“Oh what I would do to have
The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant
With just a Sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors
Shaking in their armor
Wishing they’d have had the strength to stand”
One of my favorite songs by Casting Crowns. Voice of Truth. Everyone in my world is a giant, at 5’0. But most of the giants that tower over me are unseen. Huge.
What kind of strength would it take? To stand before a giant? For a young man named David, it looked like a lot. Saul made sure his armor was secured around him before going out to do what no other man would do, not even Jonathan (and he’s one of my favorite men in the Bible).
I imagine all that heavy armor, two sizes too big clanged against David like metal garbage cans.
And David knew he didn’t need it anyway. He stripped it off. Stood bare.
But did he? Stand bare?
Only a sling and a stone?
No.
He was girded with an unseen belt of truth.
“But the voice of truth tells me a different story
And the voice of truth says “Do not be afraid!”
And the voice of truth says “This is for My glory”
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth.”
The Voice of Truth.
A belt if you will. I’m still traveling at my own pace through Donna Pyle’s, Your Strong Suit, Bible study and this week she talked about the Belt of Truth. She says, “God’s truth brings our focus back to center and strengthens us.”
Since we talked about exercising our core last week (here), I thought how appropriate that when we get lost in the lies the enemy throws at us, such as these:
“But the giant’s calling out my name and he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times I’ve tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
Time and time again “boy, you’ll never win!
“You’ll never win.”
We have the truth to remind us, we only need the armor of God–unseen to us but seen by the enemy– to fight. The neighbor mowing his grass smiles and nods, the stranger on the street pays us little attention but the unseen giants we face each day, those that may even manifest in circumstances and people who hurt us, see the belt of truth glittering like sunshine off Caribbean waters around our waist.
And they tremble.
We can’t physically see them shaking in their evil boots, but we can feel it–they turn up the heat in our lives trying to melt away the truth. Those fiery darts can fly swiftly when an enemy is frightened.
Ephesians 6:14, “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth…”
To gird in the Greek is “perizonnymi.” It means “to equip one’s self with the knowledge of truth.” Equip, gear up….get ready…prepare…
Generally, in the Old Testament to gird up meant to ready yourself for service. We see this in the NT as well, when Jesus girded a towel around His waist and washed the feet of His disciples. An intimate display of servanthood. A glorious example for us.
What is truth? Donna says, “Living truthfully is really knowing God closely and intimately.”
Truth is Jesus, Himself. “I am the Way, the TRUTH, and the Life.” John 14:6
Truth in the Greek is, “Altheia” meaning, “What is true in pertaining to God and duties of man, moral & religious truth.”
Girding ourselves with Jesus Christ is strengthening ourselves with power we do not have. Hanes and Playtex can’t invent a girdle strong enough to fight our enemies. We can not do it in our own power.
We are but flesh, dust, vapor…weak.
But…
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13
And flesh, dust, vapor, weakness moves mountains.
John 8:44 says (Jesus speaking), “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”
“But the stone was just the right size
To put the giant on the ground
And the waves they don’t seem so high
From on top of them looking down
I will soar with the wings of eagles
When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus
Singing over me”
He cannot stand in Truth because he has to bow at the feet of it. Of Him. He’s been defeated. At the cross. But we…we get to stand, ladies and gents.
“Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world.” 1 John 4:4
“I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth.”
Are you a belt person? How many belts do you own?
There has been numerous times that I thought the giant I was facing was going to take me down, but God saw me through it. Just like he always does. Great post.
Excellent post, Jessica! One of my favorite sections in one of my favorite books! For a year, I taught my kids about setting up their protection at the beginning of the day. I think it was more for me than for them! Thanks for the reminder!
Reading this right before I go to sleep … such encouragement to stand in the truth, tighten that belt of truth around my waist. I taught on the Armor of God years ago. Am reminding how every piece of armor was a reflection of Jesus — Jesus is called the Truth … and truth is found in him …
good things to tuck into my mind as I snuggle into bed.
Thank you.
Thank you, Jessica,for the reminder!
I am facing a giant this week, and yes, he has been laughing at me! But "greater is He who is in [me] than he who is in the world!" I am grateful! Wonderful post!
I'm not a belt person but I have to wear them with my jeans. Amen on this post!!
btw, I got an e-mail from "you" saying you'd been robbed in some foreign country. I think your e-mail may've been hacked.
Great post!
Not much of a belt person – but my spiritual one I put on every day! I'm all about the armor. And great song pick, one of my all time favorites, guess cause David's story is near and dear to my heart. What an great pick-me-up today, Jess! Thanks, lady:)
Lately I keep hearing myself tell one of my daughters to "push through to the God thoughts". We are so inundated w/ crowded thinking not of God, sometimes it's a fight to get to the truth. But fight we must. Yoda I am.
~ Wendy
This was so beautiful, I got cold chills! Thanks for the inspiration and reminding us that we have a belt of truth:)
Love. This. So good!!
I'm not a belt person. Honestly, I think I have two…they just don't flatter me all that much. I have a coworker, though, who's a cowgirl to the core…and she wears the cutest belts!
Not a belt person. They add bulk where I don't need it. 🙂 Great post Jess! Your blog is always a fun and uplifting way to start my day! Thanks!!!
I have a Voice of Truth/Casting Crowns t shirt. I love that song! I can't tell you how many times that song got me through some rough patches.
Great post.
I haven't always been a belt person, but I've gotten into wearing them more the last couple years – over shirts, sweaters.
Great post. Good to remember that the devil sees our God-given armor even though we can't.
I love belts. The big, wide ones that look like cummerbunds or corsets around the waist.
What great encouragement and awesome post, Jess Thanks.
Great encouraging post. I've always loved the David and Goliath account, imagining what it must've been like for David facing someone like that. Amazing faith!!!
Love the words to that song! I'm a fan of any kind of accessory.
Don't do belts, but I'm loving these posts! Pastor gave a devotion in staff meeting this morning and said that Paul probably was looking at the Roman soldiers guarding him as he wrote about the Armor of God. He pointed out that much of the armor is attached at the BELT! The truth is what ties it all together!
I love that song and loved your post!
I don't wear as many belts as I used to, but 10 years or so ago, I owned a ton of them.
I love that song too. Thanks for the inspiration, Jessica! Aloha –Cheryl
Oh–Jessica, I am giving you The Irresistibly Sweet Blog Award!
You can read all about it in my post on Monday, February 6. Don’t worry, if you don’t have time to participate, that’s A-OK with me, but if you’d like to participate, here are the rules:
Thank the person who awarded you, blog about it, list seven things about yourself, and list 10 other blogs you would like to pass the award on to.
Aloha! –Cheryl