Daily Armor 365: Practical Motivation for Daily Living

By Dr. Anthony Revis

Daily ARMOR 365, Practical Motivation for Daily Living is a compilation of inspirational messages for every day of the year to help motivate you to a greater sense of empowerment over the events of your life. It is based on practical observations from everyday events that happen to almost anyone. These messages will enlighten you and get you excited about experiencing the joys of living life to the fullest. Whether you are a Christian are not, Daily ARMOR 365 will encourage you!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 11, 2009
• ISBN: 9781465323491

Dr. Anthony Revis

Dr. Anthony Revis holds a Ph. D. in Theology and a Ph. D. in Organic Chemistry. He is founder of Faith Ministries Church of Midland, Michigan, founder of Anthony Revis Ministries, and founder of ARM Bible Training Institute. His other published works include Praise the Power that Refreshes, Speaking in Tongues Silencing the Debate, Rock Your Relationships, Discovering You Path, The Stamp of a Deacon, and The Heart of a Pastor. His Internet store can be found at http://shop.1asecure.com/armstore.

Book preview

1

WARNING SIGNS

Curved arrows, running chevrons, blink lights, and yellow diamond signs all warn of changing road conditions. They usually warn that conditions are getting worse. Rarely is it good news, so you prepare for more danger. Likewise, there are warning sings about your relationship with your spouse or significant other. It has deteriorated. It’s not as enjoyable as it once was. The warning signs were there, you just overlooked them. Signs like you don’t talk, you scream; no romance, just sex; no time, just short visits; you don’t date, just buy groceries; you don’t kiss, just peck, and going to work feels better than driving home. These are warning signs of dangerous conditions ahead. It’s time to slow down, take a firm grip on the wheel and see how to get things back on the road towards happiness. See a counselor, pastor or life coach for help. But the warning signs are real. They aren’t going away. But there is hope if you act. There is hope if you change the direction of your relationship. Start looking to see what changes you can make to turn things around.

The turnaround to healing starts with you, not with them. You can do it!

This is your Daily ARMOR. Start fresh today!

2

CIRCUIT BREAKERS

Most electrical devices have circuit breakers to prevent an overload. For home electrical circuits, this helps to prevent a fire. The breaker will only accept up to a certain load of hair dryers, space heaters, shavers, TVs, air conditioners and power tools before it blows. That’s good because it keeps things safe. But you don’t have a circuit breaker to keep you from catastrophic failure. Therefore, be careful about the loads you take on!

You can’t handle everything regardless of your disciplined approach. Don’t deal with kids, spouse, and pastor at the same time. It could stress you out. Sure, it’s good to push yourself and challenge your limits. But the limit is the limit! The load is the load. Know it! Don’t find out the hard way like with a stroke, heart attack or brain aneurism. Take a break before you have a breakdown. Also, cut down on the pork, donuts and jelly beans; cut back on the hours at work and in stressful meetings. You only have one body and mind to care for, don’t blow it out! Be wise about the load you take on during your day. After all, you’ve got a lot of good living ahead of you. Plan on enjoying it.

This is your Daily ARMOR. Have a wonderful day!

3

HEIRLOOMS AND THE CROWN JEWELS

Family heirlooms, like grandma’s shawl, ring or necklace, are well cared for. They hold special, sentimental value. Like the crown jewels of the Queen, they are protected from thieves. It’s time you treated yourself that way—like a special family heirloom. Your mind, attitude, demeanor and temperament are too precious to throw away on dumb arguments, foolish whining or someone who doesn’t respect you. And certainly your body, as attractive, alluring, and inviting as it might be, should be kept until it can be properly appreciated. So don’t be too quick to jump into fights or bed; either can create a problem. Don’t throw money or your body at someone who doesn’t respect you for the kind, generous, wonderful person that you are. Protect your crown jewels! They are precious. It’s your responsibility to let others know how you want to be appreciated, loved and cared for. If they cannot do it properly, then you might be in the wrong situation or relationship. You can do badly all by yourself! Don’t set yourself up for emotional thieves to bring you down. You are too precious for that. So live like you enjoy your life, being special in every way.

