The armor of God is one way in which you can be victorious when Satan comes against you with spiritual warfare.

The Armor of God Scripture and Meaning

Paul teaches about the armor of God in the book of Ephesians. He used imagery that the people of his time would understand–a Roman soldier’s armor.

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 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. 13 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. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Ephesians 6:10-18

It’s easy to overlook the very first verse mentioned here.

“Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.”

Before you put on the armor, first you must recognize where your strength comes from — the Lord.

Pray and ask him to give you his strength as you prepare to fight.

Why Do We Need The Armor of God?

We are in battle. Not against flesh and blood, but in the unseen spiritual realm. If you haven’t thought about that before, it’s time to start.

Spiritual warfare is very real.

You may think you aren’t in a battle. Perhaps life is going smoothly for you.

The enemy and his kingdom of darkness are after you.

Satan’s goal is to destroy!

Do you ever feel “too busy” or “too tired” to spend alone time with God?

Maybe the Devil’s tactic is to keep you too busy to pray. This is spiritual warfare!

Or maybe the devil is after your mind.  Or maybe it’s your joy.

Satan is so crafty, that he might have you think you aren’t in spiritual warfare.

Maybe his tactic for you is to make you believe it’s all fake.

How could you win a battle if you don’t realize you are in one?  

At that point, you’ve already lost!

The truth is, we are all in a battle, and we need to put on our armor.

We need to put on the armor of God to withstand the enemy’s schemes for our lives.

Satan knows his time is running out, and he will try everything in his power to stop you from growing closer to God, reaching others for Christ, growing his Kingdom, and walking in your God-given destiny.

Are you going to fight? Are you going to put on your armor of God?

Christ has given us all the tools we need to win our spiritual battles.  

But we have to fight.

Not sit idle.  

We have to daily put on the armor of God.

Yes, every day.

God gives us the armor, we have to pick it up, put it on, and use it.

What good does a sword do if it isn’t being handled?

How can a shield help you if you don’t use it to protect yourself in the first place?

So, how exactly do you put on the armor of God? What does it mean to put on the full armor of God?

How To Put On The Armor of God

It’s one thing to read the verse found in Ephesians, but it is another to intentionally put on the armor of God.

Good news: once you make a habit of putting on God’s armor, it will become second nature to you.

You will wake up in the morning, armored, and ready to start your day for the Kingdom of God.

What are the six pieces of the armor of God? 

 The belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel shoes of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit.

Let’s break down putting on the armor in 6 steps: prepare for battle, guard your heart, stand your ground, take cover, protect your mind, and attack.

Step One: Prepare For Battle – The Belt of Truth

Have Faith That God’s Word is True!

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,

Ephesians 6:14

Think about what a belt does– it holds you up.

In this case, a soldier’s girdle would hold up the rest of his armor.

And what part of the body does the belt wrap around?

The belt is connected to the core of a man’s body.

As Christians, our core belief is that God’s word is true.

Truth is what will hold you (and your weapons) up.

Let God’s truth wrap around your innermost parts.

Allow HIS truth to hold you (and your armor) up.

Real-life example of putting on the Belt of Truth:

During my teens, I struggled with my self-image. I didn’t feel as beautiful as the other girls. Once I started putting on my belt of truth, I began to win this battle!

One example of His truth is His Word.  

I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

I am made in God’s image.

Cling to God’s truth over yourself.  How can you put on the belt of truth in your life?

Step Two: Guard–The Breastplate of Righteousness

Live a pure and righteous lifestyle.

…with the breastplate of righteousness in place.

Ephesians 6:14

The breastplate covers your heart.

Did you know that God is concerned about the condition of your heart? 

Stay righteous and forthright in your ways. He knows every thought, intention, and motive.

Remember that we haven’t earned righteousness within ourselves.

Any “righteousness” we have has been bought by the blood of Jesus.

It’s in HIM that we are made clean.

Put on your breastplate of righteousness, paid for by Christ.

We put on righteousness as a breastplate because we are in a spiritual battle against Satan.

With your breastplate on, you will have your heart protected.

Satan’s goal is to destroy–one quick way to destroy someone in battle is to go for their heart.

Real-life example of putting on the Breastplate of Righteousness:

A family member of mine struggled with meth addiction for years. He did not have on his breastplate of righteousness, and it almost destroyed him (just what the enemy wanted.)

It didn’t start with meth, however. It was a slow fade.

First pot, then pills, then it progressed.

If he had his breastplate on from the start, he never would have gone down this hard and painful road.

Keep your heart protected with righteousness through Christ Jesus.

Step Three: Stay Grounded – Gospel Shoes of Peace:

Live a life of peace, knowing Christ has won the battle

…and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

Ephesians 6:15

Remember how Paul describes the armor of God by using imagery of Roman soldiers? 

Roman soldiers’ shoes had spikes at the bottom.

These spikes helped the soldiers stand firm! They were ready for battle because their feet were on a firm foundation.

Are you ready for battle?

The “gospel” of peace means the good news of peace.

As a believer in the resurrection of Christ, you carry a peace with you that the rest of the world does not have.

This is our good news! The victory has been won, our sins are forgiven, and we will dwell with Christ on a new heaven and earth one day. Satan will be defeated, and Christ and his Kingdom will reign!

We will see our loved ones again who have passed on.

Stand firm on this peace that we have through Christ.

The gospel shoes of peace help us walk.

To walk in peace.

How much easier would your battles be if you had peace?

The peace that Christ is with you through your fight.

When you walk through a battle, peace through Jesus will help you stand firm against the enemy’s schemes.

A real-life example of the Gospel Shoes of Peace:

When my daughter was born, doctors found an issue with her spine. She was days old, and I learned she may never walk. Any peace I had, should have been thrown out the window.

