I’m sure I’ve read it before, at least the first Sunday of Advent for the past 17 years. But this year, it was almost like everything and everyone got quiet around me on Sunday and I heard these words clearly–“The night is passed And the day is at hand. Let us, therefore cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.” (Romans 13:12) Wow. For someone who loves inspiring Bible quotes, I started imaging this on tee shirts, wall decals, and of course photoshopped on Pinterest boards. Let’s look at Bible Quotes: The Armor of Light, especially as we’ve entered this season of light.
Bible Quotes: The Armor of Light
Before we get into the meat of this post, let’s look at this verse in my new favorite translation, the New Living Translation, “The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living.”
Um, #momlife anyone? This verse takes on a new meaning when you add such a descriptive visual as, “So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes.” ‘Cause if there’s anything I spend a lot of time with, it’s dirty laundry. Maybe…maybe this new visual will help me appreciate my kids dirty laundry more??? Just thinking out loud here.
Put on the Armor of Light
But back to the point of this post, the “Armor of Light.” It’s ironic that a time of year that is the most lit up with twinkle and sparkle, can also be one of the darkest times, a holiday blindness if you will. It’s like when you walk into a darkened room from being out in the bright sun, the room suddenly seems darker, you can’t even see where you’re going. And in this season of light, well, sometimes we are blinded and can’t even see where we’re going. We need to put on the armor of light.
Here’s how this works, for some of us, we’re suddenly blinded by the idea that we need something. We need a new this or need a bigger that. Ask us in June and we probably don’t even know we need it then. Come December first, it’s like we can’t live without it. And this thing we suddenly need…it’s on S.A.L.E.. Those four letters can sure fuel that need.
One Thanksgiving night I sat outside my oldest daughter’s brand new job at 10:30 at night amazed at the number of people carrying out pillows they had just bought. And I thought “Really?” Last week would any one of these people have been streaming in the store at 10:30 p.m. to buy a pillow? Probably not.
But last week the store was not decorated with the twinkly lights that can cause this holiday blindness. Last week Christmas music wasn’t being piped through every open speaker and there wasn’t a man standing out front ringing a bell asking for donations. Nope, last week was just an ordinary Thursday night…and no one needed a pillow at 10:30 p.m. on a Thursday night. Put on the armor of light.
This holiday blindness, it also causes lifestyle blind spots and begins to mess with our minds. We tend to overestimate our finances, our ability in the kitchen, and our patience level. We forget who we really are in search of who we think we want to be. We try too hard to be the good wife and leave a miserable husband, cranky children, glitter, flour and ribbon in the wake of what we thought was going to be the “perfect” holiday season. Put on the armor of light.
All of these sudden expectations can cause a darkness to come over us; the absence of light. We suddenly have this insatiable need for a new pillow, at 10:30 p.m. on a Thursday night. Or we need to make the Pinterest worthy Gingerbread mansion, or the need to have the biggest tree, from the most storybook farm, appropriately Instagrammed with the “Dreamy” filter; these things can be become blinding. Don’t ask me how I know.
And this seasonal darkness doesn’t have to be a case of full blown, holiday season depression either; it can be that feeling of too much to do with too little time. This darkness can fuel a perfectionist streak that forces us to remake a pie that doesn’t look the way the magazine picture does…or our sister-in-law’s. Don’t ask me if I’m speaking from personal experience here. I’d hate to have to say “Yes.”
The shadows can easily creep into our mind when we crawl into bed, too late, with too much still on our plate. This gloom really knows how to zero on and hit us hard when it comes to comparison doesn’t it? Put on the armor of light.
The solution? The way to put on this armor of light? It’s so simple…but simple does not always mean easy. Begin by remembering who you really are. You are not the sum of your perfect turkey basting skills. You are not the sum of your coordinated stockings hung meticulously by the fireplace with care. You are not the sum of your Christmas present wrapping abilities.
And your worth is based more on Who He is, than who you are. You cannot create a Winter Wonderland to make Christ love you more. Honestly, you can’t create a Winter Wonderland to make anyone love you more…not even yourself. So this armor of light? It’s actually a stepping from away from the lights of the season; they can and will blind us.
If this season can seem dark, follow Paul’s instruction to put on the Lord Jesus Christ; he said this right after he exhorted us to put on the armor of light. Put on the Light of the World.
Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
†John 8:12
Jennifer | The Deliberate Mom says
This post gave me one of those “it-can-only-be-God” kind of moments.
We just finished our homeschool group’s Tale of Despereaux novel study and we were discussing the symbolism of the empty armor in Despereaux’s dream and light and darkness. Then I come here and I’m blown away by this message. It’s like God is telling me… pay close attention here.
Anyway thanks for sharing and for blessing me with this message.
Also, thanks so much for linking up to the #SHINEbloghop!
Wishing you a lovely weekend.
xoxo
Jenny says
I love it when God is so obvious! I appreciate your comment and bloghop.
Deb Wolf says
Hi Jenny, Thank you so much for linking this at the Blessing Counters Link Party. I am so thankful for the faithful reminders that He is the Light of the World and all I really need when the darkness of discouragement overwhelms me. God’s blessings!
Jenny says
Hi Deb. Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment.
sharita says
The twinkle of lights = holiday blindness. Never thought of it like that, but how true! You share so many great points in here, Jenny. And I am SO very thankful that my worth is not determined by anything I DO, because I would be in serious trouble. So grateful that my identity is “souly” determined by who I am in Christ. Thank you, girl.
Jenny says
What a discouraging life to try to prove ourselves worthy of Christ, right?
Christie says
When I ask or want something, I spend months debating it first. But I also remind myself that presents and twinkly lights are not the reason to celebrate. That one is harder but learning. I think having worked retail before, I’m less called to the sparkly lights and I know the sales really aren’t that great!
Jenny says
My husband has started telling our older children if they want something, start paying attention to the price, sometimes it goes up to go “on sale” back at it’s original price.
Kristina says
This is great! Thanks for the reminder!
I really love this passage too!
Jenny says
You’re welcome Kristina. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Rachel Rains says
LOVED reading this… May your days be merry and bright, And your Christmas filled with the Armor of Light!
Jenny says
What a fun rhyme! Thanks Rachel.
Clare says
Funny how we can be tempted by something we don’t really at all!
Thanks for the reminder…
Michelle says
Spot on. Yes, we have needed a TV all year, but now we REALLY need one. 🙂
“The experience of the Church and the saints demonstrates a general law: what comes from the Spirit of God brings with it joy, peace, tranquility of spirit, gentleness, simplicity, and light. One the other hand, what comes from the spirit of evil brings sadness, trouble, agitation, worry, confusion, and darkness. These marks of the good and the evil spirit are unmistakable signs in themselves.”
— Fr. Jacques Philippe, p. 51
In the School of the
Jenny says
You know how I feel about Fr Jacques Philippe! I would love to get rid of ours, but my family would probably like the computer to go sometimes too.
Janet says
“And your worth is based more on Who He is, than who you are.” Yes, yes, beautiful and Amen.