I find it interesting that several times a year I get a call at my pharmacy from a patient asking some version of this question: “I’m feeling sick and was wondering if it is ok for me to take the rest of these antibiotics that my doctor gave me some time ago?”
My answer is always some version of this statement: “No.”
The person usually seems a bit frustrated or confused as to how I can be so quick to answer with a “no.”
“Are you sure?” they ask.
“Very!” I reply.
Most times I assume that they hang up and take the pills anyway. Which is their business. Then there are times when they want an explanation.
Here it is: When you begin a course of antibiotics, the number of bacteria begins to decrease. Eventually, you feel better. One must note, however, that there is that symptom-free period when it comes to bacterial infections. Bacteria are still present, just not at a level high enough to produce those classic symptoms. If you were to stop taking the antibiotics at this point, the few bacteria that are still around will facilitate the growth and multiplication of more bacteria. Before you know it, you may feel sick all over again.
When it comes to bacterial infections, half, some, or most of a course of medication will never be the treatment of choice. A full course is always the first line of therapy.
How often do we settle for half, some, or most of what God has prescribed for us to experience victory? We start to walk it out, feel better, discontinue what worked, then wonder why later on down the road here we are sick again. Some of us see this cycle in our finances, relationships, health, or our careers.
How do we stop the vicious cycle of victory—then defeat—victory—then defeat?
In Ephesians 6:13, Paul taught the Ephesians to “put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” In order to not just feel better but to actually be better in those areas in which we struggle we need the full armor of God. We have an enemy who wants to deceive us, confuse us, and rob us of any degree of success he can! If we want to more consistently reach our goals, achieve healthy outcomes, and experience victory, we need the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, AND the Word of God.
Some of it won’t do. Most of it isn’t enough.
It is the full course of treatment I encourage my patients to take every single time. And it is the full armor of God that we are encouraged to put on every single day.
Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God are what constitute the full armor. If your marriage is a mess, you need all six. If your health is failing, you need all six. If your children are a source of worry, you need all six. If all is well, you need all six.
“Are you sure?”
“Very!”
p.s. If you are anything like me, you may wonder “How exactly do I ‘put on’ this full armor?’”
I’m glad you asked. Tune in over the next several weeks as we study each piece of the full armor of God. In the meantime,
“ . . . pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me . . .” (Ephesians 6:18-19a)
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