Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
Ephesians 6:11 NIV
When we hear the whole armour of God, our minds immediately lean towards the outfit of a soldier. It would be abnormal to see an army officer wrapped in a duvet on the battle front. So, we can infer that as Soldiers of Christ, we must be saddled with the right kind of armour. This is what will enable us to stand against the schemes of the devil and fight adequately in the battle.
Jesus did not give a promise of a journey without battles or temptations. But He did give us the keys to overcome. “…be of good cheer…” and also “Put on the full armour of God…”. The call to put on our armour resonates across time, inviting us to be ever-vigilant against the forces that seek to divert us from our spiritual path.
Life is replete with both visible and unseen battles. Ephesians 6:11 prompts us to recognise the spiritual warfare that underlies our experiences. As we engage in our daily routines, interactions, and decisions, we must remain conscious of the spiritual dimensions at play. Just as a soldier prepares for battle, we too must arm ourselves with attributes that shield us from doubt, fear and the temptation of yielding to sin.
Therefore, put on the complete armour of God, so that you will be able to [successfully] resist and stand your ground in the evil day [of danger], and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious]. So stand firm and hold your ground, having tightened the wide band of truth (personal integrity, moral courage) around your waist and having put on the breastplate of righteousness (an upright heart), and having strapped on your feet the gospel of peace in preparation [to face the enemy with firm-footed stability and the readiness produced by the good news]. Above all, lift up the [protective] shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
Ephesians 6:13-17 AMP
Believe me that the devil is seeking your downfall. His mission is to steal, kill and destroy. What will guarantee your safety is putting on the full armour of God. Not half; not one. It is doing this that will safeguard you from falling into his schemes. Do not be ignorant of the devices of the enemy. Guard up! Suit up! Do not leave yourself exposed.
