“In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” - Ephesians 6:16

ll of the pieces of armor are important in the battle – righteousness, truth, peace…but if you are going into battle, you better make sure you have a shield of faith, or you will always be vulnerable.

⁹ ”For whoever lacks these qualities (v5-7 faith, virtue, knowledge, self control, steadfastness, godliness, love) is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. ¹⁰ Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.” - 2 Peter 1:9-10

Lessons

1. Your struggle is significant

• No problems are more important than others

Do not believe the lie that your struggles are insignificant. I felt out of place in Celebrate Recovery (CR) because I felt like nobody could look at my problems and see that they mattered enough to affect me in the ways that they had. It does not take sex, drugs, prison, abuse, or even lies to create addictions and hurts – it takes separation from God; no matter how that happens.

• CR - at the core, we were all the same, broken people who had lost control.

2. God can (and will) change your life miraculously

• It will be painful

³² But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, ³³ sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. ³⁴ For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. ³⁵ Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. ³⁶ For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.    Hebrews 10

• Struggle will continue

• This too shall pass

3. Reconciliation is possible - as long as God is the center

• Reconcile with God

“…that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.” 2 Cor. 5:19

• Reconcile with loved ones

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Eph 4:32

“…bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” Eph 3:13