Protection. Many of us are just beginning to think about various forms of protection. The world seems to become more violent and dangerous every day as the evil comes closer to home and family. Are you looking around for ways to create a feeling of safety? Are you checking the locks, investigating alarm systems, or contemplating a firearm? Sometimes those precautions prove to be inadequate. God says that ultimately, all of efforts are inadequate if we fail to rely on Him. Scripture shows us that God is not surprised at the evil in the world and that He has already given us to tools to stand firm in the midst of it.

The bible says that the dangers we face are not flesh and blood but evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world. Ephesians 6:12

Ephesians 6:10-17 warns us to put on the full armor of God. This isn’t something to be taken lightly. The believer is to take the initiative and actively put on armor. God provides it but we have to use it. We are to put it on so that when the day of evil comes we are prepared and will be able to stand our ground. The Scripture doesn’t say ‘if’ the day of evil comes, it says ‘when’ it comes.

Sometimes we Christians get very comfortable in our lives and in our safe neighborhoods. Sometimes we don’t even lock doors. We attend church every week. Our children go to the church youth group. Everyone we know believes in God or in some sort of good ideal. We let our guard down. Instead of preparing ourselves – training for battle – we let our attention stray and fail to keep our armor in place. When I think of armor, I think of the heavy protection the knights of old wore. It must have been very uncomfortable. I’m sure that as soon as they were in a safe place they took it off and breathed a sigh of relief.

Our armor is not particularly comfortable either. It takes time to study God’s word. It requires attention and discipline to pray effectively. As soon as we take out eyes off Jesus; as soon as we fail to study His word and put it into practice; and as soon as we skip our prayer time; our armor starts to slip.

God has provided armor to enable us to stand firm against the schemes and strategies of the devil. As believers we are not to start believing that we are able to resist without the armor that God provides. It is only by God’s power that we stand.

The Armor of God, as listed in Ephesians, is:

• The belt of truth buckled around your waist
  
• The breastplate of righteousness
  
• Feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace
  
• The shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
  
• The helmet of salvation
  
• The sword of the Spirit which is the word of God

I explore each piece of armor in The Armor of God.

A Walk With the Women of the Bible EBook by Lynne Chapman Join me in getting to know some amazing women of the Bible while we extract valuable insights and lessons from their lives. Now available for Kindle under new title A Walk With EVE Also available in paperback from Cafe Press.

Names of God Ebook Almighty God. The Creator of heaven and earth. Our God is given names in Scripture that describe the characteristics of His personality. Experience God.