How to Apply the Armor of God
By Chelsea Kay Hurst
“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.” – Ephesians 6:10-18
We all know the different parts of the armor of God, but do we know how to apply them? God puts these different parts of armor in the above passage for a reason, and he wants to equip us with each one of them.
I wanted to break down each part of this passage and give you advice on how you can incorporate each part of the armor of God within your daily routines. It’s a practical passage that’s meantto be applied to our lives, not just read over and forgotten about!
Belt of Truth
Throughout the Bible, Jesus often refers to himself as the truth. When we carry the truth that the Bible holds within us, we bring joy to the kingdom of God. We should always be armed to spread the truth of the gospel, whenever that may be.
Application: I encourage you to write out your testimony to be ready to share when the time comes!
Breastplate of Righteousness
Righteousness protects us from temptation. It’s our ability to tell what is right and what is wrong. When we put on this breastplate, we protect our heart from the world.
Application: Obey God in all areas of your life. When we follow the rules that the Bible has set in place, we are more likely to stay on the right path, looking towards the Lord!
Gospel of Peace
The gospel carries the good news of the Lord: that he died on the cross and wiped away our sins. This truth carries so much peace within it, knowing that God has already forgiven us for the things we did in the past and the sins we will commit in the future.
Application: Ask God to give you peace and little reminders of his truth throughout your day. Dive into the word daily to continue learning about God’s word!
Shield of Faith
Your faith is one of the most important parts of being a Christian. When you put on your shield of faith, your strength in yourself and in the Lord remains firm. This way, you are able to battle whatever Satan and the world throw your way.
Application: The more we dive deep into the Word, the stronger our faith gets. The more we spend time talking to God and reading more about him, the closer we feel to him. Make a conscious effort to do so, even if it’s for a few minutes a day!
Helmet of Salvation
God has already given us the gift of salvation. When we wear this helmet of salvation, we are putting on the truth and confidence that Jesus gave us so many years ago on the cross.
Application:Surrender your thoughts and look up! God has already won the battle. Focus this week on surrendering your sins, control, worries, etc. to him.
Sword of the Spirit
Lastly, the sword of the Spirit is our weapon for defeat. We can use this to defend ourselves from false promises and temptations of the world, since the Spirit is already inside us!
Application: As for the sword of the spirit, all of the above applications apply to this, as well. The more time we spend with the Lord, the more we will feel the spirit living within us.
Put on the armor of God so you are prepared for the battles that come your way!
Chelsea Kay Hurst is a writer, youtuber, speaker, author of "Your Own Beautiful Book", and Christian on mission to serve and love.