v 13. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armour so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.
Don’t run away with the idea that following Jesus is a soft option, an easy path through life; it certainly isn’t! There are going to be times when you will need every bit of courage and determination to keep going. Sadly, a surprising number of people give up the struggle at some point. There are simpler and less demanding options in life, some of which might seem to be very attractive.
The simple truth however is that there is an enemy – one who tries to draw us away from following God and render our lives of no real lasting significance. This battle is not fought in the material realm: ‘weare not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.’ Spend time today reflecting on the various items of armour that God provides; recall that there is no need of armour unless you are involved in a battle. Put on:
The belt of truth. The personal integrity of knowing the truth about God and his plans for life. This belt holds the flowing garments of life together.
The body armour of God’s righteousness. This is the breastplate, heart protection. We can’t depend on our righteousness but have been made righteous by faith in Jesus.
For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News. This Good News is of peace with God and the forgiveness of sin.
Hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. The shield protects us from temptation and assaults on our integrity.
Salvation as your helmet. The helmet protects our minds from doubts about the salvation God has given us.
Take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. The only item for attacking the enemy and driving Satan away as Jesus did when he was tempted to doubt God.