“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence.”
2 Peter 1:3
THE GOD WHO EQUIPS US BEFORE HE USES US
As believers, do we really understand how God has set us up to spiritually win? When I study Scripture, I am reminded time and time again that God not only desires for us to live spiritually successful lives but has equipped us with everything necessary to do so. Nothing about our journey toward Christlikeness has been left to chance. His Word, His Spirit, and His promises all testify to the truth that heaven has already furnished us with what we need to thrive.
According to 2 Peter 1:3, “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence.” As we grow in our knowledge of the Lord through His Word, prayer, and worship, we can be assured that what we need to live this Christian journey in a way that is pleasing to God is already within us.
Philippians 1:6 reminds us “that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” At the moment of being born again, the Holy Spirit initiates His transformative work, sanctifying us, setting us apart, and declaring us holy and acceptable to God. In this passage, Paul encouraged the Philippian church, and us today, that the Lord Himself promises to complete this good work when Jesus returns. Jesus will find us without spot or wrinkle, transformed to be like Him, and seeing Him as He is.
We were indwelt with the precious, powerful Holy Spirit at our spiritual rebirth. He teaches us all things, comforts us, and produces within us the fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23). He is doing the work in us continually, faithfully, and supernaturally.
Not only that, but according to Romans 8:26–27, the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness, even when we don’t know what to pray for as we ought. He intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. His intercession aligns perfectly with the will of God, not our limited desires. There is such reassurance in knowing that even when our prayers falter, the Spirit prays God’s perfect will for our lives.
And remember, He is not the only One interceding. Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of God, interceding for us in the presence of the Father (Romans 8:34). Heaven is actively involved in our endurance and victory.
A STORY OF GOD’S PREPARATION IN THE FACE OF IMPOSSIBILITY
In 1742, the great evangelist George Whitefield once stood outside a coal mine in Bristol, England. Thousands of miners, rough, hardened, unchurched, packed the hillside to hear the gospel, many out of curiosity, some out of mockery. Whitefield later recounted that as he opened his Bible and began to preach, he felt utterly inadequate. These were men untouched by church, untouched by Scripture, untouched by anything resembling godliness.
Yet as he preached, he looked out and saw something that changed him: streams of white lines forming down the miners’ coal-blackened faces as tears cut through layers of soot. Hardened men were weeping. Harsh lives were softening. Hearts were breaking open to the gospel.
Whitefield said he suddenly realized that everything he needed, courage, clarity, compassion, power, had been placed in him long before that moment. God had set him up to win before he ever opened his mouth.
This story reminds us of a stunning truth: God equips His people before He exposes His purpose. He strengthens us before He sends us. And He empowers us before He positions us. And when the moment comes, we discover that heaven has already prepared us for what we were afraid to face. As Charles Spurgeon once said, “God does not call the equipped; He equips the called.” And the equipping began the moment the Holy Spirit took residence in us.
THE ARMOR THAT GUARANTEES VICTORY
God didn’t stop there. He also provided us with His full armor so we can stand against the schemes of the devil and remain steadfast in the evil day. We are called to be “strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might,” not our own (Ephesians 6:10–18).
When we put on the belt of truth, we anchor ourselves in the truth of God’s Word, the truth that sustains us and persuades us that God is able to keep what we have committed to Him (2 Timothy 1:12). Our beliefs and our actions must align with His truth.
- The “breastplate of righteousness” ensures that we walk uprightly, honest, humble, of good character, and fair in our dealings. We stand in righteousness because of our faith in Jesus Christ, not because of our own works.
- Our “feet are shod with the gospel of peace”. Knowing the good news of Jesus Christ, that He came into the world to save sinners, gives us forgiveness of sins and eternal life. He is our peace, the One who grants calm that transcends understanding and empowers us to be peacemakers even in troubled seasons.
- The “shield of faith” enables us to quench the fiery darts of the wicked one. The enemy targets our faith because he knows it is the key to our victory. But this shield represents our unshakable trust in God, our confidence in His promises, and our certainty about the One in whom we believe.
- The “helmet of salvation” guards our thoughts and reminds us that salvation is God’s gift by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, and through His finished work on the cross alone. Because He rose, we rise. And every thought contrary to that truth must be brought under His authority.
- The “sword of the Spirit”, the Word of God, is our offensive weapon. We speak the Word to confront lies with truth, resist the enemy with authority, and bring light to those who have yet to believe.
Saints, it should be clear to us from these Scriptures that we are set up by God to win. He has not left us as orphans, uncovered or unprotected. Our role is to surrender fully to the Holy Spirit’s transforming power. He is shaping us into the image of Christ, interceding for us, strengthening us, and equipping us.
Let’s trust the sanctifying work He is doing in our lives. And with intention, let’s put on the whole armor of God, knowing that everything we need has already been provided. We are indeed set up to win. Now let’s win!
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, remind us that You have provided us with everything we need to successfully navigate this Christian journey. You didn’t leave us to ourselves to try to figure it all out. We are so grateful for the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, who is transforming us from the inside out to be more like Christ and represent You well in the earth realm. Lord, help us to completely surrender to Your will so that we are ready when Jesus returns, allowing You to complete the work You have already begun in us. Lord, may we be good and faithful servants, able to rejoice at Your coming, welcoming us into Your kingdom, announcing “well done,” and entering our eternal rest. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE
Today, take a few intentional minutes to “suit up” spiritually. Find a quiet place and ‘talk’ through each piece of the armor of God as a personal declaration. Speak each one aloud, slowly and thoughtfully:
- The Belt of Truth
“Lord, fasten Your truth around my mind and my motives. Let every lie be exposed, and every deception be broken.”
- The Breastplate of Righteousness
“Cover my heart today with Your righteousness. Let every decision I make reflect the character of Christ.”
- The Shoes of Peace
“Guide my steps in the gospel of peace. Wherever I walk today, let me carry Your calm, Your clarity, and Your compassion.”
- The Shield of Faith
“Strengthen my faith so I can extinguish every fiery dart, fear, doubt, anxiety, discouragement. My trust is in You alone.”
- The Helmet of Salvation
“Guard my thoughts, Lord. Remind me that I am saved by grace, kept by grace, and empowered by grace.”
- The Sword of the Spirit
“Fill my mouth with Your Word. Let Scripture be sharp in my spirit and strong on my tongue.”
End with this simple prayer: “Holy Spirit, lead me, fill me, shape me. I surrender this day to Your transforming power. Amen.”
Do this daily, especially during the fast, and you will begin to sense not just that God has equipped you, but that He is actively strengthening you, moment by moment, to win the spiritual battles of your life.
Published on Jan 12 @ 12:24 AM EDT
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