Latest / Daughters of Armor / Episode 08: The Helmet of Salvation: Sleep, Stress, and Protecting Your Mind (Eph.6:17)
Transcript
- Episode 8: Helmet of Salvation: We're back. We're back. I am I'm really, really, really, really, really, did I say really excited? We're doing I'm very grateful. I'm very grateful because we are doing a mini series which we kind of preempted a couple of episodes back all about the six pieces of spiritual armor. And so what we're gonna do is focus on each piece of armor and how it Relates because you and I are both in the fitness industry, we're both godly women, and we know the importance of the Lord's hand, especially armoring up with those pieces of armor. Because let's face it, when it comes to weight loss, getting healthy, all the things, it really is a battle of the mind more than anything. Because I know you and I've heard time and time and again, I know what to do, I'm just not doing it. And guess what, girlfriend? That's because. It's what's going on in your in your mind. And so I feel so, so excited. So each episode, I'm I'm this is basically like a mini-series, which I'm really, really excited about. So I thought what I will do is first I'll read the whole armor of God, and then we'll dig into the first piece. How does that sound? Let's do it. Yeah, okay. So I'm reading from the ESV, The Whole Armor of God. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might, put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. And highlight, underline, you know, bold that. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand firm. Stand, therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish. All the flaming darts of the evil one, and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints. Saints includes you, me, and all of our sisters in Christ who are believers. And so we're gonna jump right in with the helmet of salvation. And you know, in praying about this series, when we think about each piece of armor, although Paul is obviously talking about our faith, we as fitness coaches. Can see how each piece can also be utilized when it comes to our fitness journey. And so I've titled this podcast, The Helmet of Salvation: Sleep, Stress, and Protecting Your Mind. Right? And we we understand that when we think of that helmet, especially back where Paul k is envisioning that Roman soldier, what does the helmet do? Well, it protects your mind. And for us believers, it it keeps us focused on God's promises. Right. So I'd love to start off this conversation, Nikita, with what does the helmet of salvation actually mean in Ephesians 6.17? And why do you think Paul specif specifically connects salvation, our salvation, with protecting the head and mind? Bom boom bom I mean, let's just let's just read it again. Like take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. The helmet of salvation of salvation is more than just remember that you are saved. Paul is describing something that protects your mind because and it protects it protects your mind because of your understanding who Christ is and who you are in Christ is central to how you stand in spiritual battle. you know, the the helmet it protected the most vulnerable part of the soldier. And Paul uses the image of a Roman soldier. Because the head Is the place of thought, perception, judgment, discernment. And that doesn't mean that Paul is saying Satan literally attacks your brain. rather the truth of salvation it protects the way you think. So if the enemy can distort what you believe about who God is, who you are. Whether God really forgives you, whether you belong to Christ, whether God will keep his promises, whether your suffering means God has abandoned you, then everything else becomes really vulnerable. And the battle often begins with what do you believe is true? So the helmet of salvation, like salvation as a whole, gives you a secure idea. Identity. Think about how different these two thoughts are. So I need to be good enough for God to accept me, versus I belong to Christ because He saved me and therefore I want to live faithfully for Him. The first thought produces fear and insecurity. And the second produces confidence, not arrogance, but confidence in Christ. And obedience as well. so the helmet, at least for me, is a reminder that my salvation isn't ultimately dependent on how well I perform today. It rests solely on Jesus Christ. Amen. So, I think that's I think especially for Christian women, I mean Christians as a whole, I think That is enormously important when you're struggling with guilt, temptation, failure, discouragement, spiritual dryness. Like these are all things that can happen to us regardless if we're in the fitness industry or not. True. So very true. And just wanted to add on the enemy looks for that. He l all of those results when we're thinking wrongly, he takes advantage of that. Yeah. And then he'll fill it in. Especially if we're not in the word, he'll fill it in with garbage. Like you're a failure, you can't do it, what's the point? Just give up, you're too old, et cetera, et cetera. And then we start believing that and that's that slippery slope. And I think it's also important that the helmet of salvation doesn't mean we ignore sin. Mm-hmm. We interpret our sin through the gospel rather than interpreting the gospel through our sin. So true. And it's not therefore I'm condemned. It's I have sinned, I need to repent, and I belong to Christ, whose blood is sufficient for my sin. I mean Romans eight one, that's something that us Christians should always go to. Therefore, there is there is therefore now no condemnation for for those who are in Christ Jesus. I think that is essential helmet material. Yep. Yeah. Because those thoughts can even come into my head too. Like a hundred percent. Like, I'm not I'm not doing enough. I, you know, I skipped this workout. I ate this food. Like I'm very, very susceptible and I have a natural