Daily Devotional 9.26.11

The Armour of Light

“Awake, awake; put on thy strength; put on thy beautiful garments.” (Isaiah 52:1) “It is high time to awake out of sleep: let us cast off the works of darkness; let us put on the armour of light.” (Romans 13:11-12)

Put on strength. We have not to purchase it, or generate it by prayers and resolutions, but simply to put it on. As we awake in the early morning hour, and have to pass out into the arena of life, which has so often witnessed failure and defeat, let us put on the strength and might of the living Christ. He waits to strengthen us with all power, according to the riches of His glory. Do not simply pray to be kept and helped, but put on the whole armour of God. “The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?”

Put on beautiful garments. The emblem of the life of the Christian soul is that of the bridegroom or the bride decked with jewels; or a garden filled with beautiful flowers (Isaiah 61:10-11). We are not only to do right things, but we must do them beautifully; not only to speak the truth, but to speak it in love; not only to give to those who need our help, but to do it graciously and joyously. We must cultivate the bloom of the soul, which is made up of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, generosity. The beauty of the Lord our God must be upon us.

We cannot weave these beautiful robes, or fashion them out of our own nature, but they are all prepared for us in Christ, who is “made unto us Wisdom, and Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption.” Let us wake up out of sleep, put off the works of darkness, and put on the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the armour of Light.

Devotional Prayer

Dear Lord, Father in heaven hear my prayer.

Lord of power and love! I come, trusting in Thine almighty strength, and Thine infinite goodness, to beg from Thee what is wanting in myself; even that grace which shall help me such to be, and such to do, as Thou would have me. I will trust Thee, in whom is everlasting strength. Be Thou my helper, to carry me on beyond my own strength, and to make all that I think, and speak, and do, acceptable in Thy presence.

I pray this to you in Jesus name, Amen.