I can’t think of anything more wonderful to look forward to than waking up in the morning and, before even getting out of bed, searching for His presence and greeting Him — knowing that whether I see or hear Him or not, HE IS THERE, waiting for me, with eager anticipation, to wake up and begin my day with Him again.
He is just SO in love with each and every one of us! Let’s all determine to truly embrace His words here and greet Him each morning with the same Joy He has for us!
Jesus began, “My daughter, My Bride. I long for you to recognize My presence beside you every day. I long to raise you up when you feel bowed down by life’s challenges. Yet when you awake, you do not immediately recognize My presence beside you. Dear one, that is when I am the closest to you. The enemy wants you to focus on your coffee and vitamins for help so that he can, in the meantime, insert his evil thoughts into your mind.
“May I say, by the time you finish those things, you have already been infected with negativity. That is why he stresses those physical helps to awaken you. In the meantime, your mind is like a wet sponge, taking in all the poison he has prepared for you. ‘I don’t feel well. I am so tired. I can’t think straight. I’m not up to this! I don’t want to fail You, Jesus, but I’m hopeless, I’m depressed…’
“Does that sound familiar? These are words programmed into your consciousness first thing in the morning. That is why, when you put on the Helmet of Salvation, you short-circuit a ruinous day that he had planned for you. A day where you just drag around from one thing to the next, feeling numbed by the word curses he has applied to handicap you.
“It is time for all of you, My people, to put an end to this insidious tactic the devils have used on you to keep you from My higher calling in your life. If your attitude is that you can barely make it through the day, you will not grow into the fullness of who I have called you to be. This is why I have asked you to put on the full armor, before you do anything else. These are times where the proliferation of evil is so great, you cannot afford to be slack in protecting yourselves.”
Jesus shares something very dear to His heart
“Now I wish to impart to you another secret, so very dear to My heart. You have taken on the world with Me, My Bride. Shall I leave you weak and helpless? No, My Loved Ones. I am at your right hand, holding you up as you grasp to take hold of your footing each day. I do not leave you on your own. Many of you, like Clare, are pushing physical exhaustion every day — and I have told you to come to Me in the Blessed Sacrament. Ask for the strength you need as you receive Me, and I will equip you.
“But even more have I extended to you. Indeed, I live inside of you, but I manifest also on the outside. As you arise in the morning, I put My arm around you and help you to your feet. I stand beside you always, but you do not recognize that I am there. As a result, you do not lean on Me, dear ones.
“Yes, lean on Me. And even more, count on Me to keep you up and moving, to keep your mind clear. To be present as you pray. To even help you with your prayers if you reach out to Me and ask. ‘Jesus, help me pray. Please, help me worship. Help me be faithful to You and what is appropriate for me in these moments.’ In this way, you will fulfill My will and have victory over that cloud of oppression that so often assails you — even in your body — enveloping your mind.
“Delight in My presence in the morning! Speak to Me. Tell Me how much I mean to you and how you cannot live without Me. In this way, we will be blessed together to handle the day. Now, that’s what I call a good start!”
Jesus, Dress Me in the Armor of God
THE HELMET OF SALVATION: Place tightly the earflaps, guarding my ears from the enemy’s lies and whisperings. Set the Guard of Love over my mouth, that I speak with Your words, Your inflections of voice. Lower the Filter of Mercy and Compassion over my eyes, that I may see the world through Your shed Blood. Make impenetrable the helmet’s crown — the Dome of Protection — over my mind, sealing out the projections, suggestions and dredged-up memories of the evil ones. Let Your mind be within me: Let me think with, consider with and act on Your thoughts, not my own, until You make them one and the same.
I DECLARE: I am Yours and You are mine: we are One. I pledge to strive with all my heart, mind and will to let no sin or demon ever separate me from You, stand between us, or cause my heart or mind to wander, even a step, from Your side.
THE BREASTPLATE: Gather up all that is Yours, now cleansed – my heart, my spirit, my soul, my mind, my will, my garden – and protect it within Your Breastplate of Righteousness. May the enemy’s weapons bounce off, and may their excrement slide off, nothing staying, nothing sticking. Grant me the Grace NOT to form chinks, through my sin, in this Armor that protects where You dwell within me, thereby allowing the demons access.
THE BELT: Wrap the Belt of Truth firmly around me, sealing and closing up access to the enemy through finely crafted lies and deceits, into the place where You dwell, as a thief would enter a Home. Reveal to me Truth in all occasions, and help me never to bend, ignore or deny it. Let me always seek the Truth and speak the Truth.
THE SANDALS: May my feet be shod with the Gospel of Peace. Let my feet walk upon the Waters of Peace with each step, eyes firmly fixed on You – and may it flow out from each step in ever-widening circles, touching the hearts, minds and attitudes of those that surround me, and I interact with throughout the day. Secure within me the Peace that Passes All Understanding.
THE SWORD AND SHIELD: I take now Holy Spirit’s Sword in my hand. I take from Your hand the Shield of Faith. Teach me to use these with Your Wisdom, Your Power, Your Authority — and to never shy away from a battle You have sent me to engage in. It is ONLY through Your Power, Strength and Authority that I am enabled to do this. Let me never, ever allow Pride a foothold here.
THE CLOAK OF HUMILITY: Cover me now, and all of Your Armor, with the Cloak of Humility. Conceal ME beneath its folds and hood; let others see NOTHING but You shining out from within.
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Note from So Greatly Loved
Carol Jennings, leader of the Heart Dwellers prayer warrior team to which I belong, wrote ‘Jesus, Dress me in the Armor of God’ together with the Lord. I pray her beautiful prayer first thing every morning. I am sharing it now with Carol’s permission.
The message ‘Get Off to a Good Start’ was given to Clare du Bois and posted on the Still Small Voice channel on Vimeo.
For more information go to heartdwellers.org
So Greatly Loved 