The Armor of God

Everyday life is full of activities, work, and family, mixed with the constant bombardment of influence, pressure and ideas from the people we encounter and the people we want relationship with. It’s a constantly changing bustle of routine blending with the unpredictable. We learn to expect the unexpected… but we don’t always like or welcome the disruptions that bring fear, trouble, pain, worry, or the unknown.

Life is too hard to handle on our own. An important promise we have from God as part of our covenant relationship with Him is protection in the spiritual realm when we put on the armor of God Paul teaches about in the sixth book of Ephesians. The Bible often warns against underestimating our enemy, the demonic forces determined to accuse and persecute God’s children. I will explain this in more detail in a later post.

The Bible teaches us to put on the armor of God every day to fight against the evil strategies of the accuser, the devil. This is the prayer I say each day. It is a combination of scripture passages adapted in first person and other prayers. I invite you to join me and armor up each day before you move on with your other activities. It will not only help protect you from some unwanted unknowns, but it will help you grow in your relationship with your Heavenly Father. You will be obedient to His instructions He provides in His Word and gain a deeper understanding of His love for you. He doesn’t want us to live in fear. He wants us to know He is walking right beside us and taking on the enemies that are too big for us to handle.

Lord, as I prepare to engage the enemy, Your Word gives me instruction on the rules of spiritual warfare. Please help me heed Your instructions and not become an unnecessary casualty of war. In preparation, I declare my spirit man is clad with the armor of the Lord and the armor of Light.

To live like this is all the more urgent, for time is running out and you know it is a strategic hour in human history. It is time for us to wake up! For our full salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

Night’s darkness is dissolving away as a new day of destiny dawns. So we must once and for all strip away what is done in the shadows of darkness, removing it like filthy clothes. And once and for all we clothe ourselves with the radiance of light as our weapon. We must live honorably, surrounded by the light of this new day, not in the darkness of drunkenness and debauchery, not in promiscuity and sensuality, not being argumentative or jealous of others.

Instead fully immerse yourselves into the Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, and don’t waste even a moment’s thought on your former identity to awaken its selfish desires. 

Romans 13: 11-14

Now my beloved ones, I saved these most important truths for last: I am supernaturally infused with strength through my life-union with the Lord Jesus. I stand victorious with the force of His explosive power flowing in and through me.

I put on God’s complete set of armor provided for me, so I am protected as I fight against the evil strategies of the accuser! My hand-to-hand combat is not with human beings, but with the highest principalities and authorities operating in rebellion under the heavenly realms. They are a powerful class of demon-gods and evil spirits that hold this dark world in bondage.

Because of this, I must wear all the armor God provides so I’m protected as I confront the slanderer, for I’m destined for all things and will rise victorious.

I put on truth as a belt to strengthen me to stand in triumph. I put on holiness as the protective armor that covers my heart. I stand on my feet alert, always ready to share the blessings of peace.

In every battle, I take faith as my wrap-around shield, for it is able to extinguish the blazing arrows coming at me from the evil one! I embrace the power of salvation’s full deliverance, like a helmet to protect my thoughts from lies. I take the mighty razor-sharp Spirit-sword of the spoken Word of God.

I pray passionately in the Spirit, as I constantly intercede with every form of prayer at all times. I pray the blessings of God on all His believers.

I take power given to me by Jesus Christ over all the power of the enemy. Christ commanded the host even as a righteous man when He was being judged by the Sanhedrin. He said, if I wanted to, I could call the army of heaven to fight on My behalf. As an heir with Christ, I have the right to do the same. 

Ephesians 6: 10-19 

Luke 10: 18-19 says, Jesus replied, “While you were ministering, I watched satan topple until he fell suddenly from heaven like lightning to the ground. Jesus imparted to me all His authority to trample over satans kingdom. I trample on every demon before me and overcome every power satan possesses. Absolutely nothing can harm me as I walk in this authority.

I put on the breastplate of righteousness to protect my heart, chest cavity and vital organs. I function and conduct my life affairs according to Your original plan and purpose for me. I surrender myself to God to be His sacred, living sacrifice, and live in holiness, experiencing all that delights His heart, making this my genuine expression of worship. It protects my reputation and my heart. I gird my loins with truth, it protects my integrity. I put on my feet the sandals of the Gospel of Peace to guide my every step. I put on the helmet of salvation to renew my mind daily. It protects me from negative thoughts that would derail Your purpose and plans for me. I raise the shield of faith before every fiery dart of the enemy. It secures my future and destiny. With the Word I take up the sword of the Lord to speak God’s Word out loud to grant me dominion and authority against the powers of hell. In the precious name of Jesus, I withstand in the evil day, triumphant because of my Lord and King, Jesus Christ! I walk in the authority of my risen and reigning savior, Jesus Christ. I am supernaturally infused with strength through my life-union with the Lord Jesus. I stand victorious with the force of His explosive power flowing in and through me. I am destined for all things and rise victorious. I pray passionately in the Spirit, constantly interceding with every form of prayer at all times. I pray the blessings of God on all His believers. I trample on every demon before me and overcome every power satan possesses.

