Armor of God - Ephesians 6:10-20

How the Armor of God Actually Protects Your Faith Daily

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When you said yes to Jesus, you didn’t just sign up for church attendance—you entered a spiritual battle.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.”
 — Ephesians 6:10–11 (NASB)

Don’t let that scare you.

Life with Christ is full of peace and joy but also a war zone for your soul. And we have the best help ever!

But you still have to be prepared.

Fortunately, Ephesians 6:10–20 gives us the Armor of God: a divine dress code for standing firm in faith.

Let’s dig into what each piece means—and how to wear it well.

The Armor of God: Your Protection

1. The Belt of Truth

“Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth…”
 — Ephesians 6:14a (NASB)

A soldier’s belt secured his tunic and held his sword. Likewise, truth holds your spiritual life together. Without it, everything falls apart.

How to Use It:

  • Know the truth – Read and study God’s Word daily to anchor your beliefs in God’s truth, not your feelings.
    “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” — John 17:17 (NASB)
  • Speak truthfully – Let your words reflect God’s integrity, even when it’s uncomfortable. And it will be.
    “Therefore, ridding yourselves of falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, because we are parts of one another.” — Ephesians 4:25 (NASB)
  • Live authentically – Don’t fake faith. Be real, honest, and rooted in what Scripture says. Actions do speak louder than words.
    “Little children, let’s not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.” — 1 John 3:18 (NASB)

2. The Breastplate of Righteousness

“…and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,”
 — Ephesians 6:14b (NASB)

The breastplate protects your heart—your emotions, will, and spiritual center. Righteousness doesn’t mean being perfect; it means being in the right standing with God.

How to Use It:

  • Pursue holiness – Confess sin and turn from it daily. A clean heart is a guarded heart. Go straight to God with this, through His Son, Jesus Christ. Let Him know what you did and that you repent and won’t do it again. Trust me when I say it’s an ongoing, daily process.
    “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” — 1 John 1:9 (NASB)
  • Guard your heart – Be careful what you let in—bitterness, pride, and fear are spiritual cracks. This includes what you watch and what you listen to.
    “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.” — Proverbs 4:23 (NASB)
  • Rely on Christ’s righteousness – Don’t depend on your goodness; lean on Jesus. We are all human and mess up … all the time.
    “…not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.” — Philippians 3:9 (NASB)

3. The Gospel of Peace (Shoes)

“…having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace;”
 — Ephesians 6:15 (NASB)

In battle, Roman soldiers wore sturdy shoes with spikes for stability. Spiritually, the Gospel of Peace keeps you grounded and moving forward.

How to Use It:

  • Stay grounded in peace – Let the peace of Jesus settle your spirit when storms rage. And when they do (because they will), pray.
    “Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful.” — John 14:27 (NASB)
  • Be a peacemaker – In a world full of conflict, you’re called to remain calm. Don’t stir up trouble, and don’t go looking for it. Don’t yell back. Stay calm with your responses. In any situation, try to de-escalate, not escalate.
    “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” — Matthew 5:9 (NASB)
  • Share the Good News – Be ready to tell others how Jesus changed your life. And don’t be afraid! People are going to start to notice how you’ve changed. Tell them the truth.
    “…but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, but with gentleness and respect.” — 1 Peter 3:15 (NASB)

4. The Shield of Faith

“…taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”
 — Ephesians 6:16 (NASB)

Faith is your defense system. It blocks the lies, doubts, and distractions the enemy launches at you. Sometimes, it feels like you’re under attack all day long.

How to Use It:

  • Build your faith – Fuel your faith by consuming God’s Word daily. Knowing how to defeat the enemy’s strategies is critical. Reading and learning the Bible will give you this knowledge.
    “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” — Romans 10:17 (NASB)
  • Speak your faith – Speak truth even when you don’t feel it yet. But do it kindly and tactfully.
    “But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written: ‘I believed, therefore I spoke,’ we also believe, therefore we also speak.” — 2 Corinthians 4:13 (NASB)
  • Link your shield – Don’t fight alone; gather with other believers for strength. One of the best places I’ve found to do this is my church’s small groups. I have made lifelong friends, and we band together whenever trouble arises. This may be as simple as praying for each other. And it works! (Note: you cannot link your shield to a non-believer.)
    “Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.” — Galatians 6:2 (NASB)

5. The Helmet of Salvation

“Take the helmet of salvation…”
 — Ephesians 6:17a (NASB)

The enemy loves to constantly attack your thoughts. Salvation protects your mind from identity confusion and fear. This may be the thought that you’re not good enough. Well, the Bible says differently.

How to Use It:

  • Renew your mind – Let God reshape your thinking with truth. Read the Bible and learn all His promises. Focus on them. Learn to live them daily.
    “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” — Romans 12:2 (NASB)
  • Remind yourself who you are – You are forgiven, loved, and adopted. Truth right here! And there’s even more on this. So, keep reading!
    “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.” — Romans 8:16 (NASB)
  • Protect your focus – Keep your mind set on eternity, not temporary trouble. Everything on this planet is temporary. But perfect heaven (your final destination) is forever.
    “Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth.” — Colossians 3:2 (NASB)

6. The Sword of the Spirit

“…and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
 — Ephesians 6:17b (NASB)

Your sword isn’t for decoration—it’s for battle. God’s Word is your only offensive weapon.

How to Use It:

  • Memorize Scripture – A verse in your heart is a weapon in your hand.
    “Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You.” — Psalm 119:11 (NASB)
  • Speak the Word – Just like Jesus did in the wilderness, speak scripture out loud against the enemy.
    “But He answered and said, ‘It is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes out of the mouth of God.”’” — Matthew 4:4 (NASB)
  • Study deeply – Don’t just skim the Bible. Dive in. Meditate on it.
    “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” — 2 Timothy 2:15 (NASB)
  • Invite the Holy Spirit into your heart – Don’t be afraid to ask for help from the Holy Spirit. That’s what He’s here for.
    “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” — Romans 15:13 (NASB)

Fully Armed, Spiritually Alert

The Armor of God isn’t symbolic fluff—it’s vital gear for a very real battle. And you don’t put it on once; you put it on daily.

“With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints…”
 — Ephesians 6:18 (NASB)

“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
— 1 Peter 5:8 (NASB)

Final Thought:

You can’t use what you don’t know. If you want to stand strong when the attacks come—and they will—you need to know the Bible and the God who gave it to you.

Find a good study Bible. It’s the entire bible, but it has commentary at the bottom and places where you can research the verses to understand them better. It’s an invaluable resource!

Your next step? Choose one piece of the armor to focus on this week. Read about it. Pray about it. Research it. Practice it. And make sure you’re reading the Word daily—because that’s how you learn to stand strong in Christ.

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