Do You Have Your Armor On?
A Christian Devotional on the Armor of God
By Debra Torres
Early this morning before school, my son went out in the rain to take the dog out.
When he came in a little while later, he held up two soaked sneakers for me to see.
“Look what happened to my shoes,” he said with a bit of surprise in his tone.
“Hmmm,” I said, thinking how I could best state the obvious without being confrontational, “you should have worn boots.”
These were his school shoes, and both he and I knew he was in for a soggy day.
Would you go out into a yard full of mud without your boots? How about a blizzard without your coat, hat and gloves?
Or, what if you were a football player — would you face those muscle-bound giants without your helmet, shoulder pads or yikes! — your athletic cup?
You know, there are spiritual circumstances we face everyday unguarded because we have failed to equip ourselves with the armor of God.
Despite what many people may say or believe, we as Christians do have a powerful adversary in the devil.
This fact is marked clearly throughout scripture, just check out 1 Peter 5:8: “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
Early this morning before school, my son went out in the rain to take the dog out.
When he came in a little while later, he held up two soaked sneakers for me to see.
“Look what happened to my shoes,” he said with a bit of surprise in his tone.
“Hmmm,” I said, thinking how I could best state the obvious without being confrontational, “you should have worn boots.”
These were his school shoes, and both he and I knew he was in for a soggy day.
Would you go out into a yard full of mud without your boots? How about a blizzard without your coat, hat and gloves?
Or, what if you were a football player — would you face those muscle-bound giants without your helmet, shoulder pads or yikes! — your athletic cup?
You know, there are spiritual circumstances we face everyday unguarded because we have failed to equip ourselves with the armor of God.
Despite what many people may say or believe, we as Christians do have a powerful adversary in the devil.
This fact is marked clearly throughout scripture, just check out 1 Peter 5:8: “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
Although we may not see it, there is a spiritual war going on around us.
And, although it may be easy to forget and try to ignore, it’s wise to stay alert.
Satan is active in this world and guess who his targets are? You and me.
And, although it may be easy to forget and try to ignore, it’s wise to stay alert.
Satan is active in this world and guess who his targets are? You and me.
In Ephesians 6:12, it says: “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.”
And Ephesians 6: 11 clearly states: “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.”
The good news about all of this is that God does not leave us without a way to protect ourselves.
Once again, in Ephesians 6 (see verses below), it tells us just what we need to do to stay on guard. The trick here is making sure that we dress ourselves in our spiritual armor every day.
Just think of my son and his wet feet!
Let me also say that I don’t feel that we need to be looking for the devil’s attack around every corner – our focus should be on the Lord. I’m just saying that we need to be ready and equipped for it when it comes.
And Ephesians 6: 11 clearly states: “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.”
The good news about all of this is that God does not leave us without a way to protect ourselves.
Once again, in Ephesians 6 (see verses below), it tells us just what we need to do to stay on guard. The trick here is making sure that we dress ourselves in our spiritual armor every day.
Just think of my son and his wet feet!
Let me also say that I don’t feel that we need to be looking for the devil’s attack around every corner – our focus should be on the Lord. I’m just saying that we need to be ready and equipped for it when it comes.
I have a picture that hangs in my bedroom that serves as a continual reminder for me to stay God-focused.
In the picture, a prowling lion is approaching the back side of a praying monk.
What I love about the image is the look on the lion’s face.
In the picture, a prowling lion is approaching the back side of a praying monk.
What I love about the image is the look on the lion’s face.
The huge, stalking animal’s muscles are taut, and it’s ready to pounce until it follows the monk’s gaze towards the heavens. Instead of a ferocious look on its face, there is a look of fear and submission.
The scripture under the picture comes from 2 Chronicles 20:12 and reads: “For we are powerless…but our eyes are on you.”
You can tell from the picture that this lion is not going to mess with one of God’s kids.
My 2-year-old and I got dressed in our spiritual armor this morning. She giggled as the two of us went through the motions of putting on our belt of truth, our helmet of salvation, our gospel shoes of peace, etc.
Was it just a child’s game? I don’t think so.
Spiritually speaking, we just may be two of the best dressed girls on the block.
The scripture under the picture comes from 2 Chronicles 20:12 and reads: “For we are powerless…but our eyes are on you.”
You can tell from the picture that this lion is not going to mess with one of God’s kids.
My 2-year-old and I got dressed in our spiritual armor this morning. She giggled as the two of us went through the motions of putting on our belt of truth, our helmet of salvation, our gospel shoes of peace, etc.
Was it just a child’s game? I don’t think so.
Spiritually speaking, we just may be two of the best dressed girls on the block.
Here are some Bible verses that'll help you on your journey:
Ephesians 6:13-17
“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.”
Ephesians 6:13-17
“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.”