propensity to condemn myself because I'm not doing enough. Anyone else? Anyone else? When I need to go to Romans 8, 1. Yes. There is that there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Why am I condemning myself when Jesus Christ doesn't condemn me? Right. I d actually I literally shared an image today on socials that of a of a woman looking in the mirror and she's literally saying to Jesus, I am such a failure. I can't even look at myself. I hate myself. And yeah, yeah, exactly. Right. And Jesus is comforting her, saying, Okay, but what you see, that's not what I see, daughter. Mm-hmm. You're Imago Imago Day. You're made in the image of God. Yeah. Right. So yeah. So good. Okay. And now I have a question for you. Yes. How does chronic stress and lack of sleep affect the way we think, respond emotionally, and even handle spiritual battles? Okay. Like how can we distinguish between something that requires spiritual discipline and something our body just simply needs, like rest? Yeah, for sure. So I think, you know. I mean, I am definitely guilty if I don't get a good seven to eight hours. I know where you're going with this. I mean my sinful nature and temptation's galore is it's it's like I mean it it manifests, right? And so I think from a health coach perspective, of course, when we're when we're exhausted, when we're chronically stressed, everything from our emotional regulate regulation, our patience, our ability to make good choices is literally thrown out the window, right? And so we're more reactive, we're more discouraged, we're more anxious, we're more like I said, vulnerable to temptation. And so it but that doesn't mean that when you're sleep deprived, every single struggle is only physical it's also it's also like really challenging you're more vulnerable to spiritual warfare when you're exhausted right one you're too tired to take care of your body two let alone i mean when you're exhausted let's be real okay let's be honest are you getting to the word no no no like if you're You know, when you're when you're f exhausted and sleep deprived, everything feels really, really hard. And so I think there's discernment where you need to ask yourself, okay, well, do I force myself to do the thing or do I need to get faithful rest? And it's o it's okay to rest. Some women are like, no, I have to do all the things. And then you you know, kind of like leads to burnout. but then sometimes obedience might look like, okay, like I do need to get up, I need to pray, I need to get into the word. But then other times obedience looks like, you know what, I need to get to bed if that's available to you. I need to maybe skip my workout and be okay with that. It's okay that it's a recovery day, right? And not Allow that tiredness or stress. yes, we may fall, but you're allowed to fail. Like you're you don't have to be perfect. We're perfectly imperfect to begin with. Just get back right up the next day. Right? So it it chronic stress and poor sleep affects obviously both physically and spiritually, which is why. We were built to rest as well. Yeah. And from a health coaching perspective, that's when we recover. That's when we rebuild. That's when muscles are built. It's not under the bar. Yeah. Right? So now if we're talking hormonally and and you're and you're perimenopause, you gotta do all the things. You gotta do all the things. You know, take take your magnesium glycinate, have your cold room, dark room. You know, you just gotta do all the things that are in your control. Get into the word. I I say to my girls who have a hard time falling asleep, Well, what's the last thing you're looking at? And most are guilty. They're on their phones or they're just the screen. Exactly. And I say, why don't you turn that off? Open up the word. Yeah. And 'cause I'm confident that if that if you're in the word before you go to bed and whatever that is being taught to you that you've absorbed through the Holy Spirit in what you've read. And that's what you marinate in over the next Lord willing seven to eight hours? Praise God. Yeah. And I'm pretty confident if you if you use that time to pray and be like, Lord, you know what's happening hormonally right now, but you're bigger than that. Can you please help me sleep? I don't think women think to pray that. I don't think so. I don't think so. You know, so prayer getting into the word, obviously doing all the things, of course, to help our temperature, all those good things. But yeah, help yourself to. to get s your adequate sleep and rest. And just to add to that too, like, we tend to correlate rest with still being busy. Mm-hmm. Like, not maybe, you know, going out and running errands and whatnot, but screens. Yeah. Is a big one. You know, I'm I'm resting on my couch but I have my eyes and my screen when really guilty. Maybe The rest should be going outside and getting some sunshine and just sitting on a bench and not being busy with things. So true. Just letting yourself actually not be consumed with the world. Yes. And being distracted by worldly things. I don't know. And that is something that I need to like preach to myself too. I was gonna say I am guilty of not being able to sit in silence well anymore. Mm-hmm. And I've realized I need to be okay with silence. Cause I'll have a I mean, although it's good, I'll literally have a podcast playing, I'll have praise and worship music playing, I'll have a sermon playing. And although it's good, it's like, okay, turn it off for a second, Crystal, and just be good with silence. Even just like walking outside. I know, I was just gonna say, like, when was the last time I went for a walk without having my earbuds? Even if it is worship music, like just be Comfortable with silence. Okay, can we keep each other accountable? Because I actually really want to do this. Like can we try like and going for a walk without anything in our ears? And when my husband was here, like