Skipping leg day …

Yes, I’m one of those odd guys who actually enjoy leg day in my workouts at the gym.

But as a Personal Trainer, I observed for myself that many people – especially guys – skipped leg day in their weekly workouts.

For some reason, guys like to give their attention to building bulging biceps, chiseled abs, taut pecs, and a muscular back … just about anything other than strengthening their legs. They seemed to be oblivious to the fact that by skipping leg day, they were choosing to keep a key part of their body under-developed and weak.

Not only do we make those kinds of decisions about our physical bodies, we’re often foolish enough to do the same about our spiritual lives. We live in the midst of raging spiritual warfare, something for which God has provided us with the protection of spiritual armor, but we often choose to skip certain pieces, leaving ourselves exposed and vulnerable.

A good Personal Trainer will admonish you not to skip leg day. And a good apostle, like Paul, will exhort you not to skip any pieces of God’s armor. In fact, he did so twice …

“A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil,” Ephesians 6:10-11 and, “Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm,” Ephesians 6:13.

Here’s the whole instruction Paul gave us:

“A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere,” Ephesians 6:10-18.

Like skipping leg day, are you trying to stand strong in spiritual battle by only relying on part of the armor God has supplied you? Or are you fully suiting up every day so that you may stand strong against all the strategies of the devil?

Scotty