Armed and Ready: October Scripture Challenge
Putting on the Full Armor of God — One Creative Day at a Time
I started my monthly Scripture Challenges in May 2025, and they have quickly become one of my favorite things to do each month. I’ve enjoyed diving into Scripture, spending intentional time with the Lord, and then taking what I’ve learned and expressing it creatively.
And if you’ve been following along for a while, you know that I don’t always use the same type of journal! I’ve used purchased notebooks, handmade journals, Bible journaling pages, cards, and all kinds of creative formats. I truly believe there is no “right” way to do a Scripture Challenge. The important thing isn’t what we create.
The important thing is spending time in God’s Word.
Last month, we spent 30 days in the Psalms. I created 6" x 4" index cards and placed them in a box so that, when we finished, I now have an entire box filled with Scripture, prayers, thoughts, and creative reminders from the Book of Psalms.
I loved that format so much that I knew I wanted to continue creating individual Scripture cards for October—but with a little twist!
This Month We're Getting…Armed & Ready!
Our October Scripture Challenge is: ARMED & READY. This month we're spending time in Ephesians 6 and learning what it means to put on the full armor of God.
Ephesians 6:10 begins with these words: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” I love that Paul doesn't tell us to simply be strong. He tells us to be strong in the Lord. There is such a difference.
Our strength doesn't have to come from our own abilities, determination, or willpower. God has given us what we need to stand firm—and throughout this challenge, we're going to look more closely at the spiritual armor He provides.
We'll talk about the Belt of Truth, Breastplate of Righteousness, Shoes of the Gospel of Peace, Shield of Faith, Helmet of Salvation, and Sword of the Spirit.
But I also want us to look beyond simply naming the pieces of armor.
What does it actually look like to wear the Armor of God in our everyday lives?
How does truth protect us when we're surrounded by lies?
How does faith help us stand when life feels uncertain?
How does the Gospel of Peace change the way we walk into difficult situations?
And how do we use God's Word when the battle isn't something we can physically see?
Those are some of the things we'll explore together.
We're Making MemoryDex Cards!
For October, I'll be creating 4" x 5" MemoryDex-style cards.
If you're not familiar with MemoryDex cards, think of them as taller Rolodex cards. Each day I'll create one card and eventually place all 31 cards into a card box. By the end of October, I'll have an entire collection of Armed & Ready Scripture Cards that I can flip through whenever I need encouragement or a reminder to stand firm.
But here's something important: You do NOT have to make MemoryDex cards!
Use whatever you already have. You could create in a journal, use index cards, work in your Bible, make tags, create a junk journal, use a composition notebook, or simply write the Scriptures in a notebook. Make this challenge work for you.
Five Cluster Elements Every Day
One of my favorite parts of last month's challenge was creating Scripture clusters, so we're continuing that idea! Each day I'll share an inspiration card along with five cluster elements you can use to create your own card or journal page.
For example, one day our cluster might include: Map paper • Watchtower • Clock • Torn dark paper • Red thread
You can use all five pieces, substitute something you already have, change the colors, move things around, or create something completely different. The cluster elements are simply there to get your creativity started.
This isn't about copying my card. It's about taking a Scripture, slowing down long enough to think about what it means, and creating something that helps you remember it.
And please—use your stash! You don't need to go buy a bunch of new craft supplies to participate. Dig through your scraps. Tear up an old book page. Grab some fabric, thread, buttons, lace, paper clips, tags, paint, stamps, or whatever you already have.
Sometimes the most meaningful pages come from the simplest supplies.
Why Combine Scripture and Creativity?
For me, creating helps me slow down. It's so easy to read a verse, close the Bible, and move on to the next thing on my list. But when I'm deciding what colors to use, tearing papers, adding a word strip, or gluing down a little piece of fabric, I find myself continuing to think about the Scripture.
What is God showing me?
What word keeps standing out?
How does this verse apply to my life today?
The finished card is wonderful, but that's not really the point. The time spent with the Lord while creating it is what matters.
You Are Invited!
I'd love for you to join me for the Armed & Ready October Scripture Challenge. Each day I'll be sharing the Scripture, an inspiration card, and cluster elements on my Carol Adams Creations Facebook page. Be sure to LIKE and FOLLOW so the daily posts are more likely to show up in your feed.
And remember—you can start anytime. If you miss a day, don't quit. If you get behind, don't worry about catching up. If your card looks completely different from mine, that's wonderful! There is no prize for finishing first and no penalty for finishing in November.
This is simply an invitation to spend a little more time in God's Word while using the creativity He has given you. So grab your Bible, pull out some scraps from your craft stash, and get your scissors and glue ready.
