In the summertime, my horse Emmett has two great loves: fresh watermelon and his fly mask.

Yes—his fly mask.

As odd as it may sound, Emmett knows it’s a gift. He doesn’t resist it; in fact, he seems to welcome it, especially when the heat rises and the flies swarm. With his dark coloring, he’s an easy target, and without his mask, I’ve seen dozens of flies gather around his eyes, tormenting him relentlessly. Fly sprays don’t cut it. Creams wear off. But the mask? The mask works.

As I watched him gobble watermelon and wear his fly mask with quiet gratitude today, I began thinking about how we, too, are prone to attack—though of a different kind.

Just as I provide Emmett with protection, our Lord gives us the armor we need for the spiritual battles of daily life. And just like the fly mask, this armor isn’t optional. It’s essential. We don’t go a day without needing it.

Paul urges us in Ephesians 6 to put on the full armor of God. For me, that often looks like preaching the gospel to myself—reminding my forgetful heart of truth. The belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation… these aren’t abstract ideas. They’re spiritual tools rooted in Christ’s work on the cross.

And when I forget to wear my armor? I notice. I’m more vulnerable. The enemy’s attacks catch me off guard. Doubts creep in. Discouragement flares.

Charles Spurgeon once wrote:

“Put on the whole armor of God, and look upon life as a continued battle. Be surprised when you have not to fight; be wonderstruck when the world is peaceful towards you; be astonished when your old corruptions do not rise and assault you.”

As we head into the weekend, I’m choosing to reflect with gratitude:
— For the armor He gives
— For the gospel that sustains
— And even for a fly mask that reminds me to be spiritually suited up each day.

Want to Go Beyond Gratitude to Action?

1. What are the “flies” buzzing around your heart and mind this week?

2. How might God be inviting you to put on His armor today?

3. What part of the gospel do you most need to preach to yourself right now?

4. Emmett enjoys cool, nourishing watermelon in the summertime. Are you allowing yourself time to enjoy the nourishment of Jesus, the Bread of Life? The presence of the Good Shepherd who leads His sheep beside still waters and edifying, green pastures enables them to endure the dark valleys of life.

One way I commune with God and enjoy His presence is through lament. If you'd like a free download to help you process lament, I invite you to my newsletter. Curators of Grace is a newsletter for all who seek to remember how God graces our stories. I only send it out once a week to once a month. Click below to sign up and receive some awesome freebies, including the lament guide.

Please share in the comments--I'd love to hear how you're allowing yourself time to be nourished by the Good Shepherd.