Battle Plan (NIV)

The Alert and Readiness As we start our day there is an enemy lurking somewhere in the shadows, around the corner, or nearby just out of sight. This enemy is not someone we can visually see, but we know he’s recognized. He cannot be trusted although he can touch our life at any moment. He’s our enemy automatically because he hates Christians, prayer, God, and anything to do with God’s family. His name is Satan and there is only one way to be protected against his evil ways, and that’s by putting on the Full Armor of God. The Armor of God as described in Ephesians 6:10-18 provides the defensive and offensive weapons Christians are given to fight and win the battle for their spiritual life and well-being. With a devil intent on stealing, killing and destroying everything Godly and good, this Armor is absolutely necessary to counteract every attack. In Ephesians 6:11, the Apostle Paul writes, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” The word “schemes” means efforts to trick, fool, trap or entice. With this in mind, Christians should not underestimate the lengths that the devil will go to divide and conquer, and to prevent the fulfillment of one’s destiny in Christ. What is the Full Armor of God? “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 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. 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. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 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” (Ephesians 6:10-18). The conflict with Satan is spiritual, as stated in Ephesians 6:12, therefore no tangible weapons (hand-held) can be effectively employed against him and his evilness. There is no list of specific tactics Satan will use against Christians. Since we cannot see, hear or physically touch him, we are somewhat at a disadvantage in figuring out how to battle him and his forces. However, Ephesians 6:12-17, is quite clear that when we follow all the God-given instructions faithfully, we will be able to stand, and we will have victory regardless of the strategy Satan uses. Belt of Truth Armor Piece 1—Ephesians 6:14 The first piece of our armor of God is TRUTH. This is easy to understand, since Satan is said to be the “father of lies” (John 8:44). Deception is high on the list of things God considers to be destructively evil. A “lying tongue” is one of the things He describes as “detestable” (Proverbs 6:16-17). Christians are challenged to put on truth for our own deliverance, as well as for the benefit of those to whom we witness. If we do not remain strong with only truth coming from our tongue and actions, we will immediately play right into Satan’s cunning scheme. (Thank you Lord for Your truth as described in Your Bible. You are truth and You alone set me free from sin and lies. Today, I choose to believe Your truth and about who You are and who I am as Your child. Holy Spirit, lead and guide my thoughts in Your path of truth. Help me to make wise decisions today based on Your Word. Help me to speak the truth in love to myself and others. Let Your truth prevail in all things.) Breastplate of Righteousness Armor Piece 2—Ephesians 6:14 A breastplate shielded a warrior’s vital organs from blows that would otherwise be fatal. This righteousness is not works of righteousness done by men. Rather, this is the righteousness of Christ, imputed by God and received by faith, which guards our hearts against the accusations and charges of Satan and secures our innermost being from his attacks. (Thank you Lord for Your breastplate of righteousness. I put it on and it will protect me throughout the day. I remove my robes of self-righteousness or works of the law that would glory myself and distract me from the finished work of Jesus at the cross. I now put on Your righteousness. With Your breastplate, I will protect my heart, for out of it flows the issues of life. Help me to keep my heart clean and pure before you and to use the breastplate of righteousness to resist sin and self-indulgence.) Feet Fitted With the Readiness of the Gospel of Peace Armor Piece 3—Ephesians 6:15 Ephesians 6:15 speaks of the preparation of the feet for spiritual conflict. During warfare, an enemy sometimes places dangerous obstacles in the path of advancing soldiers. The idea of preparing to advance the gospel into Satan’s territory is to be aware of traps as we take the message of grace which is so essential to wining souls to Christ. Satan has many obstacles placed in or pathway to stop us (our feet) from taking the gospel to those who need to hear. (Thank You Father for Your good news of peace to me, and to the world. I put on Your gospel of peace that I might share it with everyone I come in contact with. May my steps be secure and protected today. Prepare me to speak with wisdom of Your love and the blessings you have in store for the upright. Help me to live in peace and walk as a peacemaker.) Take Up the Shield of Faith Armor Piece 4—Ephesians 6:16 “In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” The shield of faith makes Satan’s sowing of doubt about the faithfulness of God and His Word ineffective. Our faith—of which Christ is “the pioneer and perfecter” (Hebrews 12:2)—is like a golden shield: precious, solid and substantial. (Father, I thank You that You are my shield and the glory and lifter of my head. I want to please You, Lord, today with my faith in You. I put my hope in You as my Savior, though I do not always see what You have I store and don’t always understand what You are doing. My trust in You puts you between the enemy and me. I am forever secure in You and inaccessible to my enemy. Today, I will sow seeds of faith that will result in miracles and blessings.) Take the Helmet of Salvation Armor Piece 5—Ephesians 6:17 This is the protection for the head, keeping safe a critical part of the body. We could say that our way of thinking needs preservation. The head is the seat of the mind, which, when it has laid hold of the sure gospel hope of eternal life, will not receive false doctrine or give way to Satan’s temptations. The unsaved person has no hope of warding off the blows of false doctrine because he (she) is without the helmet of salvation and the mind is incapable of discerning between spiritual truth and spiritual deception. (Father, thank You for saving me from sin and death. I receive your gift of salvation, deliverance and healing. I have the mind of Christ and I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Help me to think pure thoughts and to remember to praise You and glorify You for making me a new creation. Make my mind new and help me not to be ignorant of the plans of the enemy. With the helmet of salvation, I will retain the mind of Christ and reject the plans of the enemy.) The Sword of the Spirit Armor Piece 6—Ephesians 6:17 This reference is to the Word of God (the Bible). While all the other pieces of spiritual armor are defensive in nature, the Sword of the Spirit is the only offensive weapon in the Armor of God. It speaks of the holiness and power of the Word of God (Bible). A greater spiritual weapon is not conceivable. In Jesus’ temptations in the desert, the Word of God was always His overpowering response to Satan. What a blessing that the same is available to us! (Thank you Father for the weapon of Your Word and Your Spirit. When the enemy comes to steal, kill or destroy me or those I love, quicken the Scripture to me so that I can stand and fight the spiritual battle. May my sword (God’s Word) be fully exercised to defeat the enemy today.) Prayer Ephesians 6:18 In addition to wearing the full Armor of God, we are told to pray in the Spirit (that is, with the mind of Christ, with His heart and His priorities). We cannot neglect prayer, as it is the means by which we draw spiritual strength from God. Without prayer, without reliance upon God, our efforts at spiritual warfare are empty and futile. The full Armor of God—truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation, the Word of God, and prayer—are the tools God has given us through which we can be spiritually victorious, overcoming Satan’s attacks and temptations. (Thank You, Lord, that You are always available during every minute of every hour to talk with me. Your communication with me is an important part of my everyday spiritual life. Thank you for being my closest friend.)