The Armor of God: Your Protection Against the Devil’s Schemes
In our world today, we are constantly bombarded with different evil forces that seek to steal, kill, and destroy. These forces come in different forms such as addiction, pride, immorality, greed, and other types of sins. The devil, who is the father of all lies, comes to steal, kill, and destroy. He searches for people to devour and to steer away from God's love. However, God has given us a special gift to protect ourselves against the devil's schemes. This gift is the Armor of God.
Ephesians 6:10-18 gives us an outline of the Armor of God. The Apostle Paul wrote this passage during his imprisonment, and he encourages us to put on this armor of God.
Ephesians 6 : 10-18
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. 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.
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.
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.
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.
Amen.
The first piece of armor is the belt of truth. This belt symbolizes the truth of God that should surround our lives. The truth of God keeps us grounded and stable amidst the lies and deceit of the devil.
The second piece of armor is the breastplate of righteousness. This breastplate protects our hearts against the attacks of the enemy. By putting on the breastplate of righteousness, we acknowledge that our righteousness comes from God alone and not from our good deeds or works.
The third piece of armor is the shoes of peace. These shoes signify our readiness to share the gospel of peace with others. As we walk in peace, we exude a demeanor of hope and love that draws people closer to God.
The fourth piece of armor is the shield of faith. The shield of faith is a crucial piece of armor that protects us from the fiery darts of the devil. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. By holding up our shield of faith, we defend ourselves against the attacks of the enemy and grow deeper in our trust in God.
The fifth piece of armor is the helmet of salvation. The helmet of salvation protects our minds and thoughts from the enemy's lies and deceitful plans. Through salvation, we are assured of our eternal life, and we are given the hope of glory.
The sixth and final piece of armor is the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. The Word of God is our offensive weapon that we use to defeat the enemy. It is described as a sharp two-edged sword that pierces through the intentions of the heart. The word of God is powerful, and when we speak it in faith, it brings healing, deliverance, and restoration to our lives.
Putting on the Armor of God is not a one-time event, but it is a continual process of daily surrendering our lives to God. It is a decision to allow God to be our guide and to lead us through the various battles of our lives. By putting on the Armor of God, we become immovable, unshakeable, and unbreakable in our faith. It is by this armor that we are protected from the devil's schemes, and we can live victorious lives in Christ. So, I encourage you to put on the Armor of God today, and may the Lord give you the strength to stand firm in the face of all opposition.
I want to share an encouraging prayer that I say every morning and night, using the words of God from Ephesians 6:10–18 in the Bible, found in the link below. This prayer enables me to don the armor of God and stand firm against the cunning schemes of the Devil.
