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. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
—Ephesians 6:10-20

~~~~~

The Morning of the Battle
By Jennifer Kane

In the hush before dawn,
when shadows still cling to the earth’s edge,
a man stirs from the soil of sleep—
a citizen of another Kingdom,
yet stationed here,
in enemy lands.

He kneels not out of weariness,
but in reverence—
his breath a whispered oath
to the unseen Commander
who called him not to comfort
but to courage.

He reaches first
for the unseen cord—
not silk, but sinew.
Truth, weathered and weighty,
wraps around his center.
It does not shimmer,
but it steadies.
It draws in the loose ends
so that lies may not trip him,
nor pride unravel his steps.

“Your Word holds me fast,”
he breathes,
“a tether against trembling.”

Next comes the covering
of a borrowed righteousness—
not stitched by merit,
but hammered by mercy.
It shields his heart,
not from pain,
but from poison—
from the whisper that says,
“You are not enough.”

And he replies,
“No, but Christ is.”

He binds his feet
with readiness—
not to flee,
but to carry peace
into chaos.
Nails beneath his soles
grip the terrain of temptation.
He does not wander aimlessly—
his steps are messengers
of reconciliation.

“Wherever I tread,
let peace go before me.”

He lifts the wall of belief—
scarred and seared,
but not broken.
Faith is no polished emblem,
but a scorched plank
from the ark of hope.
Behind it,
he can face the firestorms—
the doubts,
the wounds,
the well-aimed lies.

“I believe You still,”
he whispers,
“even when the sky burns.”

Upon his thoughts
he places salvation—
not a mere helmet,
but a circlet of remembrance.
It hushes the noise
and seals his mind
with the signature of sonship.

“I am Yours,”
he thinks,
“and no strike can undo
what grace has written.”

Finally,
he draws the sword.
Not of steel,
but of Spirit.
It glints with ancient fire—
truth that breathes,
truth that breaks chains.
He has trained in its rhythm,
hidden it in the marrow
of his soul.

“Let the lie meet the blade,”
he declares,
“and fall like chaff.”

Fully arrayed,
he bows low.
Not in defeat—
but in dependence.
Every piece he bears
draws power from prayer.
Without it,
he is dressed,
but not armed.

“Commander of Light,”
he pleads,
“make me vigilant,
make me valiant.
Let love be my aim,
faith my anchor,
truth my breath.
Remind me that
I do not fight to win—
I fight because You already have.”

And with that,
he rises.
Armor humming with promise,
spirit quieted by resolve.
The battlefield stretches before him—
but so does grace.

And so he walks—
into the morning,
into the war,
into the will
of the One
who called him soldier.

~~~~~

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10–20

As Paul closes his letter to the Ephesians, he does not end with a gentle farewell or sweet encouragement—he gives a final charge to arms. Why? Because the Christian life is not a playground; it’s a battlefield. We are soldiers engaged in a spiritual war. And Paul makes it clear: we cannot fight this battle in our own strength. Our power must come from the Lord. Without Him, we are exposed. With Him, we are equipped.

Paul outlines how to “dress” for this spiritual conflict, using the imagery of a Roman soldier. Each piece of armor is vital—not optional—for standing firm against the enemy’s schemes.

The Armor of God: Our Spiritual Equipment

Truth holds everything together. Like a soldier gathering his garments to move freely, we must ground ourselves in God’s truth or risk tripping on the lies of the enemy. Start each day fastening yourself with the Word—it keeps you steady and upright.

The enemy aims for the heart, but Christ’s righteousness covers us. This breastplate isn’t our goodness—it’s His. Satan cannot pierce the purity Jesus has given us through the cross.

Ready feet are essential. The good news of Jesus brings peace in the heat of battle and carries us forward with purpose. Peace isn’t just the absence of conflict—it’s the assurance of victory.

Faith extinguishes the fiery darts of doubt, fear, and temptation. The bigger your faith, the more of yourself you can hide behind it. Trust in God’s promises turns Satan’s arrows into harmless ash.

Protect your mind. Without salvation, your thinking is vulnerable. Remember what Christ has already done. When battles feel overwhelming, your salvation reminds you that the war has already been won.

Our only offensive weapon is the spoken Word of God. Declare it aloud! Speak God’s promises over your situation. Jesus used Scripture to defeat Satan in the wilderness—and so must we.

Paul doesn’t stop at the armor. He adds a weapon more powerful than many Christians realize: prayer. Not just occasional or convenient prayers—but constant, Spirit-led, watchful intercession. Pray for your battles. Pray for the Church. Pray for boldness, like Paul asked—because even ambassadors in chains need courage to proclaim Christ.

Ask yourself:
Am I leaving any piece of God’s armor at home?
Do I try to fight in my flesh rather than relying on the Spirit?
Have I prayed today not just for myself, but for other believers?

Take time today to “suit up” in prayer. Speak God’s truth over your life. Remind the devil he’s defeated. And walk forward—not in fear—but in faith, righteousness, peace, and salvation.

~~~~~

Father, Thank You for equipping me with Your full armor. Teach me to rely on Your strength and not my own. Help me to wear truth, righteousness, and salvation like clothing. Strengthen my faith, sharpen my understanding of Your Word, and ignite my prayer life. Remind me daily that though the battle is fierce, the victory is already won in Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

July 19, 2025