Are you a wounded woman or a warrior woman? I can help you to be the last.
But first, he had to stop coming first.
Any of us can easily become a wounded woman… without even thinking about it.
Hurtful comments from others, stolen dreams, disappointments in relationships, or simply a circumstance in life that seems unfair can make us cower with feelings of weakness and failure. Add wounds from our childhood to that and we are all Class Act Mess.
But you and I don’t have to live that way any longer.
The Scripture says that if we are followers of Christ, our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against “the principalities, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual hosts of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12).
That tells me we should be warriors…not women who cower in our wounds. The Scriptures exhort us in Ephesians 6:10-11 to “be strong in the Lord and in the might of his might.” and to “put on the full armor of God so that you can resist the wiles of the devil.” Then, as we are given details on how to put on those pieces of armor, we are told to take up the shield of faith “with which you can quench all the fiery darts of the evil one” (verse 16).
I began to wonder how many of us fall prey to the incendiary arrows or “fiery darts” of the enemy because we believe their lies:
No one will ever truly love you.
You are a pathetic example of a mother.
Your husband doesn’t really love you; he’s just going through the motions.
Do you call yourself a son of God? Just watch how you behave!
You should be ashamed of everything in your past.
Everyone knows how fake and fake you are. Just leave it!
You can never live a life with meaning and purpose, so don’t even try.
Those fiery darts pierce our hearts, pierce our minds, condition our thinking. They convince us that God’s words are lies and that the enemy’s words (sometimes our thoughts and sometimes real words spoken to us by other people) are true.
But the Scriptures tell us to put on the armor of God as a defense against these lies, accusations, and fiery darts.
For years, I wondered what the analogy meant and how to actually put on the armor of God. So my husband, a pastor, explained it at a Bible study one night. He pointed out that each piece of the armor symbolizes Christ in some way. And therefore, putting on the armor of God is synonymous with putting on the character of Jesus Christ, or simply abiding in Him. This is what it looks like:
We must buckle up truth belt around our waist, which means knowing in the core of our being that Jesus is the truth. Jesus said “I am the way, the truth and life” (John 14:6).
We must carry the breastplate of justicewhich means that we should cover our hearts with Christ who is called “The Lord our Righteousness” in Jeremiah 23:6.
We must take the shield of faith to extinguish those fiery darts of the enemy. Psalm 84:11 tells us “The Lord is sun and shield…” and Christ is the object of our faith.
We must put on helmet of salvation guarding our heads and minds with Christ because Acts 4:12 says “Salvation is found in no one else.”
We must take the sword of the spirit what is he God’s word – and John 1:14 tells us that Jesus is the Verb made meat.
When the enemy begins to shoot his fiery darts into your heart and mind, making you believe you are defeated, do not back down from the attack. Do not become a wounded woman, prey to her lies, accusations and machinations. Instead, be a woman warrior. Know the truth of who you are and the power of Christ in you. Stand firm, clothed with Christ by standing in the character and identity of Jesus Christ.
The easiest way for me to remember to get dressed each day is to pray through those pieces of armor as I’m getting dressed. As I dress, I ask God to clothe me with his character, wrap me in his truth, cover my heart with his righteousness, shield my mind with his salvation, etc. And to stay focused on the war I’m in, I spend time on Their presence, praising Him for who He is (a mental reminder that He is God and greater than any problem or pain in my life), read Their Word (and receive His advice for the day instead of the world’s) and listen Their voice (which will remind me who my commanding officer is – the King of kings, not my fears, doubts, hurts or regrets).
Can you face each day with a clear reminder of who you are? Really in Christ Jesus? If so, you will live as a warrior woman, not as a wounded one. So get dressed. Wield your sword as Xena, the warrior princess. And take on the world as a warrior!
Cindi McMenamin is a national women’s speaker and author of several books, including When Women Walk Alone (over 120,000 copies sold), When a woman overcomes the pains of life Y When God sees your tears. His most recent book 10 Secrets to Becoming a Worry-Free Mom, is published March 1 by Harvest House Publishers. Pre-order now through March 1 on their website and receive free shipping by entering coupon code “GRABNEW” at checkout. To learn more about her ministry to Strengthen the Soul, Marriage, and Parenting, visit her website: StrengthForTheSoul.com.
Publication date: January 21, 2016