Armor

It was revealed to me that there are two different descriptions of armor that people have & put on themselves. The armor's are similar in what it protects, but the intent of the armor or reasons for wearing it are polar opposites.

People wear an armor to protect themselves from family, friends, strangers, enemies, hurts etc. The armor isn't actually a physical armor that you put on but an imaginary armor that is in the heart. It's like a mental shield or bubble that they place around them to keep their minds aware to not let people hurt them. Yet ironically, they are only hurting themselves.

A hard heart is described as, to make yourself stop feeling kind or friendly towards someone: You've just got to harden your heart and tell him to leave. It can be from sin or pride & both from the past & present. We therefore have allowed that sin to have an effect on our heart & make us untrusting.

I do agree there are times you need to have a strict heart or a better word would be a boundaries so you don't get hurt but what is wrong is how people make a choice to live & operate from the hard heart. They want to live, breathe & exist in it. That is not good for your heart, mind or soul. Instead of putting on an armor of chains, hard heart, anger & frustration, take off that armor & either lay it at the feet of Jesus or ask him to take it off you. Once you have it off then ask him to replace it with God's armor. Then just try to stay in the present. When you stumble & trust me you will, it's not the end of the world.. just say I am sorry God, please keep my heart soft & in the present.

Ephesians 6: 10 - 20 New International Version (NIV)
The Armor of God
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

The only way we are going to be lovable by or towards others if you have a open & soft heart. We need to get rid of our hard hearts. I know it appears to feel better if we shut down or build a wall up around us but it actually makes it so others can't treat you with respect. Yes everyone should treat everything & everyone with respect but, one really can't do that if they are met with a spear in the face, head, gut, heart, leg, arm or back everytime they try to approach you.

It's 100% in your control to have a soft or hard heart.
It's 100% your control to allow others in.
It's 100% your choice or others to sit in your rock hard cave with your spear.
It's 100% our choice to walk away & let you sit there until you make a choice to soften your heart.

Your life is going to be lonely, angry, negative & downright miserable because you're doing it from a selfish perspective. Become selfless, open your heart, allow the sonshine in. Yes, sonshine.

Ephesians 1:18 New International Version (NIV)
18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,

Reviews

[Maria]

Wow, everything you have written here is true, and I have lived it in my own flesh as well. Thank you for sharing this. Great read and inspirational too.