Is It Just Some Christian-y Thing We Say?
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:10-11)
Especially if you have grown up going to church or around those who do, you may have heard something about the “armor of God,” mentioned in Ephesians 6.
What does that mean to you? Is it just some Christian-y, good-sounding thing you just say because it’s in the Bible? Is it something you understand? Is it something you practice—the “putting on” of the armor of God?
It Doesn’t Really Carry the Same Weight I Think It Was Meant To
I’ll be honest—I thought the “armor of God” was just some nice-sounding Christian-y thing in the Bible for a long time, but I didn’t really understand what it meant practically-speaking.
One book that really helped me understand it a little more clearly & practically was Priscilla Shirer’s book “Armor of God,” which encourages you to pray through each piece & to pray over where you may have holes that need patching with God’s truth. (*Alphabetically, it is the first suggested Bible Study of mine on the Resources & Recommendations tab of my website. Find it, here.*) Definitely recommend this one for a deeper look into this passage of the Bible.
I know it’s a good reminder for me to talk through each piece, because it can be easy for me to not consciously, intentionally put on that armor, so let’s talk it through, shall we? Because it really is of utmost importance in the life of every follower of Jesus.
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:12-13)
Truth… How Can We KNOW It?
“Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth….” (Ephesians 6:14a)
How is your knowledge base of TRUTH?
Well, first we must determine Who determines TRUTH. The WORLD? Or, the God Who MADE the world? (Psalm 146:5-6) <– (*Fun fact, those verses not only mention God as Creator of Heaven & earth & all that is in them… but also His TRUTH. Totally not planned, but it’s the verse God brought to mind, so there you have it!*)
God is our Creator. He determines what is true. No one else.
I can believe otherwise. I can believe what I want. I can believe what makes sense to ME… but ONLY He can determine what is actual TRUTH.
And where do we find or figure out what GOD says is truth? The Bible—the Word of God.
How Are We Actively Nourishing Our Knowledge of Truth?
Did you know that every single day, you are exposed to countless other worldviews that are oftentimes contrary to what God says (ie television shows, movies, music, other people, even other CHRISTIANS)? If you are not regularly, daily feeding your mind & heart with TRUTH, you WILL STILL automatically be fed by what the world determines as truth.
Which outweighs the other for you?
Did you catch my mention of other Christians in that list above? Why would I include THEM? Because we all grow up in the same world as everyone else & can oftentimes adapt to what we see around us, not questioning whether or not God would agree. Everything MUST be checked against the Word of God—the Bible.
Every worldview, every opinion, every perspective… it must be filtered by TRUTH.
Truth holds us together & steadies us in a constantly shifting world. We don’t have to get tossed around by ever-changing beliefs. We can hold together with truth that goes above & beyond us—the Word of God—TRUTH.
God provides us with the truth, but it’s up to us to get to know it…. So… are you getting to know it?
What Is a “Breastplate of Righteousness”?
“… having put on the breastplate of righteousness….” (Ephesians 6:14b)
The breastplate is what covers your vital organs. You miss out on this piece of physical armor & you are an easy target to take out on the battlefield… so what does it mean to have a “breastplate of righteousness”? How is righteousness supposed to protect me where I am most vulnerable?
Well, I think it’s interesting that God mentions this piece of armor in the same sentence as the “belt of truth,” because it’s not enough to KNOW the truth… we have to live ACCORDING to the truth that we know in order to protect us!
Righteousness essentially just means living rightly… living the way God says we ought to live… & we have to know His truth in order to do this well, don’t we? We can’t do what we don’t even know we ought to do.
How Does It Protect Us, as a Physical Breastplate Would?
How does doing things God’s way protect us like a breastplate of armor protects our vital organs?
Well, when we live contrary to God’s truth… OUR way versus HIS way… we are honestly setting our course for destruction.
It’s like God knows the stove is hot, but it’s not red & looks just fine to us, so we determine we’re just going to touch it anyway, even though He tells us not to…. What happens? We get burned.
God KNOWS. He doesn’t have to guess because He KNOWS. HIS truth IS truth.
When we neglect this piece of armor, aka determining to do life our way instead of His way, we’re leaving ourselves open & vulnerable to Satan’s attacks of deception that lead to our destruction.
We must protect ourselves by choosing to do what God says is right, even when it is hard to do so & especially when it makes zero sense to us.
Wisdom… From Letting God be GOD in Your Life
The Bible tells us that the fear of God is the BEGINNING of wisdom, because it’s basically an understanding of, “well… God is GOD… & I am NOT.” Do you make your choices that way? Do you protect yourself by obeying what God says over what you believe?
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10)
Do you let God be GOD in your life? Do you live the way HE says? Or are you vulnerable to attack… do you need to put your “breastplate of righteousness” on & start living that way, now?
The Good News of PEACE
“…and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace….” (Ephesians 6:15)
Because of what Jesus did on that cross… we can move forward in life with PEACE. (Isaiah 53)
This world is riddled with anxiety. So many decisions, or avoidance of decisions, are led by anxiety. I am no exception.
But God has been getting my attention on this one… that I am literally allowing THOUGHTS to CONTROL my LIFE. THOUGHTS! Like, I think something, freak out, & become completely paralyzed because of just thoughts.
How silly & insane that sounds when I break it down that way. My anxiety is my perpetuated thoughts that have perpetually been reinforced by more thoughts & have thus led me to sometimes existing in crippling anxiety. THOUGHTS did this to me.
Where is this PEACE & confidence that God promises… to be “more than conquerors, in Christ”? Where is THAT in the average Christian life? (Romans 8:31-39)
How Can We Move Forward with the Good News of PEACE?
We can move forward knowing God is in control–not us. Knowing Jesus paid our debt–not us. Knowing the Holy Spirit will give us wisdom & strength.
We can move forward in this life… READY… with PEACE as our sure footing.
Do you ever stop to take those mean, intrusive, controlling thoughts CAPTIVE? (2 Corinthians 10:5) MAKING them obedient to Christ? TAKING that belt of truth seriously? Take back ground! Retrain your thoughts to look to Him versus looking around you.
Put on the Full Armor of God
I will leave it there for this week… we’ll finish up the remaining armor pieces next week… but let’s take this week to think how we can be feeding ourselves intentionally & regularly with TRUTH to keep us together with the “belt of truth”… covering the “vital organs” of our soul by living in a God-glorifying/God-honoring way with the “breastplate of righteousness,” & moving forward with the good news of PEACE to give us sure footing in a world plagued by anxiety.
Shine HOPE by putting on these armor pieces EVERY day, so that we can be ready when the hardships of life slap us out of nowhere, or when Satan comes a knocking with deceptive-led paths to destruction, so that, having done all… we can STAND.
Coming Next Week
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The Everyday Minimalist Earrings–Golden (INDIA)
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