DEVOTIONAL: BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

DEVOTIONAL: THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD - THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

The second piece of armor in the Full Armor of God is the Breastplate of Righteousness. In Ephesians 6:13, 14 we read, "Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness.

From a physical standpoint, the breastplate protects one of the most important and vital internal organs, the heart. It prevented the soldier from the arrows and deadly abuse aimed at him in battle.

As our spiritual armor that we, as Christians, can put on, the Breastplate of Righteousness protects our seat of emotion, our hearts. "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Proverbs 4:23.

So how do we guard our hearts? How can you, as a young woman, guard it when you are dating? By putting on the Breastplate of Righteousness. You can do this by being "...anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6,7. So when you are anxious, let God turn that anxiety into the peace of God by letting Jesus, your Breastplate of Righteousness guard your heart.

The great thing about putting on Jesus as your Breastplate of Righteousness is: He will guard you from the outside and the inside of your heart. He will live in you to make your strong and loving, and He will guard you from Satan's attacks from the outside.

You can wear the righteousness of Christ. His righteousness can fill you. First John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." If you have Jesus as you Savior, but you fall into committing a sin, you can confess your sin, be forgiven, and be cleansed from all unrighteousness. :)

Romans 4:5 tells us, "But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness." Wow! You and I are made righteous, not by trying to do good things, but by believing in Jesus, Who justifies us, the ungodly!

Second Corinthians 5:21 also says, "He made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." Yes, Jesus took our sins upon His own body on the cross to be judged by God the Father in our place. 1 Peter 2:24: He became sin for us, so we could become the righteousness of God in HIm! He has never committed any sin, but He willingly was judged for our sin! "and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed."

Emotions are a funny thing, but you can guard your heart from the wrong emotions, if you put on the Breastplate of Righteousness. You can keep yourself sexually pure, or keep yourself from any further sexual sin, if you consciously wear God's Breastplate of Righteousness. Only God will see it, and I'm sure He will smile down on you as you wear it, but others will see that you are different, that you have a kind of goodness about you that they can't understand, and also a peace that passes understanding! Don't expect them to like it. But you can pray that they begin to want that kind of righteousness and peace. Maybe they will ask you what makes you different! Go ahead and tell them!