that was one of his favorite things to do on his lunch break just to get away from that's good his work. Was he he was so close to Glenmore Park, that's his favorite park. And he would find a bench that was more private and that would overlook the beautiful reservoir. And he would just sit there and read his Bible. So good. He didn't have earbuds, you know, in his ears, and there wasn't this constant noise. It was just him sitting in nature, looking at God's beautiful creation, reading his beautiful word. And there was such a con because my husband can get very anxious and impatient. Right. Just like me. Right. and there's such a calmness that comes from that. There's such a peace, and it's like it's God's peace. Yes. Like this is what he he wants us to enjoy him. Yeah, that's so and how are we able to enjoy him if we always have a bunch of noise in our ears? Yes. Even if it is even if it is good. Great, like a sermon or worship. It's like but those are other people's words and thoughts. You know, and and It's interesting too. I think people forget that prayer, it being it's it's it's like this. We're communicating. You're speaking, I'm listening. I'm speaking, you're listening. That's the same when it comes to communicating with God through prayer, is that a lot of the times we just speak, speak, speak, whether it's in our thoughts or words, but we don't be quiet and listen. I First time in years, literally drove. I was driving to BSF. and normally I'll have praise and worship music in my car, or I'm listening like to a podcast. And I thought, you know what? I need to pray. Because I was actually nervous. We're studying Romans, and we were, the topic was God's wrath, which is a heavy kind of topic. Yes. So I was nervous going in, leading these women in this section of Romans. And so I was like, So I'm like, you know what? I'm not gonna play any music. I'm gonna pray. And I, yeah, and I I just prayed. I'm like, Lord, you know my heart. I'm I'm just a vessel, just use and I was just just blah blah blah blah pouring out how nervous I was to lead that session. I've never done that before. And I have to admit, it felt really weird, like being qu it being quiet in the car, right? Yeah. But then comforting because it's like a good 12 minute drive, just Praying the whole time and I felt better by the time I hit the parking lot. I was like, wow, I mean, I need to do that more. Like praying in the car and actually not putting on music or something and using that as a t as a as an opportunity to pray. Anyway, okay, I got a question for you. So so what are some of the lies Christian women women tend to battle in their minds, especially around their bodies, health, worth, productivity, or feeling like they're not. doing enough. And I know we touched upon this a little bit, but if you can go a little bit deeper, Nikita, how does remembering our identity and salvation in Christ help us fight those lies? I think this is where the helmet of salvation actually becomes more practical in the life of a Christian woman. you know, so so many of the battles aren't simply what we are doing. Yeah. they're about what we're believing about ourselves while we're doing it. Mm-hmm. so for example, my body isn't good enough. What the gospel says is like your body is not your identity. you are God's workmanship, and your worth does not increase or decrease with your weight, shape, strength, age, or appearance. another example, and I'm so guilty of this, is if I'm not productive, I'm wasting my life. I'm pretty sure most. listeners can can relate to that. but the thing is is like our value isn't measured by our output or our performance in Christ. You are a daughter before you're a worker, before you're a wife, before you're a mother, before you're a sister, before you're an employee, an athlete. And I think that is just An incredible truth that we should all meditate on every day. Like before anything, I am a child of God. I am a daughter to him. Amen. I have been reconciled to him because of the blood of Christ on the cross for me. Imagine seeing that in the mirror. Right? First thing before the thoughts of I hate what I look like right now. What if you said that first? That'd be a game changer. Yeah. Yeah. another one, like I I'm really terrible at comparing myself to others. I'm terrible at it. It's it it does I just raise my hand by the way. I don't know. It doesn't do me any good. but like another example would be everyone else is further ahead of me. Yeah. guilty. And it's like guilty. God isn't asking us to live someone else's life. So true. Faithfulness is not a competition. or another one, like my health determines my worth. Mm-hmm. It's like caring for your body can be, you know, it can be good stewardship, but your body is not your righteousness, Christ is. Christ is your righteousness. Amen. That's good. That's good. Yeah. these are like these are really good questions. These are questions that I've often thought about but being able to articulate them or or even just dwell on them long enough to actually Think about them in a more meaningful and deep way. Like we're going through First Peter. And I can't remember if it's in First Peter or Second Peter. I'm pretty sure it's in First Peter when it says like I'm paraphrasing, but in Christ we have everything we need for life and godliness. We have everything we need for life and godliness because of Christ. We don't need to work for it. We don't need to work for it. Like how freeing is that? So good. How much weight is lifted off of your shoulders because of that. So good. but you know, our our especially the fitness industry, it's just it's it's full of comparison and just doing and it's it's exhausting. Yeah. So like we were just talking about, like just Be comfortable in silence. And it's uncomfortable, like you said, like driving in silence. Like I've done that from time to time. And I'm like, wow, I can actually hear like