In the Fire Academy, our nephew Michael, had to learn to put on PPE (personal protective equipment), which included boots, pants, jacket, hood, helmet and gloves. He needed to be able to don all this in under one minute and inability to do so would result in termination from the Academy. Extreme but necessary. Obviously. I mean what fireman would ever think to enter a fire without this protection?! It would be utterly ridiculous. And suicidal. The need to master this skill is indisputable. He practiced over and over. I got to time him on one visit and he kept getting 4-10 seconds over, but he did not give up; just kept repeating the exercise. Of course he has to, I thought…otherwise he has no hope of fighting fires.

Later I found myself wondering… why do I not think it as pressing  to be proficient at donning the equipment You tell me is necessary to be able to withstand the fires of evil (Ephesians 6)?? Why am I not adamant about my ability and familiarity with the pieces You have ordered for my safety and effectiveness?? Why do I not think it critical to master this?? I could easily see the absurdity of not putting on physical equipment for protection in fire, but You warn us that the spiritual fires are just as real. Just as dangerous. Just as lethal.

Holy Spirit, please help me to be willing to train like Michael till I have it down; putting on the belt of Truth, the breastplate of Righteousness, the  shoes of Peace, the shield of Faith, the helmet of Salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit. For unless I am proficient in donning my spiritual PPE like You tell me to, I can only expect to be terminated from the privilege of withstanding and fighting the fires of evil.