Get Ready

Would a doctor begin an operation without surgical gear? Would a firefighter run into a burning building without a protective suit? Would a soldier head into a battle without armor?

With the exclusion of extreme situations, of course they wouldn’t.

In fact, not only do they spend years preparing for such moments, but they also learn to protect themselves from harm. If they aren’t prepared, they cannot do their job. 

Writing to the believers in Ephesus from a Roman prison, the apostle Paul said:

“Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6:11‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬

Every day, we face battles that we can’t fully see. And if we’re not prepared, we cannot do our job of loving God and people well. 

God’s armor is readily available, but we must make the intentional decision to dress ourselves for battle. 

And what does that armor consist of? 

• The belt of truth: If we don’t know what’s true, how can we discern a lie? We must look to God’s definition of truth, which is found in Scripture. His truth is unchanging, but also constantly being revealed to us. So look for what you know to be true of God, and then apply it to your life.

• The breastplate of righteousness: The only way for us to be righteous is to be covered in Jesus’ righteousness. We have to daily choose to remember that Jesus alone makes us worthy of God’s unending love. 

• The shoes of peace: Jesus said that He was leaving us with a gift—peace of mind and heart. This peace isn’t something we can get from the world around us. It’s a peace that only comes from the Holy Spirit inside of us. It’s a peace that transcends our circumstances and informs our decisions.

• The shield of faith: Trusting in God’s ways and character helps to extinguish the fiery darts of the enemy. When attacks like anxiety, disappointment, fear, or depression come whizzing at us—faith helps us stand our ground and press forward. When we cling to faith, we cling to the hope we have in the One who fights with and for us.

• The helmet of salvation: Salvation comes through Christ alone, and nothing can separate us from Him. So when we trust in Christ for salvation, our souls are protected, our eternity is secure, and we can put our hope in the finished work of the cross. 

• The sword of the Spirit: Scripture clearly describes this “sword” as the Word of God, which can be used both defensively and offensively. We “wield” this “sword” by memorizing Scripture and applying its teachings. When we know what God’s Word says, we can confidently deflect the half-truths the devil tries to tell us.

It’s important to remember that while we do have an enemy, it’s not each other. 

“For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6:12‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬

We need spiritual weapons to fight a spiritual battle. 

When we intentionally dress ourselves in the armor of God, we can be ready for the attacks that will inevitably come our way.