We’ve all heard about the Armor of God. It’s what we put on to protect us from the devil’s attacks. Ephesians 6:11-17 tells us about the Armor of God, but I think we don’t often think deeply about what practically “putting on the Armor” looks like.
I found myself thinking deeply about this the other day, and thought it might be something helpful for you all to hear. First, I’m going to dive deep into the meaning of each piece of equipment, then how we can put them on.
The Belt of Truth is the piece on which everything else hangs. And what is truth, other than Jesus? Didn’t he say, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”?
The Breastplate of Righteousness protects your vital organs. Namely, your heart and lungs. The righteousness of Christ has washed over you, and now your heart cannot be punctured by any schemes of the enemy and your lungs can sing praises without fear.
Shoes of the Readiness to share the Gospel of Peace. This is something we often neglect, but we should always be reafy to share the Gospel. For true peace is only found in the Good News!
The Shield of Faith. A faith that knows God is good, in control, all powerful, and all knowing, no matter what attacks are coming at you. Not a weak faith in a weak God, but a faith strong enough to move mountains and extinguish fiery darts!
The Helmet of Salvation protects your head. The knowledge that you are saved protects you from being vulnerable to mind games or a direct blow. From this assurance of our salvation, we are free to focus on things other than us.
And last, but certainly not least (it’s our only offensive weapon after all), the sword of the Spirit. Although they may not always seem like it, prayer and the Word of God are powerful, powerful enough to make the enemy run for cover. Do not neglect to use them, because they are what you use to rescue others who need time to put their own armor on.
Now, how do we put on these attributes?
The belt of truth: We need to start each day by affirming what Jesus says about us. When we fill our voice with truth, lies are easily cast away. How do we know what the truth is? By listening to His voice and reading His Word!
The breastplate of righteousness: Righteousness is something we could never achieve on our own. It comes only through the sacrifice of Jesus, which cleansed us of our sin and made a way for him to live in our hearts. Prepare your heart for Jesus to work in your life, and cover your life with his righteousness.
Shoes of the Readiness to share the Gospel of Peace (that’s mouthful!): When you head out for the day, look for opportunities to share the Good News! And prepare your heart by meditating on the importance of what Jesus did.
The Shield of Faith: Faith is believing in what can’t be seen. A great way to build up your faith is by listening to testimonies, and remembering what God has already done in your life.
The Helmet of Salvation: You have been bought for freedom by the blood of Christ! Remember that when your head becomes filled with things of the world, because you are no longer enslaved to them! Gratitude and anxiety can’t exist at the same time. So focus on your thankfulness for your salvation!
The Sword of the Spirit: Prayer and reading the Bible. This is pretty self explanatory. Start your day with reading the Bible and praying. And there are so many different types of prayers! You can pray gratitude, petitions, intercession, or worship! There’s no excuse to not spend time with your Father!!!!
Anyways, this is how I understand it, and I hope this helps, especially when my hometown is getting hit so hard, and there’s so many scary things to think about. I’m praying for you all!
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