How to put on the full armor of God?

As a child of God, you are in constant danger of spiritual attacks and warfare. The devil is after you like a desperate ex. Since he was your father before you accepted Christ, he is actually your ex-father and he wants you back. To defend yourself against this threat, you must equip yourself with the full armor of God, as described in Ephesians 6:10-18. Please read my previous post “What is the full armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-18?” Then return to this post to learn how to put on the full armor of God in seven steps.

1. Buckle the Belt of truth around your waist.

Ephesians 6:14 NIV
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place.

The belt of truth is the first armor of God, and you need to strap it around your waist. This means you should make it the foundation of your life, because, like a belt that secures a soldier’s armor, the truth holds your Christian life together. Ground yourself in the truth by studying it, believing in it, and then living in accordance with it’s teachings. Live a life of honesty and integrity in accordance with the truth.

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth (John 17:17 NIV). 

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6 NIV).

Read previous post: What is the truth and how does it set you free?

2. Put the Breastplate of righteousness in place.

After you put on the belt of truth, you should put the breastplate of righteousness in place according to Ephesians 6:14 NIV. The breastplate of righteousness symbolizes the heart. Roman soldiers wore a breastplate to protect their hearts, and therefore you should protect your heart by striving to be more like Christ. This means intentionally seeking God every day and living a holy life that only comes from trusting Jesus rather than your own strength.

Because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy (1 Peter 1:16 NKJV).

3. Have your feet fitted with the shoes of the gospel of peace.

Ephesians 6:15 NIV
And with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

This means you should be ready and eager to put on your shoes and go out to share the gospel of peace and salvation with others without fear.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek (Romans 1:16 NKJV).

4. Take up the Shield of faith.

Ephesians 6:16 NIV
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

The shield serves as a defense against the enemy’s attacks. You should use your faith like a shield to protect you from the flaming arrows of the devil, which are spiritual attacks that could lead you to fear, sin, or doubt your faith. You can protect yourself by actively seeking God and trusting in his promises. Ask him to strengthen you against the attacks of the enemy.

5. Wear the helmet of salvation on your head.

A helmet protects the soldier’s head as well as brain, which is important for decision-making. In the same way, salvation acts as a helmet, protecting your thoughts and mind from the enemy’s lies about your security in God’s kingdom. You should put on the helmet of salvation by first being saved, which means trusting Jesus as your personal savior and then believing the promise that no one can ever take your salvation away from you.

6. Take up the Sword of the spirit.

Ephesians 6:17 NIV
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

The sword of the spirit is the word of God, which is powerful and helps you know right from wrong. Allowing you to defend the truth against the devil’s lies and live a holy life. You can put it on by reading it daily, memorizing it, sharing it with others, and using it to resist the devil and stay encouraged.

7. Pray in the Spirit on all occasions.

Ephesians 6:18 NIV
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Prayer is powerful, and it empowers you. It allows you to communicate and spend quality time with God, inviting him into your life and situations. You can use prayer as armor by adopting a prayer-centered lifestyle. Pray about everything. Prayer should not only be for specific moments but for every moment of life. Whether you are walking to work, waiting for a late bus, washing dishes, feeling happy, sad, or angry, prayer should be a part of it. As long as you are breathing, you have a reason to pray. The goal is to stay connected to God no matter the season in your life.

Final thought

Spiritual battles are a daily challenge, so you should equip yourself with the full armor of God every day. Seek God’s hand in every situation.