Getting Dressed for Battle

The life that we live is a spiritual battle. Can you imagine if we could look into the heavens around us and actually see the battle that is taking place? We would completely understand why we need to put on our spiritual battle gear. I bet we’d never go out without it again! Instead, we walk around taking blows day by day from the enemy forces around us because we’re not dressed for the battle! We need to get spiritually dressed for battle every day, and Ephesians 6:13-17 tells us how:

“[13] Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. [14] Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, [15] and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. [16] In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. [17] Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Eph 6:13-17

First, we must take a stand against the enemy. Plant your feet, face your enemy, and take a stance of readiness. The times that we get cold-cocked in the head are when we aren’t watching out for the enemy. You’ve got to know his schemes and be on the lookout for them. If you don’t believe you have an enemy then he’s already won the battle. So know your enemy and stand firm in God knowing that “…greater is He who is in you, than he who is in the world.” (1 Jn 4:4 KJV)

As you stand firm, put on the belt of truth. Knowing the truth means knowing God’s Word, knowing Jesus Christ, who is “the Truth” (Jn 14:6) and knowing the truth of who you are in Christ. Did you know that you are the righteousness of God in Christ if you are a believer?

Romans 3:22 says, “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.”

Did you know that you are a co-heir with Christ if you are a believer? Romans 8:16-17 says, “[16] The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. [17] Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”

These are just a couple of examples of who you are in Christ. Take the promises of God and know who you are in Christ. Don’t let the enemy steal your heritage from you.

Next, put the breastplate of righteousness in place. The breastplate covers your heart, which is the seat of your emotions. Emotions can run wild if you let them, so you need to cover, or reign in your ungodly emotions. We have many emotions that aren’t godly, such as fear, worry, rage, hate, impatience, etc. We need to ask God to show us His love so we can walk in it. The more we understand the love of God, the more loving we are able to be to others.

The shoes of the gospel of peace are the next clothing for a warrior of God. Walking in God’s peace is the best way to avoid battles. As believers, Jesus tells us that He has given us His peace already. What we need to do is “walk” in it, so ask God to help you walk in the peace that Jesus has already given to us. (Jn 14:27)

Take up the shield of faith. When you hold up your faith as a shield, it will extinguish all the fiery darts of the enemy. Some days you can just feel the downpour of fiery darts from dusk to dawn. But when we hold up our shields, those darts will fall to the ground. God gives us the measure of faith we need for any given situation. (Rom 12:3) He grows our faith as we walk with Him. We need more faith the stronger we grow in Christ because the enemy will come at us in different ways and in different degrees.

The helmet of salvation is the next piece of our armor. The helmet covers your head, so this piece of armor is a spiritual cover for your mind. It is so important to think about what you’re thinking about that I can’t stress it enough. The biggest battlefield you have is in your mind. Cast down wrong thinking and make your thoughts obedient to Christ. (2 Cor 10:5)

Finally, take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. How can you use the word of God in battle? First, you’ve got to be in the word to know the word. Once you know it, you can speak it back to the enemy just like Jesus did when He was being tempted in the wilderness. (Mt 4:1-11; Lk 4:1-13)

All of these pieces of armor work together to give you the spiritual strength you need to stand against the enemy. Pray this armor of God over your life every day for the strength to stand. I like to pray the armor from top down to make it easier for me to remember. I hope you’ll use this prayer or a similar one to help you get dressed for battle every day. Remember, whether you’re dressed or not, you’re still in a battle every day.

Dear Heavenly Father,
I ask that You would give me the strength to stand and fight any battles that come my way today. I put on the helmet of salvation to protect my mind from any thoughts that are not of You. Help me to recognize them and cast them down. I put on the breastplate of righteousness which covers my heart and my emotions. Help me to see Your love for me so I can walk in love toward others. I put on the belt of truth knowing the truth of Your word, knowing Your Son, who is the Truth, and knowing the truth of who I am in Christ. I put on the shoes of peace. I choose to walk in the peace that You have given to me today. I take up the shield of faith which will extinguish all the fiery darts of the enemy. I ask that you grow my faith as I walk in Your ways. And I take up the sword of the Spirit. As I read Your word today, teach me, Lord. Write Your word upon my heart so I can speak it throughout the day. Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Thank You, Jesus! In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

~Lisa

All Scripture references are from the New International Version.
@Copyright 2011, LVC Ministries, Inc.