The Belt and The Breastplate

“Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. We are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” Eph. 6:12 NLT

“Therefore put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.

Stand your ground putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.” Eph. 6:13-14 NLT

 Our battle is not with the things we see and hear or in most cases even are aware exist. So how do we fight such a supernatural enemy? Only in the power of our supernatural God. It’s God’s power and might that fights the dark battles, but there are things I need to do, I need to put on my armor, the whole armor of God and keep it on at all times. So what is the armor of God?

Stand your ground putting on the belt of truth. The belt was the first piece of armor usually put on by soldiers headed into battle. The belt was not only there to hold their guts in, but it also had strips of leather hanging down, or was a wide strip of heavy leather, to protect the guts and lower body.

So I need to stand on the Truth. God’s truth, not my gut feelings, not what someone else feeds me, but the truth I read in the Bible. Everything that I read, hear and believe should be sifted and tested by God’s word. If I wrap the Truth of God’s words around me, I will be able to stand firm against the lies Satan throws my way. Lies that may sound very good and convincing since Satan is the master of deceit.

The breast plate of righteousness, or as the NLT puts it the body armor of righteousness, which is more accurate since this was a piece that wrapped around the whole upper body, back included. The breast-plate was made of heavy leather or metal so that arrows and darts could not pierce it. What did this piece protect? The heart and other important organs, very essential for life.

Righteousness is not being right with God, that’s salvation which is addressed later. No righteousness here is right living. Living the right way according to God’s standards. Following His path, obeying His commands, respecting His authority, walking in a close relationship with Him so we can hear His voice.

Without righteousness, or right living, we are wide open to Satan’s fiery darts. Arrows such as temptation to sin, or fear, or depression, or anger, or worry, or bitterness. Satan knows just what flaming arrow to fling into our hearts that will knock us down or take us out of the fight. If we are not living God’s way, then Satan will use anything he can to ruin our testimony for God, to trample our reputation, to rip apart our families, to snatch our kids away from following God.

Stand firm is our aim. Not running, not hiding, not falling, but standing our ground on His truth and being firm in living right.