BellissiWarriors. “Bellissi” from the Italian word for “beautiful”. “Warriors” because we are each fighting a good fight, and we need encouragement to keep going.
Every warrior needs equipment. Ephesians details the armor God provides and specifically tells us that God’s Word is our sword. How did Christ defend Himself when He was tempted in the desert? He answered with Scripture (see Luke 4:1-13). We are told “the word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife” (Hebrews 4:12). We must study the Word of God so that we can learn how wield its living power.
Every warrior has an enemy. “Watch our for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy” (1 Peter 5:8). We’re part of a great battle, but we mostly live unaware of the contest waging around us. One of Satan’s most effective weapons is to convince us there isn’t even a battle going on. It’s time to wake up!
Every warrior needs friends. “As iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend” (Proverbs 27:17). We need each other because relationships stretch and shape us. When my rough edges are chiseled away, it hurts! But I don’t want to live with a small, ineffective heart.
“And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish” (Ephesians 6:10-12).