In the life of every believer of jesus Christ there will be battles for our faith. We will face them daily, and some will be ongoing for months and years. Some are intense while others may be subtle and even silent. Nonetheless, we all face battles to varying degrees and times that make this Christian life challenging. We were told to expect this as we observe, glean from, and follow the life of Christ. The enemy will not stop challenging our faith in God because his whole purpose is to draw us away from God, or as John 10:10 (NKJV) states ‘to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.’
But as we acknowledge the battles we face in this life, we cling to the truth that we, as followers of Christ, have the victory over our enemy and in every battle we find ourselves. God has made sure that we are well suited for every challenge! He has given us the Armor of God to stand, and to stand victoriously, in the day of battle. And with this Armor, He tells us to be strong and confident in the power of His might. He tells us to put on the whole Armor so that we can stand against our enemy.
The Armor of God:
The Belt of TRUTH – Belts are worn around the waist to ensure that clothing stay in place on the lower part of the body. TRUTH is the Word of God. God’s Word holds everything together once it is in place. It is the staple and constant of our lives as believers. It is the compass by which we travel in this life. TRUTH is a Protector. The Word of God is a Protector.
The Breastplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS – The breastplate in the pieces of Armor is for the protection of the heart area of the body. RIGHTEOUSNESS is what is accounted to us from God when we believe and trust Him by faith. It is the result of us being in right standing with God. Because of our faith in Him, the most critical area of our lives is protected and shielded from the attacks of the enemy.
The shoes prepared with the Gospel of PEACE – When we are in a state of tranquility and there are no distrubances or interruptions or wars (internally), the PEACE of God is present. This piece of Armor is critical to how we move and really why we live the way that we do as believers. When we walk in this way, though the enemy may be raging outside of us, PEACE allows us to stay focused on the task at hand and to remain in a position of victory.
The Shield of FAITH – Our FAITH is such a powerful weapon, and may be the most powerful weapon for the believer. Not only does it help to secure our salvation in Christ, it, also, shields us from the darts, or accusations, thrown at us from our enemy. When the enemy comes at us with all kinds of lies, our FAITH in Jesus is what prevents those lies from landing and taking root in our hearts and minds.
The Helmet of SALVATION – A helmet protects the head area externally and our minds internally. Damage to our heads could affect the way we think. As believers we should always think like someone who has been saved by God and has received the privilege of being a member of God’s family. When the enemy comes in, he tries to get us to believe everything otherwise than this. We have received the gift of SALVATION by faith from God. We are His. The TRUTH of who we are and whose we are protects our minds and our lives.
The sword of the SPIRIT – This piece of the Armor is meant to cut. A sword is a sharp weapon that is not only able to wound the enemy, but it is also used to go deep into hidden areas and take out what is not like God. The Word of God is our sword, and as it is described in Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV), it is a two-edged sword that can discern our thoughts and intents of our heart. As believers we are to use, or wield, the Word to combat the attacks of the enemy and to shape our lives. The enemy cannot withstand the Word of God because if all else fails, the Word will remain no matter what. We must speak the Word as it is literally God’s purpose and plan for all of mankind.
PRAYER – This is definitely one of the most powerful weapons we have in our arsenal. PRAYER is communication with God, and of course, communication is a two-way street – there is a time to talk and a time to listen. We should always be in constant communication with the Lord and listening for His instructions and directions. And speaking His word is how we use PRAYER as a weapon in battle. PRAYER is like a capstone to our arsenal – it summarizes or pulls together the whole Armor of God and how we live in it everyday of our lives. It is powerful!!!
This complete Armor of God has been given to us for our protection and victory in the day of our battles. It is a privilege to be a daughter of God and to receive the awesome benefits that God lavishes our lives with daily (Psalm 68:19 NKJV). Study more about this Armor and how to use it so that the victory given to you can manifest, show up, daily.
In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might. (Ephesians 6:10 AMP)
Scripture References: Ephesians 6:10-18; John 10:10; Hebrews 12:2; James 4:7; Romans 13:14; Galatians 3:27
Reflective Journal Prompts
Take this time to reflect on what has been shared in this post. This should be a time of introspection and communion with God. Journal what The Holy Spirit is revealing to you in these moments. Dig deeper into the Word and learn more about each of the pieces of the Armor of God.
Stay tuned to the website for a deeper study into the Armor of God and how we are to clothe ourselves daily in this protection that has been given to us as members of God’s family.
