Day 19 — The Armor of God

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes.”

— Ephesians 6:10–11 (BSB)

When Paul wrote his letter to the Ephesians, he was a prisoner, probably chained to a Roman soldier. Day after day, he could see that soldier’s armor up close: the helmet, the shield, the belt, the sword. And God gave Paul an idea. Following Jesus is like being a soldier, and God gives us armor to protect us.

Notice how Paul starts: “Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.” Not in your own power. You don’t have to be the strongest kid in class to stand firm. Your strength comes from God.

Then Paul explains who the real enemy is. A couple of verses later he says, “our struggle is not against flesh and blood.” In other words, the real battle isn’t against other people. Even the kid who is mean to you is not your true enemy. The real battle is spiritual, against the devil and his “schemes.” A scheme is a sneaky plan. The devil doesn’t usually attack with a big announcement. He uses tricks, lies and temptations.

That’s why we need armor. Would a soldier go into battle in his pajamas? Of course not! He’d put on every piece of his armor. And Paul says to put on “the full armor of God.” Not just a piece or two. All of it.

Over the next two days, we’ll look at each piece:

• The belt of truth
• The breastplate of righteousness
• The shoes of the gospel of peace
• The shield of faith
• The helmet of salvation
• The sword of the Spirit

Here’s something amazing: every piece of armor is really a way of describing Jesus and what He gives us. He is the truth. He is our righteousness. He is our peace. He gives us faith and salvation. And He is the Word of God.

So putting on the armor of God really means staying close to Jesus. Some people even pray through the armor every morning, like getting dressed for the day.

Think about it: Why do you think Paul said our real battle is “not against flesh and blood”? How might that change the way you treat people who are unkind to you?

Try this: Draw a soldier in your notebook. Over the next two days, you’ll label each piece of armor.

Dear God, thank You for giving me armor to stand strong. Help me be strong in You and in Your mighty power, not my own. Help me remember that my real battle is against the devil’s schemes, not against people. Help me put on Your full armor every day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.