I am equipped and ready to fight for my faith

Ephesians 6:10-17

¹⁰ A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. ¹² For we are 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.

¹³ Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. ¹⁴ Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. ¹⁵ For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. ¹⁶ In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. ¹⁷ Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

I am in a battle. What is at stake is my faith.

This is not too dramatic. When you read verses 11 and 12, I should be frightened. I am up against a schemer, against a cunning enemy who loves nothing more than me turning my back on God.

I can think of the cunning ways Satan tries to get to my faith, to eat it away from the inside with nagging doubts, opportunities to challenge my integrity, compromising in my beliefs. Or he can just be lurking in the shadows of tragedy and disappointment.

But God gives me protection. There is no way he has left me to fight this on my own strength.

I have to get battle ready. To protect my mind, my heart, my integrity as I actively live in:

• the salvation he has won for me,
• the righteousness he gives me though his abundant grace,
• the truth of the gospel
• rely on the Spirit to lead and change me
• his word, which both defends and cuts to the heart.

I love the image of my feet being ready with the gospel. The shoes give me a firm foundation, keep me stable so I can stand firm and be ready to share the love of God. There isn’t any wobbling in my faith when I have the shoes on God has given me, the gospel as my foundation. I won’t get knocked over or lose my balance (my faith) with these shoes strapped on tight.

There is action required by me to actually “dress” myself in the “armour”, but all the while I know this is a gift from God. In Isaiah 59:17 the prophet described God as a warrior vindicating his people as he put on “the breastplate of righteousness and the helmet of salvation”. And now he has given these weapons to me!

With these weapons (which are not the world’s tools like self-help or self-improvement), I have the power to demolish strong holds – 2 Corinthians 10:3-4. God can protect me and stop Satan in his tracks when he comes to steal my love, my certainty of salvation in Jesus, and my forever future with God.

Dear Jesus, I can see the battle which is ahead, which is here now, the battle for my faith, the battle for my church, the battle for my family. Satan wants all this for himself. Today I put on your protection, as I walk in your gospel with my life firm in your grace and love. Holy Spirit use this prayer and these words to encourage someone today as they battle for their faith. Amen

Written by Claire Moore