Spiritual Warfare and the Armor of God

1. The Belt of Truth
The soldier’s belt was the centerpiece of a Roman soldier's armor, securing the body armor and housing the sword's scabbard. For spiritual warfare, this centerpiece is truth. Remember - spiritual warfare takes place primarily in the mind, and Satan is the father of lies. Christians prepare for the fight by fixing the truth of God’s word firmly in our minds and hearts (Romans 12:2).

2. The Body Armor of Righteousness
The soldier’s body armor protected him from the neck to the upper thighs. For a Christian, this represents a lifestyle of righteousness that gives Satan no targets to exploit. But before we can start living that lifestyle, we must remember that the body armor is God's, not ours (Isaiah 59:16-17). Christ himself transferred his righteousness to us when he took our sins on himself on the cross (1 Corinthians 1:30).

3. The Shoes of Peace
The soldier’s footwear – clearly the most boring item in this list – enabled him to get from one battlefield to the next. In scripture, feet were often connected to sharing a message, as Paul explained to the Romans:
Romans 10:15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

4. The Shield of Faith
A Roman soldier was equipped with a large oblong shield that covered his body completely. When a row of soldiers lined up side by side, their shields created an impregnable wall. That’s how faith works for Christians: it’s more effective in community. Our faith – linked up with the faith of other believers – creates a wall of defense (Hebrews 12:1).

5. The Helmet of Salvation
The soldier’s helmet obviously protected his head. If you’re a Christian, Satan will try to get “in your head” by lying to you about your worthiness before God. That’s what the helmet is for: the assurance of our salvation protects against the devil’s