the road and I can hear my thoughts. That's what's scary, I think. And I'm like hearing our own thoughts. But then it's like it's in those times, it's in those moments of silence, like even driving when I just I start to just pray aloud. Exactly. Or just have a conversation with God. Like I probably look like a crazy person to people around me, but I don't really care. I'm having a conversation with you. But the good thing is now with technology, you could have someone on the phone. So you won't look like you're cuckoo. But that's true. And then there's times where I'm just I'm talking to him. And you know, I'm just having like how you and I are having a conversation, I talk to God like this in the privacy of my own home and then I just burst into tears. Yes. Because he I'm just reminded how amazing he is. Mm-hmm. And to that point, how he also wants to hear from you. Yeah. He really does. Yeah. So That's good. Yeah, the fitness industry is just saturated with it's saturated with a lot of nonsense. And antithetical to the cross too. Yeah. That which is why Christian fitness girlies put on that helmet of salvation. Mm-hmm. Right? Yeah. Yeah. And okay. So question for you. Mm. this kind of ties into a previous one about rest. but sometimes Christians can spiritualize exhaustion. I just need to pray more, I need stronger faith, or I need to push through. But could prioritizing sleep and managing stress actually be part of stewarding the body and mind God 'cause God has given us. 100%. Hundred percent. I mean, he built us so that we needed rest. So it is actually a form of stewardship. Right. So bec we already talked about when we don't rest, we have physical limitations, we have mental limitations, we have emotional limitations. And so we really genuinely need sleep and recovery. and PS, if you are on a fat loss journey. Can I just say, if you're getting less than six hours of sleep, I can't remember the exact study, but there was a study literally done where there were two groups and group A, they were both on a deficit, but group A was specifically sleeping less than six hours, and then group B was sleeping over eight hours, okay? Now they were both on the deficit, they were both, you know, exercising. But the group that was sleeping less than six hours, one, they clung on to belly fat. And two, a lot of their gains that should have come from rest and recovery because they were lifting, was was lost because of basic basically zero recovery. So all that time under the bar was wasted and they just clung to their to their specifically their belly fat. Right? So if you know our our Christian gym girlies are out there are not prioritizing sleep, well, one, that is a a an act of stewardship. Two, you're not helping your own personal journey to lose weight or to build muscle. And and sometimes sometimes the faithful respon response is not pushing harder. It's knowing when like rest is a gift from God. So rest, right? And so, you know, when when you when you take care of yourself, when you manage your stress, then you're gonna be better equipped to serve, you're gonna be you're gonna think clearer, you're gonna make better decisions, you're gonna get you know, a a a better workout at the gym, you're going to then ultimately live out your calling with vitality, with energy, with confidence, you know, even and when you think about it, even Jesus slept. So girl, okay, don't think you can keep running on zero sleep. Cause even God I'll save you slept. Right? And so we don't you don't you don't need to prove, you don't need to like burnout is not an award. You know what I mean? No. Like, so sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is actually sleep and rest. And trust God that even if you didn't get the things done, He will give you the strength to accomplish it the next day. Right. So again, kind of wraps it all up in remembering who you are in Christ. That's the whole point of the helmet of salvation. Don't go down that deep dark hole of I'm unworthy, I can't do it, what's the point? I'm to this, I'm to that. You know, and and looking in the mirror and forgetting that you are the daughter of an almighty king and that he loves you unconditionally. And You know, he will keep his promises. You just gotta focus on on that. So protect your mind. Put on that helmet of salvation. Yeah, so good. Yep. Yeah, so good. Yep. Well, would you like to close us up in prayer? Yes, for sure. Father God, thank you so much for this conversation and thank you for just who you are, Father. Thank you for your word. Your word is truth, and I just pray that you would continue to sanctify us in that truth. And to remember that in Christ we have everything we need for life and godliness. And I pray that every morning we put on the helmet of salvation that helps protect our thoughts, our discernment, our judgment and just who we often think we are, by the world standards and not by Christ's standards. and I just pray that whoever is listening to this podcast that they would be lifted up and that they would keep their minds set on you and not on the things of the world. In Jesus' name. Amen. Amen, sis. This was so good. So we will go through the other pieces of armor. So you guys gotta make sure you come back because this is just the tip of the tip of the tip of the iceberg. And I think this is one of the ones, honestly this whole series, Nikita, would be a good one for our, you know Christian gym girly who's feeling down, press play. Like save this one and probably the whole six pieces of spiritual armor, especially when you're stepping on the scale, when you feel like a failure, when you're looking in the mirror, when you're tugging on all your clothes and you're being super critical of yourself. Play this podcast back. Yeah. Yeah. So I hope you've been blessed. Guys, we love you so much, but God loves you more. We'll see you next one. We'll see you on the next one. Bye, guys. Bye.