"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace; above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints:" (Eph 6:11-18 WEB)
“For though we walk in the flesh, we don’t wage war according to the flesh; for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds, throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,” (2Cor 10:3-5 WEB)
Armor of God
First, we should fasten the Belt of Truth securely around our waist. It represents the truth of God’s witness in our lives, the Spirit of Truth (the Holy Spirit), and our understanding of the Written Word of God. Our truth is that the testimony of Jesus lives in us, and through us. We have been redeemed.
The Breastplate of Righteousness symbolizes Jesus and His divine righteousness. It is a gift from God, bestowed upon believers as part of the covenant established through Jesus’s sacrifice. It is only through Jesus’ divine grace that we are able to walk in this covenant with God, knowing that when we fall short, God quickly forgives and encourages us to move forward.
Having our feet shod with the preparation of the gospels, ready to step out and share the hope and grace of the testimony of the sacrifice of Jesus and what His sacrifice has meant for us individually as believers. Our testimony is a powerful tool; people may not be able to see Jesus, but they can see Jesus in you.
Above all, we need to take up the Shield of Faith. Our faith reassures us that, even when we cannot see it, we know Jesus has overcome the adversary and death. He has defeated the enemy that once held us captive to our old nature’s destructive thoughts and actions. Faith assures us that we are the adopted children of God; we are loved, forgiven, accepted, and on a path of restoration.
The Sword, which represents the Written Word of God. Jesus used the Written Word when tempted by the adversary in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). I encourage you to study the Written Word as it nourishes a malnourished soul. In my youth, I would rush to share what God had done for me and forget what He was still doing within me; this often left me feeling drained. Make sure to connect with the Lord—talk to Him, praise Him, and learn from Him.
We must remember when accusations arise—even those that seem to originate from our thoughts—if they contradict God’s word, they are lies. The word of God is our ultimate authority. By putting on the Helmet of Salvation, we can assure ourselves that our life on this earth is only a brief moment in the scope of eternity. Jesus has paid the full price for our lives in this world and Heaven. One day, we will leave our earthly bodies and take our place in our Father’s house, where we will spend eternity basking in the love of God.
Prayer and open communication with God: I come to God in different ways depending on the situation. He is everything pure and holy; He is all-powerful and knowing. He cares about everyone and everything; He is everywhere and outside of time. He is my Friend, Healer, Counselor, Bridegroom, Father, Savior, King, and Most High God. He is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
"In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." (Php 4:6 WEB)