This is your Daily ARMOR. Have a great day!

4

DOUBLE STANDARDS

When Richard Nixon was asked by a reporter whether there were times when the President could do something illegal, he replied, When the president does it that means that it is not illegal. Now that sounds like a double standard! But that is often the situation for some people. Often, one person will be as guilty as the other, but because of their position, point of view or prominence, it won’t be taken as such. For example, eating fried chicken is bad for them, but eating a chocolate cake is okay for you. Driving fast is a no-no for them, but you don’t wear your seat belt. Playing the slots at the casino is a waste of money, but you run up the credit card debt. Spanking a child makes you a criminal, but your screaming, scolding and belittling is healthy—no way, on both! All of life isn’t exactly fair, and it never will be. But when you look in the mirror, are you seeing a person with blatant double standards? That can’t feel good. It can make you nervous and discontent around others. You might even become sneaky or a Trick-a-Dick Nixon person. So be honest in your assessment of others, but be likewise honest in the assessment of yourself. It’s the right thing to do.

This is your Daily ARMOR. Have a great day!

5

CHIP SHOT

In golf, a chip shot is used as very short approach shot to reposition the ball on the course or to get the ball out of a hazard. This requires a special club called a wedge. It is designed to improve the quality of the chip shot. Sometimes your life will go a little off-course. You took the best swing you could at pro sports, a college degree, becoming a producer, writing that novel, and things went a little off-course. You tried hard to raise your kids right, properly love your spouse, care for your aging parents, and be a good church member, but things just haven’t work out well yet. You were the top model in the agency, were the pastor with the largest congregation, had business deals with all the majors, but all that has diminished. Well, don’t put up your clubs—desires or dreams—just yet. You can still position yourself for success with the right chip shot. Look the course over, be honest about how far you have to go, and then start to chip away. Use the word of God as a wedge, use wisdom as a guide, and use courage to drive your way through. Sure, you may be in a hazardous situation in your career, marriage or other relationship right now. But it can you corrected if you don’t quit!

Take each chip shot you can and give it time to work. Your next swing could be a winner!

This is your Daily ARMOR. Have a wonderful day!

6

PANTYHOSE

Sometimes unexpected things just happen without warning. The cable goes out; the car breaks down; the water heater stops. These aren’t good. But it seems that there is nothing worse for a woman than being fully dressed with it all together and discovering a run in her pantyhose. You would think the world has come to an end! It’s as if absolutely everything else about her good looks doesn’t matter. And quite frankly, it doesn’t to her. Her intense focus on the run in the pantyhose spoils it all. Don’t let that happen to you in your day or your life. Don’t focus so much on the one thing that went wrong that you forget all good things that are going well. Okay, you say you can’t think of too many good things; then, still, why add more to it? No one ever gets it all right. No one is always free of troubles and difficulties. Sure, some are worse than others; there is no doubt about that. Some environments breed conditions that are hard to live with. But even in those situations, focusing so intensely on the run in the pantyhose can deplete your spirit, your joy and happiness, too. So don’t do that to yourself. Don’t defeat yourself just because one or two things, okay, maybe three or four, are not working out for you. Times will get better if you don’t panic. Let it go and enjoy your day!

This is your Daily ARMOR. Have a great day!

