Gird Up Your Loins
Eph 6:10-20 (NKJV)
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth,
Jer 1:17 (NKJV)
Therefore prepare yourself and arise…
Ex 29:5 (NKJV)
Then you shall take the garments, put the tunic on Aaron, and the robe of the ephod, the ephod, and the breastplate, and gird him with the intricately woven band of the ephod.
Today the words gird and loins sound outdated and humorous, so a modern equivalent could be 'tie up your running shorts so they don’t fall down when you run.' The image of the belt or drawstring in this context is one of preparing yourself in truth. Every part of our life as a Christian must be based on that. The truth of who you are, of who God is and who he has called you to be. We are in a time where we need to get ready for what is ahead.
These scriptures are about putting on the armour of God. Some of us were taught as young Christians to act out daily, putting on each item of armour as if invisible clothes. This may be helpful at first but as we mature, we learn that each item of armour is also a name, role or gift of God: Truth, Righteousness, Good News of Peace, Faith, Salvation, Sword & Spirit. I believe we are meant to choose every day to explore these areas in relationship with God. We build our faith in God through our relationship with him, not through rituals.
We can also apply truth to our personal relationships, whether we are married or single. The girdle goes around the side and below the ribs pulling everything together. When I was considering this image, I thought of Adam’s side, from which God created woman, and that led me to a picture of the belt of truth going around both of them. Whilst this is applicable in a specific way for marriage, it’s vital for all our relationships if we wish to connect heart to heart. The girdle of truth is essentially Jesus, and we should keep pulling each other into the truth, however difficult.
Prayer - Lord Jesus, please show me how to be truthful in every situation. Show me by your Spirit any area where I may not be 'in truth' and help me to be truthful to others with the same grace you show me. Wrap yourself around me so I may be in the truth as I follow your way.