I’ve been weary. Between cleaning up toddler scribbles and spilled milk, breaking up wrestling matches and determining who did what, and the tiring tasks of keeping a family afloat, nay thriving, I’ve had to dig deep to keep fighting when hell threatens to break loose and darkness strives to swallow us right up. Here’s the truth, mama, there’s an enemy that wants your sanity, your peace, and even your children. So suit up and put on the armor of God!
We know that hell itself wants our children, but we don’t have to hand them over! Jesus won the victory for us long ago, we need only act like it. With every thought, word, and action, we can declare His victory.
Are you behaving like you already have victory in Christ? Or do you feel defeated? Discouraged? Weak? If you are struggling with declaring victory, it’s time to suit up, mama! The armor of God is not just a fun activity we do with our kids so they can wield makeshift swords and colander helmets; it is a live and active word that we can apply to our lives every day. Here’s how you put on the armor of God.
Put on the armor of God
The Belt of Truth
This piece of armor is the base for which every other piece connects and is strengthened. Because we live in His truth, no matter what the enemy throws at us, we can stand firm in Christ.
To put on the belt of truth in the moment to moment stress of being a mom, simply ask the Lord to help you to see the truth. Ask Him to whisper truth in your ear when you’re feeling overwhelmed.
“Lord, there’s no possible way I can accomplish everything I need to do today. What’s the truth? Show me what really has to be done, according to your truth.”
“Lord, my children have really been trying my patience. I feel like they are ungrateful, disobedient, and disrespectful. What’s the truth? Tell me how you see my kids, then give me your eyes to see them and the words to speak over them rather than those I’m thinking.”
“Lord, my marriage is not what I hoped it would be. My husband is selfish and doesn’t care about my feelings. Help me to see the truth of the matter and how I can better meet my husband’s needs so that you can fulfill us both.”
See how that works? Asking the Lord to speak His truth to us, no matter the situation, gives us a different perspective. It eliminates defeat and shows us the way to victory, both in small things to bring us every day peace, and in large things to bring us reconciliation, redemption, and sanctification.
When we take our own thoughts and ideas out of the equation, the Truth can be loosed over us, and where there is truth, the enemy cannot gain a stronghold.
The Breastplate of Righteousness
Once we have our belt of truth buckled firmly around our waist, we can fix the breastplate of righteousness to it. That means that we choose to have righteous thoughts, words, and actions.
When we know His truth, we can examine each of our thoughts, words, and actions to determine if they are righteous.
“Lord, I’m really mad at that friend who slighted me, but I know it would not be righteous to speak rudely to her. Instead, your word tells us we should be straightforward (Proverbs 27:6) and handle the dispute quietly and in a forgiving way (Matthew 18:17-17).”
“Lord, my kids have been so disobedient today. I want to yell and scream and send them to their rooms for the rest of the week! But the truth is that a gentle answer turns away wrath, and a harsh word stirs up anger. I want to respond to my children righteously, rather than stir up more anger in our home. Give me some ideas and tools for how to handle these behaviors that reflect your love for us.”
“Lord, I don’t feel righteous. I’m not proud of my past. I’m not even proud of things I did yesterday. But you don’t see me the way I see myself. Help me to see myself the way you do so that I may become your righteousness.”
We may not be righteous on our own, but we can be righteous if we choose to accept the gift of righteousness Jesus extended when He died for us. Because of this, we don’t have to be a slave to our unrighteous desires and motives; we can simply ask Him to help us be righteous.
The Sandals of Peace
I love a cute pair of shoes… but trendy sandals aren’t going to get me very far when the enemy is closing in and I feel like I’m going to lose it. When I’m THISCLOSE to yelling at my kids over something trivial (or even something serious), accusing my husband of selfish motives, or choosing selfish thoughts of my own, I need something that will allow peace to overtake me.
Even when things are tough, I can have a peace that surpasses all understanding. (Phillipians 4:7)
When I know God’s truth in every situation and choose righteous behavior accordingly, I can have peace even in the midst of chaos.
“Lord, my husband just lost his job and I’m scared for our future, but your word tells us that you will never forsake us, so I accept your peace in this situation.”
“Lord, I feel out of control and chaotic with the responsibilities I have on my plate right now, but I know you will equip me for those tasks you’ve called me to, and you’ll release me from those that aren’t your will, so I choose to have peace of mind over this situation.”
“Lord, this big medical situation is scary. I’m scared for my health (or my husband’s/child’s/friend’s/family member’s). But I know your perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18), so I choose to rest in your love and perfect peace, placing all of my fear in your hands.”
Life throws us curve balls sometimes, and the enemy would love for us to become hysterical, chaotic women, but because we are firmly planted in truth, we can have His peace, even when it doesn’t make sense.
The Shield of Faith
When we know His truth, it’s easy to put our faith in Him, because we know He is always working for our good, if we’ll just let Him.
