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“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.”

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Perhaps one of the most symbolic passages of scripture in the New Testament, Ephesians Chapter 6 has comforted no doubt thousands of Christians throughout time.

Paul eloquently and systematically outlines six essential spiritual truths, that when applied correctly, have the potential to supernaturally protect any believer from his most wicked adversary, the Devil.

The “belt” of TRUTH

The purpose of a belt is to hold things up! And that’s exactly what the truth of God does. The bible teaches that the Word of God holds the whole world together (John 1:3; Hebrews 1:3).

Since God’s word is so integrous it has the power to uphold and sustain the earth and everything in it.

When you place the “belt of truth” around your life, you are proclaiming that the truth of God’s word is what holds your whole life together!

Do you have a difficult relationship you’re involved in? A person wearing the “belt of truth” seeks wisdom from the word of God before going to her friends for advice.

Are you in a financial death spiral and your money situation is spinning out of control? Instead of trying to do better with your budget, pull your finances back together by understanding what God’s word says about the purpose of money.

In all issues of life, those who clothe themselves with the “belt of truth” allow the truth of God’s word to hold their lives together even when it seems like the world is falling apart.

The “Breastplate” of RIGHTEOUSNESS

A “breastplate” protects your most vital organs including your beating heart! God tells us that the best way to guard and protect our heart is by remembering that as believers we are righteous.

This state of being “right” with God will protect our hearts when our hearts condemn us (1 John 3:20).

Do you often feel like you’re not worthy of people’s love?

Are you tired of trying to measure up to a perfect standard of perfection?

Everyone wrestles with these thoughts from time to time, which is why God tells us to save our hearts from feeling condemned by protecting them with his righteousness.

When my heart is protected with the “breastplate” of righteousness, no matter what ridicule, accusations, or judgement comes my way, my heart can remain protected knowing that I’m always righteous in God’s eyes.

The Gospel of PEACE

Jesus’ good news message came upon the earth when he was born into this world. The angels proudly proclaimed to the shepherds, that because of Jesus there would now be “… peace on earth,” and “…goodwill toward men” (Luke 2:14).

To keep our feet “fitted for readiness” means that as believers we always carry with us wherever we go the good news of the peace God now has toward man.

This is an important aspect of protecting ourselves (and others) from the enemy. In our own lives peace can lead us in the right direction, guiding us in the path of safety and out of harm’s way.

For others, the gospel of peace can deliver those who’ve lived their whole lives in fear of God, into a realm of calmness that truly surpasses understanding.

The gospel of peace is fitted on our feet as a reminder that we must carry the good news of Jesus to the ends of the world.

The “shield” of FAITH

The greatest attack on our faith is the barrage of negative circumstances that the enemy throws our way with his fiery arrows. We’ve all experienced seasons in our lives when it seems like things just couldn’t get any worse, only to have the bottom fall out from underneath us.

We need faith during these times to remember that God is not the source of our problems, nor is he “allowing” these problems to happen in order to teach us something, as some would suggest.

The shield of faith protects us from the “buffeting” of the enemy’s attacks (2 Corinthians 12:7) by reminding us that God is a good god who never brings harm to his children.

Furthermore, faith inspires us to keep believing in God’s promises even when we’re experiencing the worst circumstances in the world.

The “helmet” of SALVATION

The depth of a person’s mind and intellect is truly deep waters. The “helmet” of salvation therefore, protects our thoughts from any belief-system or mindset that would cause us to doubt our salvation.

Since salvation refers to the “saving” of every part of a man, to protect our minds with the salvation of God means to keep the promise of salvation for our finances, health, relationships and the redemption of our sins, safe from unbelief.

If the enemy can strike a fatal blow to our understanding of our what salvation in Christ provided, then Christians become void of the power salvation offers.

We must therefore protect Jesus’ salvation in our lives at all costs by not allowing any contrary beliefs into our minds which would nullify salvation’s power to help us overcome sin, sickness, or emotional-bondage.

The “sword” of the SPIRIT

Swords are sharp and meant to mortally wound an adversary. The sword is the only offensive weapon mentioned in the list of tools God gives us to fight the devil.

If you’re ready to take back lost ground, or territory in your life that’s been stolen by Satan, then you must immediately begin speaking the word of God and the promises of God over your life.

Not only does the word of God drive out darkness, but speaking the word over your life reinforces its power and effectiveness because you’re listening to what you’re saying.

In that sense, the word of God is sown into your heart many times over, which increases the harvest you can expect from each “planting.”

If Jesus used the word of God to drive out the enemy, resist temptation, call-out legalism, and hold himself fast on the cross until his work was finished, then you need the word of God to take back stolen property that is rightfully yours.

Don’t allow your most valuable offensive weapon to fight the devil lie dormant on your night stand. Dust off your sword and begin wielding it as if your life depends on it – it does!