7

PROCESSED MEAT

Spam, hog-head cheese, Brunswick stew, bratwurst, and even giblet gravy and bologna are foods that are made up of mixtures, all of which cannot be completely described as anything other than parts. Now there is nothing really wrong with this. They are all an enjoyable part of some people’s diet, especially the bratwursts. These dishes are better enjoyed than analyzed. All you need are some crackers or a bun and yum, yum! You accept them as such; that’s how they are enjoyed. In a similar fashion, you will meet people whose demeanor and personality cannot be easily described or whose actions cannot be clearly understood. That’s okay; learn to deal with them as such. Some people are enjoyable, just like they are. Take the time to get to know them. Don’t be so quick to push them to the side or avoid interacting with them. They are who they are just like you are who you are. They may be a little like Spam or other processed meats, a little of this and a little of that. Your neighbor, bass player, mail carrier, doorman or shoeshine man at the airport may all be processed meats. But they sure are enjoyable to be around. So go with it! No two people were created to be alike. Appreciate the diversity of people and life itself. Be happy about it. They sure are!

This is your Daily ARMOR. Enjoy your day!

8

SHIFT WORK

Many factories, restaurants and retail stores do shift work to maintain the operations. No one person can do it all. Teams work from 7 to 3, 3 to 11 and 11 to 7, or some other such shifts. When the whistle blows, they change shifts. One group leaves work and another takes over. This allows the workers time to rest, take care of personal needs, and be rejuvenated for the next production schedule. Being able to balance your day and life should consider the shift work concept. You can’t continue to push yourself as much as you’ve have. You need a break! You can’t continue to live in the studio, on the bus, at the plant or even at the church much longer without hurting yourself. Change shifts! You can’t keep taking care of the kids, spouse, house and the PTA without a break. The whistle’s blowing; it’s time for a shift change. And you cannot keep preaching, teaching, writing and researching without wearing down. Change shifts! Take a break. You need it and deserve it.

No one person, including you, can take care of everything all the time. So learn to take some time off. Your spouse, kids, ministry, studio and the world will hold itself together just fine during your break. And you will return much better from it. Do it for yourself. It’s time.

This is your Daily ARMOR. Enjoy your break!

9

STAMPEDES

Cattle, buffalo, elephants and other animals that travel in herds can become spooked and cause a stampede. Anything in their way gets trampled. They won’t stop at anything, human or otherwise. Stampedes happen with feelings, too. Maybe the world should stop for your broken heart, but it won’t! So you’d best get out of the way of the stampede. Otherwise, your feelings will be trampled on again. People aren’t always trying to be cruel. It’s just that they get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, just like you do. They get distracted by the many priorities facing them. Unfortunately, they don’t seem to care like they should. But Jesus still cares and that makes getting through life’s many challenges and obstacles go much better. You can always let him have your trampled-on hurts, pains, disappointments and discouragements. Jesus really does care.

You may have been hurt by friends, family and even people claiming to have great faith, and now it’s hard for you to believe that anyone cares about you. Don’t keep beating yourself up trying to figure that out. Just move on to letting Jesus care. The care of others pales in comparison anyway. Your day will go so much better when you give the Lord your worries and keep your joys. Start a new habit today!

This is your Daily ARMOR. Have a great day!

10

GUESS BOOK

At most big and famous functions, like the Academy Awards, Grammies, presidential elections, or even upscale nightspots, you need a special invitation to get in. Your name must be on the guest list. Sure, a few surprises get in, but most attend expecting their name to already be written down. Then there is no hassle for them. They enter and enjoy their stay as long as they wish. Now that’s special. God has issued a special invitation for you. Yes, you! You are invited to a special gathering at God’s place. And don’t worry about the haters and those who can’t stand your guts; they won’t be there! The rules are fixed that way; they favor you enjoying your stay for a very long time.

No one who is dirty-minded or who tells lies will be there. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life will be in the city. So why not get your name on the list today? It’s pretty simple actually, and the price has already been paid. And don’t worry; Jesus Christ with be at the door to greet you with his hand out. All you have to do is accept his invitation today. And that’s pretty simple, too. Just say yes to Jesus. Yes! Now, wasn’t that easy? So welcome to the greatest party gathering you’ll ever witness; the party of the redeemed. We’re all glad you came!

This is your Daily ARMOR. Welcome to the family!

