Suit Up, Ladies! How to Wear the Armor of God Every Day
Alright, let’s talk about the Armor of God! Now, if you’ve ever felt like life is a constant battle (because, let’s be real, it sometimes feels like that, right?), then this concept will speak right to your heart. The Armor of God is from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, and it’s found in chapter 6, verses 10-18. Paul knew that living as a follower of Jesus wasn’t going to be easy, and he wanted to equip us for the challenges ahead. This armor isn’t physical—it’s spiritual. It’s like Paul was saying, “Listen, there’s a lot going on behind the scenes in the spiritual world, and you need to be ready.”
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Imagine Paul, sitting in prison, likely surrounded by Roman soldiers, and thinking, “What can I compare our spiritual defense to?” And then it hits him: just like these soldiers have physical armor to protect them in battle, we have spiritual armor to protect us from the attacks of the enemy. And let’s be clear: the enemy isn’t the person who cut you off in traffic or the coworker who always seems to make your life difficult. Nope. Paul tells us our real enemy is the devil and the spiritual forces of evil.
The Armor of God consists of six parts: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. Each piece represents something essential to standing firm against the spiritual struggles we face. Paul’s not saying we need to fight harder—he’s saying we need to trust God and use the tools He’s given us to stand firm in our faith.
Important Bible Verses About the Armor of God
Let’s break down the key Bible verses that talk about the Armor of God. These verses are where Paul lays it all out for us, giving us a battle plan for spiritual warfare.
- Ephesians 6:10-11 (NIV)
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”- Paul starts by telling us to rely on God’s strength, not our own. We’re not expected to fight these battles alone—thank goodness, right?
- Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”- This is where Paul makes it clear that our battle isn’t against other people—it’s spiritual.
- Ephesians 6:13 (NIV)
“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.”- We’re called to stand firm, not retreat, not panic—just stand, because God has got us covered.
- Ephesians 6:14-17 (NIV)
“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”- Here, Paul describes each piece of armor and its purpose. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God—they all work together to protect and equip us.
- Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”- Prayer is our constant connection to God—it’s like the glue that holds all the armor together.
5 Facts About the Armor of God
- It’s Spiritual Armor, Not Physical: The Armor of God isn’t something we can physically put on—it’s a metaphor for the spiritual tools God gives us to protect ourselves and stand firm in our faith.
- Each Piece Has a Purpose: Every part of the armor has a specific role. The belt of truth holds everything together, the breastplate protects our heart with righteousness, the shoes help us stand firm in peace, and so on. They all work together to protect us fully.
- It’s Defensive and Offensive: While most of the armor is defensive—meant to protect us—the sword of the Spirit (the Word of God) is an offensive weapon. It’s what we use to fight back against the lies and attacks of the enemy.
- We Can’t Skip Any Pieces: Paul says to put on the full armor of God, not just a few pieces. It’s important to be fully equipped because every part is necessary to protect us from spiritual attacks.
- Prayer is the Key: After listing all the armor, Paul emphasizes the importance of prayer. The armor doesn’t work without constant communication with God. Prayer is what strengthens and activates each piece.
Characteristics, Strengths, and Weaknesses of the Armor of God
Strengths of the Armor:
- It’s Complete Protection: The Armor of God covers us from head to toe. It protects our mind, heart, body, and spirit. When we’re wearing it, we’re fully equipped to face spiritual battles.
- It’s God’s Power, Not Ours: The armor is a symbol of God’s strength, not something we have to manufacture on our own. It’s about relying on Him, not about being tough on our own.
- It Gives Us Confidence: Knowing that we have the Armor of God gives us the confidence to stand firm, even when we feel weak or under attack.
Weaknesses of the Armor:
- It Requires Our Participation: The Armor of God is effective, but only if we put it on. It’s a daily choice to trust God, to be rooted in His truth, and to rely on His protection.
- It’s Misused When We Fight the Wrong Battle: If we forget that our fight isn’t against people, we can misuse the armor. It’s for spiritual battles, not for arguments or conflicts with others.