Instead, I had deep reassurance and peace inside my spirit. This doesn’t mean I wasn’t scared or upset, but I never lost my peace.

I never lost peace, because I was standing firm on God’s promises. He never promised life would be easy, but he did promise us his presence. And that was enough for me.

How does your faith allow you to live a life of deep peace–even when you face trials? Are your feet planted firmly in peace and trust in God?

How to practically put on the gospel shoes of peace:

Trust that God will never leave you or forsake you. Stand firm in who He says he is. Be confident in the fact that your victory is already won through Jesus.

Life may not be easy, but Jesus is always there. Be aware that Satan wants to steal your peace and your joy–don’t let him.

Trust that God is good because it’s His nature, not because of your circumstances.

Step Four: Take Cover – The Shield of Faith

Have Faith that God’s Word is True.

Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

Ephesians 6:16

The fiery darts Paul refers to here were the flaming projectiles the Roman soldiers would launch on their enemy. In English, fiery darts, don’t quite translate as scary and dangerous as they actually were.

These fiery darts were lethal and would come from above. To withstand some of these darts, you would need to hold your shield high.

The scorched earth strategy:

When an enemy is using a scorched earth strategy, it means they are destroying and burning everything in the path.

Absolute destruction.

Paul was referring to absolute destruction when he used the term fiery darts. 

Satan wants to destroy each person. 

This is why we need our shield. Our shield of FAITH!

Your shield is huge! It covers all of you.

Use your shield! Hold it up! It will stop every dart of the enemy.

How often do we forget to pick up our shield? Have faith in the one who is and is to come.  

The one who conquered the grave!  

Look to him – have faith that he has already won your battle.

Real-life example of the Shield of Faith:

Recently I was in a trial. Money was so tight, that we were not making ends meet each month. I was a stay-at-home mom, while my husband was a teacher.

The enemy used this time to try and make me doubt God as the provider, and that his Word wasn’t true. Instead of believing this lie, I took my shield of faith and trusted that God IS the provider.

It took a few months of praying, but God had a perfect job lined up for me right as my baby started Kindergarten.  

The enemy wanted me to doubt God’s faithfulness, but I took my shield of faith instead.

What situation are you in right now that you need to look unto God as faithful?

How is the enemy trying to weaken your faith?

Stay prayerful and stand your ground. Let there be no destruction on your path because you take up your shield of faith.

Step Five: Protect – Helmet of Salvation

Know Your Salvation Has Saved You

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God

Ephesians 6:17

Salvation is the belief that Jesus was the son of God, died and rose again, and accepting him into your heart.

That is your salvation. You have been saved by faith that his word is true.

The dictionary definition of salvation is, 

“preservation or deliverance from harm, evil, or loss.”

Because of Christ Jesus and your salvation in him, you have been delivered from evil!

This is your helmet. Your salvation. What Jesus did for you on the cross!

Take your helmet and imagine yourself placing it easily upon your head. It’s heavy but goes on effortlessly. 

Salvation is yours in Christ Jesus.  Know you are saved by the blood of Jesus, and allow your mind and your thoughts (your head) to be protected.

A real-life example of the Helmet of Salvation:

Sometimes when I pray, I come from a place of begging instead of believing.

I beg God to provide for us financially, instead of believing he IS the provider. 

I beg God for healing, instead of believing by His stripes I am healed.

When I changed my mindset to proclaiming His Word as truth and looking to him as my absolute Savior, then I began to have more powerful and faith-filled prayers.

Salvation = prevention of destruction or harm.

Because of my salvation in Christ, I can boldly pray!

Step Six: Attack! The Sword of The Spirit

Speak and Pray the Word of God 

..and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Ephesians 6:16

The sword of the Spirit is the spoken Word of God. 

What would a battle be if the soldier didn’t have his weapon?

The Bible is your weapon! It is “sharper than any two-edged sword.” 

If you want to defeat Satan-you have to fight back.

You HAVE to use your weapon!

If not, you will be defeated.

Often, we don’t use our weapon. 

We freeze, and allow the attacks to overcome us.

When you speak the Word of God, you are fighting the enemy.

This is your weapon– and it’s readily available.  

Speak it and you win the battle against your enemy…with the most powerful, lethal weapon towards the kingdom of darkness.

You don’t have to have a strong arm or be a skilled fighter.

God’s mighty right hand is your strength.

Stand tall, rely on his might, and attack with the sharpest sword.

Even Jesus used the sword of the Spirit as the devil tempted him in the desert!  

A real-life example of using the Sword of the Spirit:

There was a time in my life when I struggled with anxiety. I was anxious all the time.

For many years, I let my anxiety overtake me.

Sure, I would pray and ask God to help me. And I know he was my help during that time, but the second I started using my sword, I started to have victory over anxiety!

I would quote the 23rd Psalm out loud.

Anytime I began to feel scared, I spoke His Word.

I would speak “God hasn’t given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love and of a sound mind.” 2nd Timothy 1:7

There are countless other bible verses I would use to fight my anxiety. The point is, I used my sword—my weapon.

And while my anxiety didn’t disappear overnight, it did eventually stop.

Because I used my sword.

The enemy hates when we fight him back with God’s word!

What verse can you use against the enemy in the battle you are in right now?

How Does The Armor of God Protect Us?

The armor of God protects us by keeping us safe from the enemy’s attacks, and by sending him away from us!

Remember it’s his goal to destroy us, and without our armor–he will!

You are a soldier in battle.  

We are all in spiritual warfare, and we need to be putting on the whole armor of God.

Pray and ask God to help you put on his armor. Ask him to equip you for this battle, not against flesh and blood.

You don’t have to be afraid, you just have to be ready, vigilant, and FIGHT!

Because of Jesus, you will be victorious!