When you hear the words, “Don’t take it off!”, it is a command NOT to do something. Don’t take your seatbelt off. Don’t take your eyes off the road. Don’t take their words personal. As long as you and I are breathing, there will always be something for us not to do. But, if you and I plan on winning this spiritual battle, there are some things we cannot do so “Don’t Take It Off!”
When life is pressing you on every side don’t take off joy. Romans 15:13 declares, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Don’t take off peace when the enemy is hitting you with everything he has. Paul encourages us in Philippians 4:6-7 when he says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Because we are human, we often times get amnesia when dealing with other people so don’t take off love. We expect God to show us love but we are hesitant at times to show that same love to others. 1 John 4:7 says, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”
God has called each believer to stand on His word so don’t take off boldness. Proverbs 28:1 reminds us, “The wicked flee when no one is pursuing them, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.”
Don’t take off perseverance. Perseverance simply means to be steadfast in doing something despite the difficulty or delay. There are so many scriptures that encourage us to persevere. One scripture says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9). My favorite is James 1:2-4 that declares, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
There are so many other things that the word of God tells us not to take off. I know that things in this evil world are hard. Life can sometimes not deal us a fair hand. I know it may seem easy to go with crowd and clap back at people for the evil that they do to us. But this is not God’s way. Regardless of how the world is acting around you, how you may feel, or your current circumstances, never ever take off Jesus!