Locked and Loaded...and Feb 1 Verse

I am so enjoying seeing the verses you chose...and some of the respective comments as to why you chose your particular verse crack me up!

It's a great thing to have these verses in our arsenal.  That's really what they become in our lives - a storehouse of weapons to draw upon when we wage war in our minds against fears, worries, vain imaginations.  Be anxious for nothing, quoted frequently, because it is a necessary reminder that we are to - guess what? - be anxious for nothing.

The weapons we fight with, Paul tells us, are NOT the weapons of this world.  And here's the part I really like.  ON THE CONTRARY.  I mean, it's a good thing to have worldly weapons when you need them.  But wait!  That's not all!  Can't you just see it?  It's like he's just getting started, just getting his engines revved up, and here he comes with the "now-look-here-just-you-wait-a-cotton-pickin-minute".  (Maybe he was from South Israel.)  And I bet there's some serious finger-stabbing-in-the-air going on too.  And then, the real kicker...they, these weapons of ours, have DIVINE POWER to demolish strongholds.

He uses some strong words - depending on your translation, words like pulling down, destroying, destruction, demolish, tear down, take captive.  (Some of my boys' favorites - both in word and in deed.)  Those thoughts that set themselves up against the knowledge of God are not going to go quietly.  The enemy doesn't respond to a "pretty please".  He pays no attention to a polite, gentle, "if you don't mind please leave me alone" and doesn't just lay down and give up.  ON THE CONTRARY.  We have to demolish his arguments, tear down thoughts, take captive every high thing that has the audacity to come against what God says is so.  Hence, the strong words and the need for powerful arms.

There's a phrase from military circles that means that your weapon has its magazine in place, is ready to fire, and you are ready for action.  It's applicable to us as well.  We have to be locked and loaded and ready to take some thoughts captive. 

Okay, then....so on to my verse.  Here's what I'm memorizing this go-round:

Romans 6:5-7 NLT, "Since we have been united with Him in His death, we will also be raised as He was.  Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives.  We are no longer slaves to sin.  For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin."

Set free.  That's some good stuff there.

I look forward to seeing yours.