What is the armor of God and how do I put it on?

The armor of God is the picture Paul uses in Ephesians 6 for the spiritual protection God gives you, the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, gospel-ready feet, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word. You put it on by faith and prayer, claiming each piece as you start your day.

What does "we wrestle not against flesh and blood" mean?

It comes from Ephesians 6:12. Paul says your real fight is not against the people in front of you but against unseen spiritual forces behind the scenes. That matters because it changes your target. Your spouse, your coworker, the difficult person, they are not the enemy. It frees you to fight in prayer instead of fighting flesh and blood.

How do I pray the armor of God?

Go piece by piece and claim each one. Thank God for His truth as your belt, His righteousness as your breastplate, His peace on your feet, faith as your shield against the lies, salvation guarding your mind, and His Word as your sword. Speak Scripture out loud, and pray it on in the morning before the day starts.

How do I handle a spiritual attack?

Stand, do not panic. 1 John 4:4 says greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world, so you fight from victory, not for it. Answer the lies with the Word out loud, stay in prayer, and refuse to pick up the bitterness or fear being handed to you. Standing on truth gains ground.

Prayer To Put On the Armor of God

You can lose a fight you do not even know you are in. That is the danger Paul is warning about when he tells us to put on the armor of God, because the real battle is happening on a level you cannot see. This is a prayer for spiritual protection, for suiting up before the day instead of getting caught off guard. God did not leave you to face the enemy in your own clothes. He gave you armor for every part that gets attacked. Pray this when you are under pressure, under attack, or just want to start the day covered.

A Word Before You Pray

Notice who Paul says the fight is not against. Flesh and blood. Not your spouse, not your coworker, not the person who hurt you. He says the real opposition is spiritual, principalities and powers working behind the scenes, and that one truth changes the whole battle. When you forget it, you spend your energy swinging at people. When you remember it, you fight the actual enemy, on your knees, with the right weapons.

And look at how God dressed you for it. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the Word as a sword. Every piece covers something the enemy goes after, your mind, your heart, your footing, your confidence. The armor is not magic. It is Jesus. He is your truth, your righteousness, your peace, the object of your faith and the source of your salvation. You do not generate the armor. You put on Christ.

So before you pray this, settle the target. Stop wrestling the people in front of you and turn to fight in the place the battle is actually being won. Then put the armor on, piece by piece, and stand.

The Prayer

In the name of Jesus, I put on the whole armor of God, that I may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For I wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places.

Therefore, I take unto myself the whole armor of God, that I may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. I stand, therefore, having my loins girt about with truth.

Your Word, Lord, which is truth, contains all the weapons of my warfare, which are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.

I have on the breastplate of righteousness, which is faith and love. My feet are shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace. In Christ Jesus I have peace and pursue peace with all men. I am a minister of reconciliation, proclaiming the good news of the Gospel.

I take the shield of faith, with which I am able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked, and the helmet of salvation, holding the thoughts, feelings, and purpose of God's heart, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

In the face of all trials, tests, temptations, and tribulation, I cut to pieces the snare of the enemy by speaking the Word of God. Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. Thank You, Father, for the armor.

I will pray at all times, on every occasion, in every season, in the Spirit, with all manner of prayer and entreaty. To that end I will keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints.

My power and ability and sufficiency are from God, who has qualified me as a minister and a dispenser of a new covenant of salvation through Christ. Amen.

How to Use This Prayer

Pray it in the morning, before you walk out into the day, the way a soldier would not leave the base undressed. Go through the pieces slowly instead of rushing the whole thing, and actually picture putting each one on.

The armor works when you wear it, not when you admire it. When the attack comes during the day, a lie, a fear, a temptation, do what the prayer says and answer it out loud with the Word, because that is the one piece that is also a weapon. Pair it with Ephesians 6 and 1 John 4:4, and remember you are standing in Christ's victory, not trying to earn one.