1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
Ephesians 2: 1-5 NIV
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As I am speaking the armour of God over my family in the car one day, I am taken back by the title, The Helmet of Salvation. Even though I had recited the purpose of each piece of armour over and over again, it struck me for a moment that is states salvation. What associates the helmet with our salvation?
The word of God speaks of our salvation stemming from what we believe in our minds. In the book of 1 Samuel, we can see how God’s hand moves in the life of David, and how he chose to be an overcomer. David was instructed to go to Israelite territory to take grain and bread for his brothers. And when David arrived at their camp, he witnessed the taunting of Goliath that was instilling fear in the Israelite people. It had been happening for 40 days, and 40 nights. And the Israelite camp, along with their leader, Saul, were submitting to the terror of Goliath’s presence.
8 Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.” 10 Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.” 11 On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.
1 Samuel 17: 8-11 NIV
The Israelites were convinced that Goliath was a force that could not be reckoned with. He was a giant in the land. And his appearance, his mockery towards the Israelite people, caused them to feel defeated. The words that came out of his mouth caused them to tremble in fear. They believed they could not defeat him. And rightly so, In their own strength they could not. Goliath is a symbol of what we have to defeat in our minds. We need to conquer our minds by capturing each thought and conforming it to the mind of Jesus.
3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
2 Corinthians 10: 3-5 NIV
We have a saviour, one who defeated death for us. There is nothing that compares to the power of God, and there is no strength that is equal to our God. His victory has already been won. And as believers of Christ, the gift of our salvation has been given to us freely. But does your mind understand the power of grace that is before you in Christ Jesus. He has given us everything that we need to walk the path of righteousness, defeating evil. But our minds are the beginning point as to whether we walk this path, or not. Do you understand that the enemy prowls around like a roaring Lion, desiring to cause you to stumble? Are you defeating the lies that consume your mind? and instead choosing to fix your eyes on Jesus? Nothing can withstand God’s power when it is in aligned with His word.
In the battle between David and Goliath, we witness the deliverance by our living God from the taunts of the enemy. David believed that His God would fight the battle for Him. He understood the power of God, and that nothing could stand against Him when God was standing with Him.
45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
1 Samuel 17: 45-47 NIV
After my husband and I had our daughter, I became convinced in my mind that my husband did not love me. And rightly so, there were things in our relationship that caused this. There were days when I felt alone, used, rejected and abandoned. I became so focused on these feelings that I did not stop to think, that maybe he felt these things too. I developed a deep hatred towards him, one that consumed my thoughts. Every time I felt a sense of rejection from him, it caused these feelings to manifest into something greater. I was choosing to be like the Israelite camp, and be defeated by the taunting of the enemy in my mind, rehearsing it over and over again. It consumed me. And the lies I chose to believe about him became my new reality. I sat back. Instead of being like David, choosing to overcome the lies with the truth. My husband did love me, he did care, he did want the best for me and our family, i just didn’t believe it.
It got to a point that his presence was a point of frustration for me. When he would walk through the door after coming home from work, I would not approach him with love or kindness, I was angry. And already in my mind I hated him. Just like the taunting of Goliath for 40 days, I sat back and allowed the taunting of the pain, hurt and deception from the enemies lies, to enter my mind. The fighting was consuming our marriage. The lack of intimacy and communication was causing strife in our relationship. Our daughter attempted to deflect our conversations, by using distraction mechanisms to divert our paths of anger, rage and arguing.
We began seeing a relationship counsellor with the hope that some form of restoration could be made, but the 18-24 months we were going, I felt no significant change in how I felt about him. The time spent there was a time of verbal diarrhoea, where I just needed to let the counsellor know, how bad my mind convinced me he was. My heart was not able to overcome the hurt I was experiencing.
And after seeking to find something greater than what our marriage had become, I felt no hope. There were people around me telling me to leave him. I was desperate, and in June of 2022 I found Jesus. And He became a beacon of light in our home.
12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 8: 12 NIV
I am taken back at times, by God’s grace in restoring our relationship. And when I look back, I know it is not in my own strength that we are where we are today. It can’t be, how can it be when we tried so hard for so long to do it our own way…. and got no where. I think back at the times when I was alone, and my mind would rehearse the lies, the pain, the unforgivness, the stories I had idolised in my heart. When I think back at these times, I mourn because of the suffering that I was deceived to believe was my life, and it makes me weep with joy because of the gratitude I have for God’s restoration in my marriage. All glory goes to Him. It’s a great time of remembering for me. To think back and make a choice, each day, each fight, to never want to go back. The taunting of the enemy has been defeated.
The power in the name of Jesus, eradicated hate in my heart for my husband. Jesus’ light shone in the dark places where I was hiding sin that was destroying me, my marriage and my family. He invited me to bring it to the light so He could prune it out of me. Let the power in the name of Jesus, break down those strongholds, the giants, the Goliath in your life. Believe that God’s words are yes and amen. That He will do what He says He will do. Do not let your mind deceive you. He is The Way, The Truth and The Life. Put on your Helmet of Salvation and walk the path of righteousness set before you.
There will be a day when your mourning and weeping will turn into rejoicing, in the mighty name of Jesus.
Nadia x
All for His Glory.
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