Do you ever go to work naked? Of course not. We always ready ourselves for the day by getting dressed.

However, most folks often go about their day spiritually undressed and don’t think twice about it.

The Bible says in Ephesians 6 that we are to “put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”

I’ve made it a part of my routine to put on the full armor of God every morning as I drive to work. It only takes a couple of minutes to do and can be incorporated pretty seamlessly, like during a drive, or when in the shower, or when pouring your first cup of coffee.

There are many slightly different variations depending on the Bible version but this is what my mom taught me and my brother, David, when we were kids and even though the New International Version has more modern language and may be easier to understand, I still find comfort in this version:

“I put on the full armor of God. My loin is girded in truth, I wear the breast plate of righteousness, my feet are shod with the preparation of the holy gospel of peace. I put on the helmet of salvation and lift up the shield of faith which quenches all the fiery darts of the evil one. And, I wield the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God.”

I then go on to the rest of my morning prayer (which changed my life when I prayed it for 30 days). The Bible tells us in Ephesians 6 to be strong in the Lord and His mighty power. “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 we are to put on the full armor “so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground.”

But what does all that really mean? Here is a very brief overview of each piece of armor.

The belt: Your life should be based on truth and integrity;

The breast plate: This piece of armor protects vital organs, like the heart. God’s righteousness enables you to live with good morals and ethics;

The shoes: Wherever you go, walk in God’s grace and peace;

The helmet: Live with the mind of Christ. Be careful what you watch and hear;

The shield: Your faith acts as a forcefield guarding you. Don’t let doubts weaken your protection, endeavor to remain steadfast in what God says is true.

The sword: Jesus used the Word of God to defeat satan. He said, “It is written …” repeatedly to combat the attacks of the devil and so should we. That is why it is vitally important that we read and study the Bible. If we don’t know what the Word says, how can we fight and stand firm with our armor?

Once we put on our armor, we are then instructed to “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.”

I readily admit I get caught up in the business of life and neglect my quiet time. Anxieties and stress rear their ugly heads every single time that happens. The Bible tells us to study the Word, put on the full armor of God, and to pray. So, we should all endeavor to do just that.

You know the morning prayer I mentioned above? It’s a prayer that will change your life! Get it now, just enter your email address below. 🙂 Speak it out loud every day and let me know what you experience!

Do you put on the full armor of God or have a prayer routine? Let me know by commenting below.