11

HEADPHONES

There are various kinds of earpieces for hearing the music from your iPod, CD player or other audio device, even an 8-track. But when it comes to being able to hear the music well and cut out the noises and distractions, headphones work best. That’s why they still use them in studios. Sometimes life throws a lot of noises and distractions your way. When it does, it can be hard to focus; it can be hard to keep your mind successful and excelling. Distractions from work mess up the happiness of home; distractions from home mess up joy at church; highway distractions rob a peaceful date or nice ride home; distractions between in-laws ruin your marriage. You need a set of headphones. That is one of the things that joyful praise does. For Christians, there is no better joyful praise than that which is inspired by the word of God. That is because it has proved itself to be a reliable headphone that encourages the spirit while blocking out the noises and distractions of life.

Joyful praise is a great motivator of your spirit. And praise of God can be exhilarating.

Praising God rocks! But whatever your method, do it with joy! Don’t let the distractions of life rob you and defeat you.

This is your Daily ARMOR. Have a wonderful day!

12

TIME SQUARE

Times Square in New York is an awesome sight on New Year’s Eve. Everyone is hyped about the change of the calendar year. To celebrate it, there is the traditional ball drop. It’s ready to light up the night! A lot of preparation goes into getting it just right because they want everything to shine bright for all to see! It’s exciting. Well, when it comes to shining a new light into someone’s life, that’s a pretty exciting time, too. The prospect that someone wants to experience the new birth that Jesus Christ brings to all who believe can get you pumped! And that’s what others should see if you are a believer. They should see you all lit up and excited about your belief. Now, not every believes the same as you, but that doesn’t mean you should be any less excited about it. Not everyone enjoys the ball drop each year, but they drop it and light up the night anyway. So go ahead! If you are a believer, it’s okay to light up your neighborhood! Do it by being kind, considerate, understanding and encouraging. After all, you are doing it because you believe in Christ. Then, others might see your joy and enthusiasm for life and discover that life with Christ isn’t all that bad!

This is your Daily ARMOR. Have an awesome day!

13

GRAVEDIGGERS

Gravediggers seem to have a simple responsibility. They dig a hole in the ground, with the purpose of letting someone down and covering them up. What could be simpler? It seems that others have picked this up as their occupation, too. It could be you. Is it? Think about it. When people talk to you, do you automatically find yourself digging holes for their thoughts, putting their ideas down and covering them up? Don’t be like that. Sure, you don’t mean to, but it doesn’t feel good to others. Don’t be a gravedigger. Don’t view people as dead objects, waiting to be buried. Help them feel good about their ideas and life itself. You don’t always have to point out what’s wrong with their dreams, as insane, off the wall, and impossible as they might seem to you. You are not the expert on everything! Be positive, not negative; exciting, not dull; upbeat, not depressing. Give people a shot of encouragement for their thoughts instead of shoveling dirt all over them. Watch out; the same thing could happen to you. How would you feel?

Don’t be so quick to bury people under your view on things. Don’t let them down so much with your negativity. Look up and see the brighter side of the conversation and help others to do likewise. Life feels much better then.

This is your Daily ARMOR. Have a great day!

14

HAND-OFF

Relays in track are very exciting. The runners hand off the baton as they sprint around the track. It is important that they have a good exchange in order to secure victory. That’s what you need, too; a good exchange in order to have a victorious day, especially when it comes to communication. Communication is so important that you must work on it daily.

How well you exchange words with your spouse, kids, boss, neighbors, pastor, congregants, janitor, principle, teacher, boyfriend or lawyer can make a huge difference in the outcome. It can especially make a difference in the attitude of the response. So work on your hand-off, your exchange. Think before you speak and calm down before you shout. Don’t overrun others with negativity, doubt and disbelief. Don’t be so pushy and irritating. Don’t be so bossy and picky. Get on track and be sure that you have a smooth hand-off in your exchange. It will make for a happier day and victorious living.

This is your Daily ARMOR. Have a great day!

