God’s Armor

Read Ephesians 6:10-20  

I like action movies. My favorite parts are dramatic scenes where the hero reveals his or her extraordinary abilities and courage against seemingly invincible enemies. As fun as they are, I’m afraid these movies have influenced my imagination too much about this passage. I’ve expected spiritual battles to mirror action movies—victory in my own strength, glory for me as I save the day, and an unseen cool outfit. Reality is much more humbling. Paul wasn’t writing about how to be a Christian action hero.  He was describing the spiritual protection available to believers, God’s own strength and armor. Paul begins this passage urging the Ephesians to “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power,” and as he lists the pieces of the armor, he seems to be recalling God’s own armor described in the book of Isaiah. God has shared them with us, but He is the deliverer.

Realizing this, there is a helpful element from action movies—the training montage. Let me share a scene: night, a kitchen sink piled with dinner dishes. A pendant light shines on the dishes and a tired lady standing in coffee pajama pants and a hot pink fuzzy bathrobe. As she washes, thoughts of the day bubble up in her heart.  Some are like flaming darts. “Why did I get so mad about toys in the living room? I shouldn’t have yelled.” “I’m not doing a good job loving my mom right now.” “I’m a failure.” Some are like lead. “I don’t know what to do.” “This world is full of evil and wrong.” “ Some are sparkling daydreams, magic mirrors where she is always right and the hero of every story. All are used by the enemy to trip and wound.

Unseen is her Teacher. He’s provided her armor and weapons against the flaming darts, the lead balls and the false mirrors, and He’s training her to use them. Like a soldier in training learns lunge, parry, feint; she learns remember, trust, pray. Remember, hope, pray. Remember, repent, pray. Remember, worship, pray. Verses and sermons, podcasts and hymns bring His truth to her memory.

Night after night (dishes never seem to end), this fuzzy robed soldier comes back to her Teacher. Over time, the lessons spill out into the rest of the day.  Prayer comes more quickly, words of hope and peace spill out to others. She’s grown in trust of God, and she is able to stand.

FOR REFLECTION:

• What are the flaming darts, lead balls and magic mirrors that are often shot at you?
• What are the verses and truths from Scripture that you turn to for protection from those attacks?

by Colleen Mittag