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Quiet Time
by Kasia Kedzia
It’s crazy how content and at peace I have become about certain aspects of my life. It feels kind of weird. I’m happy with my job and where I am in my career even though it is not by far my dream job. I still have aspirations that I have not met but I have not really felt anxious about them. I have also felt very fulfilled in my personal life- cared for by my friends. This calm has provided a perfect opening for a spiritual sneak attack.
I think everything is going well. I’m calm and at peace about my life and all its aspects, so I start to get lazy in my dependence on God. There is no immediate danger felt so nothing propels me to run to God like I would usually. I’ve become arrogant and began to go about my day without preparing myself for the daily spiritual battle, instead focusing on the worldly one.
Eph6:13-17 (NIV) 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.
The days of evil are every day, and I don’t mean that in a doom and gloom kind of way but in a very real -have you looked at the state of our world, war, commercialization, and popular culture?- type of way. I know that my mind is bombarded by what the world tells me I should be and desire every day from the moment I step out my door and some times even before, through TV, internet, and radio. I should be up on the latest fashions, I should be making “x” amount of money, I should be in a relationship—even Christian pop culture can turn the pressure up through popular media of “what a good Christian should look like, feel, and say.” Well… we cannot only fall short but fall flat on our faces and what does God think about it? He knows it and he provides us with the instructions of exactly how we can equip ourselves. When I don’t have drama (self defined) going on in my life, I can be lazy in fully equipping myself and can really get bogged down with all of the things being hurled at me by the world. Last week I was lazy and not armed despite the fact that I had begun studying out Eph 6 and the Armor of God.
v14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,
I thought about what this meant. What is the point of wearing a belt, practically speaking? A belt keeps your pants up. The belt of truth keeps us from getting caught with our pants down – spiritually! It’s like leaving my house and forgetting to put my pants on and running out in my underwear! When I think that there is not much going on in my life for a given week, I can go without reading on a consistent basis because “I can handle it”, and I am trading the truth in for a lie. This resulted in me not sleeping well, having weird dreams and being totally distracted all last week.
v15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
A soldier’s shoes are one of the most important things he can wear- uncomfortable, tight, worn shoes can put your feet in so much pain that it can actually prevent you from walking and definitely prevent you from fighting. We have shoes fitted with readiness because of the gospel. I was so not ready for anything last week, in fact Sunday rolled around and during the communion message I was fighting to stay focused on the message instead of on my dry cleaning! I was unprepared to come before the foot of the cross. I wasn’t ready. Only then did I realize why. I had gone all week half dressed, partially prepared, and totally unequipped for battle.
v16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
The shield and the sword are the only two parts of the armor that we actually move and are an extension they can be used both as an offence and defense and they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. I am stifling my spiritual growth and letting my weapons get dull if I do not use them – Dull weapons cannot protect me and I am left wide open for attack.
v17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ok, this one is a no brainier (no pun intended) If I don’t have a helmet I end up with a cracked skull and if I don’t have a sword I have no weapon.
As I broke down each piece of armor in Eph6:13-17, I was really convicted and alarmed to see how easily I was disarmed. Amongst this mammoth victory Satan managed to totally get me. I got cocky and lazy in my walk with God. I think it is so much harder to fight for my relationship with God when everything seems ok than when the challenges seem more tangible and in my face. Go figure…when I’m going through trials I pray for God to take them away but when there are no trials, it’s hard to remain humble and in the fight because the fight is not as clear. So this week I fight my own worst enemy—me.
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Since those first days, I have made it out of the Projects, finished my Masters degree in International Development, and moved to DC to work in my field. As a young single Christian woman my struggles today are a little different than they were when I first came to know God, but who am I kidding, not much. It's the every day battle for my heart to be pure before God, to strive to please him, and help others to seek and know Him.
Over my years of a faithful walk with God I have received much grace and compassion and have been blessed beyond my wildest dreams. Through out it all one thing has stayed consistent: God's word. Through His word I have been inspired and it has kept me faithful even when faith seemed like a foreign concept and God seemed deaf to my prayers. I started emailing my Quiet Times which helped me stay accountable as I shared my struggles and fought for understanding. Some wrote back and said they too were inspired and could relate. I hope some of my times can help inspire others who are seeking and fighting just like I am, to get to heaven and take as many as possible with me along the way.
Like what your read? Check out my blog: http://stronggirlforlife.wordpress.com/
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