Readiness - Monday Manna

The purpose of Monday Manna is to get together and get to know Christ more through His Word.

On the first and third Mondays of each month, anyone who wants to participate can post their thoughts on a specific verse--posted here at my blog on the Thursday before, to allow you to chew on it over the weekend. It doesn't have to be long -- just a few thoughts, a picture you feel helps express it, a poem, a short story, a devotional. Just post it on your blog on Mondayish (early OR late is fine, by the way!), then come back here and link up in the Linky Tools gadget that will be at the bottom of MY post at o'dark thirty that morning.

This Monday, our verses are from the end of Ephesians, and speak of God's armor.

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Ephesians 6:14-18

There's so much here to ponder. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts. Mine are below.

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Summer is a lazy time for me: especially as it comes to an end. My kids start school tomorrow, and I am quite unmotivated. I keep putting my projects off until "the kids are back in school." It will be much easier to get these things done without the distraction of my kids in my hair. Once we get into a normal schedule, I figure, it will be easier to work those things into my day.

But will it really happen? Is it really so easy to turn on and off this laziness? Unfortunately, it is not.

Of course, I'm not saying we should never take a break. But we always need to watch letting our guard down, and our life go.We must always be ready for what is crucial, and must be willing to jump out of our lazy/distracted/otherwise occupied states and into what we value.

And there is NOTHING we should value more than God and His Word. 

Paul tells us that we should have our feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15). We must be prepared to go, at a moment's notice, to serve Him. For we have the assurance that His way is best. We know His gospel--His good news--will sustain us and that we have nothing to fear when He is on our side.

So, the next time you kick up your feet, don't forget that, even in rest, they need to be ready to go and serve their, and your, Master.

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Thanks for reading! Be sure to share your own thoughts and link up, and read the thoughts of others!


Paving Rough Roads With God's Presence