Outdoor Truths – November 1, 2023
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By Gary Miller
My heart has been in the tree stand
I’ve been waiting for this week for some time. I’ve only hunted 2 times because I wanted to save all my energy and all my wifey-points for these next 2 months. I plan on spending several hours each week looking for the biggest bucks my area offers. Plus, I’ve got a couple of away trips planned as well. There’s no doubt this is the best time of year to see the biggest bucks. But while I have not been hunting, I have been making all the preparations for the hunt. My heart has been in the tree stand, but my head has been in getting everything together, and getting everything ready for these next 2 months that will bring some of the coldest and most unpredictable conditions. But now, I’m ready. Well, I cannot predict every circumstance that I’ll run into, but I’m as ready as I can be. It’ time to hunt.
While the Apostle Paul doesn’t compare our spiritual preparedness to hunting, he does compare it to getting ready for a battle. He talks about putting on the whole armor of God. And before he encourages us for the battle, he speaks about being ready before it. He says, “And having done all to stand.” That is, the time of preparation is to be as complete as possible, and it always comes before a battle. But there is also a time to stand. Now many people take this as some attack position. They seem to think that standing is a position of assault. But the armor is mostly for protection, except for the “Sword of the Spirit.” Our standing means that we are ready to go into the world with the protection of our faith. It is being as ready as possible for the conditions we will face and facing them with the actions and reactions of Christ. The armor is our part in God’s protection plan for us. So, I don’t know when it’s your time to face some unpredictable spiritual conditions, but when they come, stand, and be assured that your spiritual armor will protect you in the battle.
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■ Gary has written the Outdoor Truths article for 20 years. He has also written four books which include compilations of his articles and a father/son devotional. He also speaks at wild-game dinners and men’s events for churches and associations.
