Armor. It’s used to defend our bodies when in battle – whether we’re in offensive or defensive positions. It’s made to protect the vital parts of us that the enemy usually attacks.
Battle helmets of today protect the head because that sort of injury takes you out of the battle and is often fatal.
God’s helmet of salvation protects our minds. He knows our enemy chooses to attack our minds much more than our physical bodies. If he can distract or destroy our minds, he has removed us from effectively battling him.
Don’t be mistaken, Believer, if you belong to Christ, if you are following Him, you are in battle with this ancient enemy whose joy is to steal, kill, and destroy you. He will work hard to remove you from the battle using whatever means he has to.
The body-covering armor protects vital organs from front and back, again, keeping the soldier on the battlefield instead of being put out of action.
God’s breastplate of righteousness and belt of truth protect us from onward attacks, meaning we’re protected as we are moving forward in battle, not retreating.
Our hearts are weak. They are deceitful. They tend to want to follow the easy or fun way even when that way is detrimental to our souls. I believe that’s why we have the picture of the belt of truth undergirding that breastplate. We desperately need Truth. We need to be able to know what is Truth and what is lie. When we know the difference, we can rest in one and battle the other.
The shoes, like today’s army boots, protect our feet as we move forward to battle the enemy, to share the gospel, thus rescuing lost souls from his grasp.
The shield and sword Paul wrote about were for close-up battle. Looking eye to eye with the one you’re fighting. For us that means we’re not shrinking back or running, because we have the shield as defense and the sword as offense. We are protected as we press on in our purpose to build the Kingdom of God.
Note that the enemy has strategies. He has thousands of years’ practice in tripping up, knocking over, distracting, disabling, confusing, and destroying us. We need God’s protection.
It’s time we put it on
and put it to use.
I find it helpful to talk my way through every piece aloud. See, the enemy can’t read our thoughts. I will start with the helmet, declaring that I’m putting it on, that my mind is protected by the power of Jesus Christ. Then onward with each part.
Yeah, it might seem elementary, but it works. When I verbally remind myself with this declaration against the enemy, I realize that I’m in battle, but more importantly, that our Savior is battling with and for me. The enemy gets the message, too.
Oh, yeah, he still tries to wreck me, but I’m more likely to see the arrows and hold up my shield. I’m able to turn just so such that my helmet catches the strategy for messing with my mind.
Today is a fine day to put on this armor and get started protecting you and taking the battle to the destroyer. It’s your birthright as a believer.
Coffee, Bible, Journal.
