Conquer class talked specifically about the Breastplate of Righteousness and the Shoes of the Gospel of Peace.  Being much more awake to my being a new creation 24/7 I suddenly realize why I’d never been able to use this armor.  I was putting it on the defeated, old me rather than this new creation.  What good is armor on a corpse?  It is still dead.  I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time.  Laugh at the reality of the truth I’d just awakened to and cry that it took 66 years to finally understand.  Part of the lesson last night was visualizing what is true.  It seemed God was showing me that in my new creation I stand before Him righteous because Jesus is within me.  Then He showed me that this same righteousness if the Breastplate of Righteousness that is on me when Satan comes to attack.  The shoes of the Gospel of Peace are the same ones that let me stand before God and to also stand before the tempter.  Good grief, I just shake my head even now with the blessed assurance I feel knowing how powerful this truth is!

When I add the rest of the armor of God to these two already mentioned I am ready for the day.  I know I’m not alone in this awakening.  In the times I’ve shared it I’m asked about the book:  The Nature of Freedom that God is using to help me break free of this burdensome old self I’ve drug through life with me.  Now that I can see this old self for what it is I can also see that he never looked right in that armor anyway because it wasn’t meant for him.  I stand amazed however as a new creation wearing the full armor of God!