15

SHOWERHEADS

When you travel from hotel to hotel, you really notice some interesting differences in them, like the showerheads. Showerheads in hotels can almost make the difference in how you feel about your stay! Some are too low, others too high. Some only have the spray, and others are adjustable. And some barely let the water flow! You could almost scream, but you don’t. Or do you? As simple as it is, it can create a great deal of apprehension about your stay. So what do you do? You bear it and get through it. You are not there to have a great shower. Your stay is temporary. In life you will have to learn to bear the uncomfortable experiences with visitors, even at your home and with nosy aunts at family reunions and whining children in the K-mart check-out lane. They are not going to adjust fast enough to suit you. You will just have to bear it. You will have to bear that chatty teen at the table next to you in the restaurant or the coughing senior citizen in the doctor’s office. And why do babies always cry on airplanes? Who knows? It’s just part of the temporary situation that you will have to live with. Learn to treat such situations like hotel showers; they are temporary. So bear it, get through, and start the next day fresh.

This is your Daily ARMOR. Have a peaceful day!

16

DOWN THE DRAIN

It can be really bad to lose something down the drain. When you drop that ring, earring or contact lens down your bathroom sink—oh boy, what a feeling of hopelessness! So you immediately stop the flow of water and start to figure out how to retrieve it, especially when it’s special. You should do the same when it comes to special relationships, friendships and associations that matter to you. They don’t all matter the same, but they do matter. But occasionally you will drop them—lose contact, not show your interest or treat them fairly or with respect and dignity. It can happen, like dropping your diamond ring down the drain. But if it’s important to you—your marriage, career, significant other, or your best friend—then strive to get it back! Think decisively about what you will do to recover that special bond that you shared; they were the only one who truly understood you. Don’t let troubled waters keep running, ruining your hope for the future. Stop, think, and get going with your best Plan B, one that will let your friend, kid, parents, godson, maid, pastor or backup singer know that they are important to you. Love works best when shown. Show yours today!

This is your Daily ARMOR. Have a wonderful day!

17

POLAR BEAR CUBS

Polar bears are awesome creatures that grow up to weigh 500 to 600 pounds. Their cubs are not only cute, they are well-disciplined. Polar bear cubs learn to freeze and remain still while their mother hunts. If they move, the mother disciplines them with a whack to the head! They learn from this experience and realize that it’s for their own good to stay still. Otherwise, they could expose themselves to predators, not to mention a whack on the head from Mom. Well, how many more whacks on the head do you have to get before you realize it’s best for you to be still? There are times when you simply talk too much and you get hurt from it—whack! Your opinion isn’t always needed or wanted, and you are harshly told so—whack! It isn’t your place to chastise your mother, no wonder she talks negatively about you—double whack! Be like the baby polar bears; don’t set yourself up for whacks. You are not as sophisticated at business, so sit still and listen more than you talk; eventually, you will grow into it. Certain whacks are expected, but being whacked for butting into conversations, that’s not wise or advisable. Your day would go better and you would be hurt less if you stopped being a busybody. Being right is good, being wise is better.

This is your Daily ARMOR. Have a blessed day!

18

CURVEBALL

Baseball pitchers love to throw curveballs to rattle a batter’s confidence. Sometimes life is like that, too. It throws you a curveball that’s hard to hit. It rattles your confidence. You go to work expecting to finish your project and discovered you’re fired and your pension fund is stolen. You visit the doctor for a routine physical and hear the words cancer, diabetes or thyroid problems. You see your girlfriend and discover she’s now a mama—and on top of that, it’s not even yours! Okay unmarried good Christians, you know some of you all are having sex, too, even though the Bible says you shouldn’t. That’s two curveballs! And let’s not talk about the fact that your best friend is also your girlfriend’s lover! Curveballs are hard to handle and can feel like death! And what did you do to deserve it? Nothing at all. So when life throws you one, just hold on. That’s right, stand in the batter’s box, and hold on. A change-up pitch will come in time. Wait on it.