I live with the confidence there is nothing in the universe with the power to separate me from God’s love. I’m convinced His love will triumph over death, life’s troubles, fallen angels, or dark rulers in the heavens. There is nothing in my present or future circumstances that can weaken His love. There is no power above me or beneath me—no power that could ever be found in the universe that can distance me from God’s passionate love, lavished on me through my Lord Jesus, the Anointed One!

Romans 8: 38-39.

Freedom Focused Faith

What is freedom focused faith about? It emphasizes the only real freedom we can enjoy. When we choose to put our faith in Jesus and trust the one and only God of the universe we are freed from the bondage of sin. Sin separates us from God. God invites us to be a part of His family by simply choosing to no longer sin and to accept Jesus sacrifice for us that cleanses us of all our sin and makes us whole and acceptable to stand before our Father as His child.

“I speak eternal truth,” Jesus said. “When you sin you are not free. You’ve become a slave in bondage to your sin. And slaves have no permanent standing in a family, like a son does, for a son is a part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free from sin, then become a true son and be unquestionably free! John 10: 34-36

I know the truth, and the truth sets me free. John 8: 32

What do I believe? We all sin and live in a fallen world corrupted and contaminated with sin and the consequences of sin. The consequence of sin is death. Paul teaches us this in Romans 6:

What are we to do, then? Should we sin to our hearts’ content since there’s no law to condemn us anymore? What a terrible thought! Don’t you realize grace frees you to choose your own master? But choose carefully, for you surrender yourself to become a servant—bound to the one you choose to obey. If you choose to love sin, it will become your master, and it will own you and reward you with death. But if you choose to love and obey God, He will lead you into perfect righteousness.

And thanks be to God, for in the past you were servants of sin, but now your obedience is heart deep, and your life is being molded by truth through the teaching you are devoted to. And now you celebrate your freedom from your former master—sin. You’ve left its bondage, and now God’s perfect righteousness holds power over you as His loving servants.

I’ve used the familiar terms of a “servant” and a “master” to compensate for your weakness to understand. For just as you surrendered your bodies and souls to impurity and lawlessness, which only brought more lawlessness into your lives, so now surrender yourselves as servants of righteousness, which brings you deeper into true holiness. For when you were bound as servants to sin, you lived your lives free from any obligation to righteousness.

So tell me, what benefit ensued from doing those things you’re now ashamed of? It left you with nothing but a legacy of shame and death. But now, as God’s loving servants, you live in joyous freedom from the power of sin. So consider the benefits you now enjoy—you are brought deeper into the experience of true holiness that ends with eternal life! For sin’s meager wages is death, but God’s lavish gift is life eternal, found in your union with our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One. Romans 6: 15-23

What glorious news! Not only are we free from the curse of sin but we can live in joyous freedom! Our acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord places a supernatural peace inside us and we can experience joy no matter what is happening around us. On top of that, we are given the gift of eternal life. Death may take our physical body at some point, but we are confident our soul will live forever in Heaven.

Now we take the next step and choose to live a life dedicated to God and doing what He created us to do. We turn our back on sin. We choose to no longer sin. Yes, it is possible to not sin anymore.

God’s marvelous grace manifested in person, bringing salvation for everyone. This same grace teaches me how to live each day as I turn my back on ungodliness and indulgent lifestyles, and it equips me to live a self-controlled, upright, godly life in this present age. I continue to wait for the fulfillment of my hope in the dawning splendor of the glory of my great God and Savior, Jesus, the Anointed One. He sacrificed Himself for me that He might purchase my freedom from every lawless deed and to purify for Himself a people who are His very own, passionate to do what is beautiful in His eyes. Titus 2: 11-14

He saved me, resurrecting me through the washing of rebirth. I am made completely new by the Holy Spirit, whom He splashed over me richly by Jesus, the Messiah, my Life Giver. Titus 3: 6

Did you catch that? We are equipped with the ability to live a self-controlled, upright, godly life here and now. When we accept Jesus into our hearts as our Lord and Savior and make Him ruler over our life, we are made brand new by Holy Spirit who now lives in us. Holy Spirit is our secret superpower living in us to help us make the right choices to live a life pleasing and acceptable to God our Almighty Father. If we mess up and do something wrong, Holy Spirit will convict us and show us. All we need to do is say we are sorry and ask for forgiveness and God will forgive us. Then we move forward and don’t do it again.

Please pray with me today.

Lord Jesus, thank You I am washed by the blood, covered by the blood, saved by the blood, healed by the blood, and you devil can’t defeat the blood! I am blood bought and this blood of Jesus is my enforcer of my covenant. What I declare in faith God will do. I am above and not beneath. God fills me with His fire, authority, and divine intel to raise me up in and with an unshakable fortified faith that can’t be taken away from me. I feel His fire and it can’t be stolen. I walk in ferocious faith. I’m ready for new assignments. I walk in His grace, His anointing and His power.

This is why I continually thank God for my life, because I received God’s message wholeheartedly. I embrace it not as the fabrication of men but as the Word of God. The Word continues to be an energizing force in me who believes. 1 Thessalonians 2: 13

I fill my thoughts with God’s words

until they penetrate deep into my spirit.

Then, as I unwrap His words,

they will impart true life and radiant health

into the very core of my being.

So above all, I guard the affections of my heart,

for they affect all I am.

I pay attention to the welfare of my innermost being,

for from there flows the wellspring of life.

Proverbs 4: 21-23