Lessons From the Armor of God
The Armor of God has so many lessons packed into it. Let’s take a look at a few of the biggest ones:
- We Need God’s Strength: One of the biggest lessons is that we aren’t strong enough on our own. The battles we face aren’t just physical—they’re spiritual. We need to lean on God’s strength, not try to fight in our own power.
- Truth Holds Everything Together: The belt of truth is listed first for a reason. Truth is what holds everything together. We need to be rooted in God’s truth, and we need to live truthfully. Lies, whether we tell them or believe them, can cause everything to fall apart.
- Righteousness Protects Our Heart: The breastplate of righteousness covers our chest, where our heart is. Living righteously—doing what is right in God’s eyes—protects our heart from being wounded by guilt, shame, or attacks from the enemy.
- Peace Keeps Us Grounded: The shoes of the gospel of peace help us stand firm. When life feels chaotic or stressful, God’s peace keeps us grounded. It allows us to face challenges with a calm assurance that God is in control.
- Faith Deflects the Enemy’s Attacks: The shield of faith is what we use to block the fiery arrows of the enemy. Faith doesn’t mean we never experience fear or doubt, but it does mean we trust God to protect us, even when things get tough.
5 Discussion Questions About the Armor of God
- Which piece of the Armor of God resonates with you the most right now? Why?
- How can you practice putting on the full Armor of God in your daily life?
- Have you ever faced a spiritual battle where you felt unprotected? What do you think was missing from your spiritual armor?
- What are some practical ways you can use the shield of faith when you feel attacked by doubt or fear?
- How does the sword of the Spirit (the Word of God) help you fight back against lies or discouragement?
How We Can Apply What We’ve Learned About the Armor of God to Our Own Lives
So, let’s talk about how we can actually apply the Armor of God to our lives, because knowing about it is one thing, but living it out is where the real power comes in.
First, putting on the armor is an intentional, daily decision. It’s not something that just happens when we wake up in the morning. We have to choose to wear it. That might mean starting your day with a prayer, asking God to help you stand firm in His truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and Word. It’s not about being perfect, but about being intentional.
Next, live in God’s truth. We live in a world that bombards us with lies—about who we are, about what’s important, and even about God Himself. The belt of truth means holding on to what God says is true, and that might mean spending time in His Word to know the truth for yourself.
Guard your heart with righteousness. The breastplate of righteousness isn’t about trying to be perfect. It’s about living in a way that pleases God and protects our hearts from things like guilt and shame. When we mess up (because we all do), we can turn back to God, knowing that He offers us forgiveness and grace.
Stand firm in peace. Let God’s peace be the foundation of how you move through life. When things get crazy (and they will), the shoes of peace remind us that we can stand firm because we trust that God’s got it.
Hold up your shield of faith when doubt or fear creeps in. Faith doesn’t mean the attacks won’t come—it just means they won’t knock you down. God is bigger than whatever fiery arrows the enemy tries to throw at you.
And finally, use the sword of the Spirit—the Word of God—to fight back. When you’re feeling discouraged or confused, turn to Scripture. God’s Word is powerful and true, and it cuts through the lies the enemy tries to feed us.
We’re not expected to be spiritual warriors on our own. God equips us with His armor because He knows the battles we face. But we have to choose to wear it. Every day. Trust that God has provided everything we need to stand firm, no matter what life throws at us.
A Short Prayer to End the Devotional
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You so much for giving us Your Armor to protect us and help us stand firm in our faith. Lord, we confess that we sometimes forget to rely on You and try to fight battles on our own. Help us remember to put on Your full Armor every day, trusting that You’ve equipped us with everything we need.
Give us the strength to hold on to Your truth, to live righteously, to stand firm in Your peace, to hold up our shield of faith, and to use Your Word as a weapon against the enemy’s lies. And most of all, remind us that You are always with us, fighting for us, and protecting us.
We love You, and we trust in Your mighty power to carry us through whatever battles we face. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
So there you have it, ladies! The Armor of God is such a beautiful gift from our Father, meant to protect us and help us stand firm in a world full of spiritual battles. Let’s make it a daily habit to put on that armor and trust in God’s strength to see us through. You’ve got this, and more importantly, God’s got you!