Because I choose to believe His truth, regardless of my circumstances, I choose to put my faith in Him. In the study “Armor of God,” Priscilla Shirer describes faith as “acting like God is telling the Truth.” You may say you believe God’s truth. You may even believe you believe His truth. But unless you are willing to act like He is telling the truth, your faith will be fruitless.
“Lord, I know you are leading me to do this {big, scary thing}, but I don’t think I can handle it. However, because your word says you will equip me to do your will (Hebrews 13:21), I’m going to step out in faith and obey.”
“Lord, I’m worried that if we tithe, we won’t have enough money to pay our bills. But I’m going to be obedient and trust through faith that you will meet all my needs according to your riches in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)”
“Lord, I’m facing a situation that seems hopeless, but I put my faith in you and will continue moving forward in obedience, even if I’m not sure where this path will lead… I know you do and you have directed my steps. (Proverbs 20:24)”
If we have faith as small as a mustard seed, we can tell that mountain to move! Sometimes refusing to step out in faith has huge implications: that stranger the Lord urged you to tell about Him may not get another opportunity to hear the gospel. Sometimes we simply get robbed of a blessing because of our unbelief. Either way, I want to be a woman of strong faith who moves mountains for the Lord!
The Helmet of Salvation
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8
Listen, if we want to know truth, choose righteous behavior, walk in peace, and put our faith in God, it all starts in our mind. Our mind is where that battle really takes place.
When we put on the helmet of salvation, we protect our minds from the attacks of the enemy. He wants us to believe lies. He wants to stir up dissention in our marriage and with our kids. But when we put on the helmet of salvation, we fortify our minds, and the enemy cannot break through and convince us to see things his way.
Salvation is simple: He saved us. Because Jesus died on the cross for our sins, we can be saved. And when we put on the helmet of salvation, we make a statement: we our bought and paid for, with a steep price, the life of Jesus Himself. We make the statement that we are not a woman to be trifled with.
Not only does our salvation save us from an eternal death, but it offers us deliverance from the enemy’s attacks in the here and now. Once we receive salvation, we can then begin to be sanctified, the process by which the Lord makes us more like Him as we grow and choose His ways every day.
The helmet of salvation means we can apply His truth, make righteous choices, have peace, and put our faith fully in Him as we gain victory every day, moment by moment, choice by choice.
The Sword of the Spirit
This piece of armor is an offensive weapon. We fortify ourselves with the other pieces, but with the sword of the spirit, God’s word, we fight.
- We can know His truth, but if we don’t speak out the scripture that supports His truth, the enemy doesn’t hear it.
Psalm 25:5 Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.
Say it: “I choose to let you lead me in your truth and teach me. You are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.”
- We can desire to be righteous, but if we don’t claim scripture (out loud) that supports our righteous thoughts and desires, we’ll lack the fortification those scriptures offer.
Proverbs 21: 21 Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.
Say it: “I pursue righteousness and love; therefore, I find love, prosperity and honor.”
- We can choose to have peace, but peace will be fleeting if we don’t speak it out loud.
Phillipians 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Say it: “God, I choose your peace, which doesn’t make sense right now, so that you can guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus.”
- We can put our faith in Him, but we need to reinforce our choice by speaking out where our faith lies, so that we can further believe, and so that the enemy hears us and knows our mind is made up.
Psalm 31:14 But I trust in you, LORD; I say, “You are my God.”
Say it: “I trust in you Lord and say You are my God.”
- We can say we are saved, but speaking our salvation out loud fortifies our mind, protects our thoughts, and sends the enemy running.
Ephesians 1:13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit…
Say it: “I was included in Christ when I heard the word of truth, the gospel of my salvation. When I believed, I was marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.”
To take up the sword of the Spirit, you have to use scripture as a weapon that will cause the enemy to flee. Find scriptures that apply to your life and current situation, personalize them, then speak them out and watch the Holy Spirit work!
The battle is not ours
Mama, you may feel like you are in the midst of a daily battle. I certainly have. When you choose to launch an offensive against the enemy, he will fight back. But arm yourself. Suit up and put on the armor of God, and then let Him fight for you. Do not be dismayed or discouraged, for the battle is not yours, but God’s! (2 Chronicles 20:15)
Do you put on the armor of God? How have you found it makes a difference for you as a mama?
Scroll down for free printables to help you remember the gifts He offers us when we put on the armor of God!
If you want to learn more about how you can put on the armor of God and become a woman of faith, pick up the Armor of God study by Priscilla Shirer. It will change your life! Below, I created some printables based on quotes from that study, so that you can hang them up and remember what putting on the armor offers you daily:
Click here for a printable PDF of “He gives me a holy confidence…”
And here for a pdf printable of “Trust leads to thankfulness…”
