Day 6

The Helmet of Salvation

"Embrace the power of salvation's full deliverance, like a helmet to protect your thoughts from lies..." -Ephesians 6:17

When a soldier is suited up for battle, the helmet is the last piece of armor to go on. It was the final act of readiness in preparation for combat.

A helmet is vital for survival. It protects the brain, which is the command station for the rest of the body. If the head was damaged, the rest of the armor would be of little use.

We must be prepared for Satan's attacks!

The mind is the battlefield (which is also a book title from Joyce Meyer that I highly recommend. She has a kid, teen and adult version).

When we have sure knowledge of our salvation and who we are in Christ, we will not be moved by Satan's lies.

"How can this be?" You might ask... because you will be walking in Truth!

When we know who we are as a child of God (God's special, chosen, and elect), we will have a peace that nothing can disturb.

In 1 John 1:9, it states, "When we confess our sins, Jesus is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Coming from a background of abuse, not only in my childhood, but even as a young adult, I was in several abusive and toxic relationships because I didn't know who I was. I allowed people to dictate my identity.

I had no one leading and guiding me into all truth. I was just trying to survive.

How many of you reading this are allowing people to form your identity?

Our identity isn't just based on what we believe, but on the infallible truth of who God says we are!

As a follower of Christ, we can know and stand on this Bible fact: Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life (John 14:6).

In John 8:32, Jesus says, "For if you embrace the truth, it will release true freedom into your lives."

Praise God. In Him, we are free! When we go from living a life of believing the lies to living in the Truth of God, freedom comes.

As a child of God, there is true freedom living from your true identity. We must keep our Helmet on so when the lies of the devil come, they will not penetrate but bounce right off!

I know some of you are desperate for freedom right now, and if that is you, you are in the right place. There is no coincidence you are reading this devotional right now in your life.

In John 8:31-32 it says, "If you abide in my word [continually obeying my teachings and living in accordance with them, then you are truly my disciples, then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free."

Who here wants to be set free? Like, truly set free! Not according to the world's standards, but free according to the Word of God.

I know I want to live in freedom, and I'm certain you do too.

When we place the Helmet of Salvation on, we are able to live out the truth of God.

Key Point: When we get into God's Word and allow it to wash over us and cleanse us from all the worldly lies and confusion, that's when His Truth will set you free!

A lot of us reading this need to UN-learn some things. It can't just be me who needs to! Some of us have had to believe the lies so we could survive our situation, some of us even created the lies so we could survive the circumstance.

But now... we must allow God's Word to wash over us and renew our minds. We don't have to live in the lies anymore. It's time to allow God to heal you.

We must have a teachable spirit, one that wants to learn and grow in the Lord. One that is ready to expose the lies and walk in Truth.

Did you know...?

According to Mental Health America, nearly 1-in-5 American adults will have a diagnosable mental health condition in any given year.

46% of Americans will meet the criteria for a diagnosable mental condition sometime in their lifetime, and half of those people will develop conditions by the age of 14.

There are 50 million adults in the U.S. alone with mental illness.

42.5 million U.S. adults have anxiety disorders.

If this is not alarming to you, then we have an even bigger problem on our hands.

If you are struggling with any mental illness right now, or have in the past, you know how serious this is.

The enemy prowls around like a lion seeking whom he can devour. Don't let that be you.

Put on your Helmet of Salvation right now.

Allow God's truth to set you free.

Choose to see yourself as God does.

If you don't seek God and make meditating His Word a priority so you can learn and know the truth, you will unfortunately live in fear. I know, because I have lived that life and it was pitiful.

Before I knew God and His word, I struggled with shame and anxiety. I would eat anxiety medicine like candy. I lived in anxiety and fear, daily.

But the moment I surrendered my life to Christ; His truths came inside me, and I began to renew my mind. I made reading and meditating (eating) God's word a priority and I pray you do also.

You deserve to live a life full of Truth and Freedom, it's part of your inheritance.

In Romans 12:2, it says, "Do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you can prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you]."

What we focus on will become bigger and stronger in our life. So, instead of focusing on the negative and on all the what ifs, focus on God's Word and meditate on that.

We get to choose what we focus on.

As my friend Kayla would say... It's time to get off the hamster wheel!

The hamster wheel is full of the lies that the enemy throws at you. And if you choose to get on it and focus on them, it will get you nowhere. On the hamster wheel you keep rehearsing those lies, over and over...

Do you find yourself on the hamster wheel?

Friend, it's time to kick the hamster wheel of lies once and for all!

As we put on the Helmet of Salvation, our mind and thoughts will be saturated with the goodness of God, and there is no room for any lies!

Our mind is protected by this Helmet. Close your eyes and imagine the enemy throwing lies to your mind. If you have your Helmet on, those lies cannot penetrate the Helmet!

It is protecting you!

Every lie thrown at you will bounce right off with no effect, because your life is built upon the Truth of God.

The Helmet of Salvation is impenetrable. We know God's character, we know what He makes is built to last. When we use our Helmet daily, it doesn't matter how many lies are thrown at it, it will never wear down or wear out. It was built for our lifetime.

Hallelujah!

QUESTION

What are you focusing on that is making your mental health go down the wrong path?

What are some beliefs/habits you need to UN-learn?

ACTION STEP

I want you to replace the toxic thoughts/lies with what God says.

Write the toxic thoughts/lies down on a sheet and paper and search God's word and replace it with TRUTH.

Examples:

Instead of focusing on the doctor's diagnoses, declare, "I AM healed by the stripes of Jesus according to Isaiah 53:4-5!"

Instead of focusing on the anxiety, declare, "I AM in perfect peace because my mind is continually on Jesus according to Isaiah 26:3!"

Instead of focusing on the fear, declare, "I AM made perfect in God's love and there is no fear in perfected love according to 1 John 4:18!"

DECLARATION

I put on the Helmet of Salvation and walk in truth. I reject and rebuke any lie that comes my way, and I replace it with God's Truth. I have the mind of Christ, and I walk in God's truth daily. I am defined by the Word of God, in Jesus' Name. Amen!