Battle Gear

In Ephesians 6, Paul lists a number of very important qualities that make you strong for battle. He describes these as protective gear and weapons like those our modern soldiers wear. We must gear up with these qualities.

Helmet

Salvation is your helmet. The helmet reminds you who you are and protects your mind from attack. Like war, life can be confusing and frightening. Your parents may go through a rough patch in their relationship. A friend might turn on you. Sickness can strike you or someone you love. Salvation means knowing that you’re God’s beloved son, that you are never alone, and that He will guide you through the fog. The helmet also reminds you of your identity in Christ—a man of adventure with God, a man of Spirit-empowered character, a man of commitment to His task. This knowledge inspires you. Salvation protects your thinking.

Bulletproof Vest

Righteousness is your bulletproof vest. Do right, fear nothing! Living life the way God intends gives a confidence and strength nothing else can give. It protects your heart from divided loyalties—you love God and hate sin and its destructive nature. A divided heart loves God but enjoys sin, too. That kind of man is divided and unstable; he loses more battles than he wins and eventually gets taken out unless he repents. Righteousness protects your heart.

Utility Belt

Truth is your belt. Only God’s Word, voice, and guidance can protect you and prepare you for victory. You must speak the truth, think the truth, and live the truth. A lie will never protect you from defeat or prepare you for victory. In the same way that a belt is the place to carry the gear you most readily need, truth provides the basis for everything you do in the battle of life. Your choices, actions, and attitudes should always be grounded in the truth of God’s Word. The truth protects you from shame, embarrassment, and defeat.

Combat Boots

Peace is your boots. The purpose of human warfare is to destroy and break things until the enemy can’t fight anymore. Then, the winner stands on the rubble as though he were standing atop his own trophy and shouts victory!

You have to understand that the purpose of your fighting is very different. The kind of spiritual warfare godly men take part in does not bring destruction. Godly battle brings peace and freedom to people. Jesus came to reverse the damage of sin in people’s lives, to set them free, and to give them peace and full lives. The boots you wear are not intended to transport you to places to deliver destruction but peace.

God wants those around you to be better off because you fought to bring God’s peace into their chaotic lives.

God wants those around you to be better off because you fought to bring God’s peace into their chaotic lives. And it will be just that, a battle for peace. Wherever Satan brings destruction, we fight alongside God to reverse what Satan has broken. Peace is the purpose of your fighting; peace protects you from fighting for selfish gain or misguided ends.

Riot Shield

Faith is your shield. Faith is knowing that the One you can’t see will always come through for you; fear is thinking that what you can’t see will harm you. Fear stirs up worry and resignation, and that makes you withdraw from the battle. In the midst of war, fear is common. You especially feel doomed when you are outnumbered and have no backup. Not so when you fight alongside God! He is always present in all His power to bring you through if you are prepared to fight His way. There is nothing Satan can throw at you or weapon he can use against you that you can’t defeat with God’s help. Faith in God protects you from fearing Satan and his evil plans by filling you with full confidence in God’s presence and help.

Faith is knowing that the One you can’t see will always come through for you; fear is thinking that what you can’t see will harm you.

Assault Weapon

God’s Word is your weapon of choice. As we have already learned, Satan is the father of lies. He attacks with lies and half-truths in the form of accusations and condemnation. God is truth. We can detect Satan’s lies when we know God’s Word.

You can fight back, win, and keep the upper hand by:

  Quoting Scriptures you have learned whenever you are tempted (Psalm 119:11).

  Standing firmly on God’s truth as an unmovable foundation on which to build your life (Psalm 119:24).

  Using it as a flashlight to light your life’s path (Psalm 119:105).

  Using it as a GPS system that provides turn-by-turn directions for life (Psalm 119:1).

  Using it as a polygraph machine to see past the lies of the enemy and see the truth of every situation (Psalm 119:29).

You must learn to use it well in the same way you would any other weapon. It takes daily training that involves reading the Word, thinking about what you learn, sharing it with others, asking questions of people who know God’s Word well when you run across things you don’t understand, and asking God to help you apply it to your life.

If you don’t train to handle a gun, knife, or bow and arrow, you won’t be able to use them well. So it is with God’s Word. It is a powerful weapon that will bring victory to your life when you train and learn to use it well. God’s Word protects you from Satan’s lies and schemes.

Battlefield Communication

Prayer is your communication device. Soldiers would never think of going into battle without being wired into the command and control communications system. They know their commanding officers can see the big picture and can direct and advise them even in the toughest conditions.

It is the same with prayer. We talk with God, and He talks with us. Yes, God will talk with you. Read all the stories of the Bible, and you will see it is normal to converse with God and hear His voice. You read that right—hearing from God is normal! Develop the habit of talking with Him all day in every circumstance. Combine that with being a lover of God’s Word, and you will soon develop the ability to hear His voice. There’s nothing like it!

God’s voice is unique and unmistakable:

  He will always encourage you and never tear you down.

  He will give you good advice and direction and never mislead you.

  He will correct you gently by convincing you to do right, not by condemning you.

  He will call you to be better and wiser, not make you feel small and stupid.

Prayer will protect you from going into battle blind and unaware of God’s strategy for victory.

“Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”

—James 5:16

Band of Brothers

Encouragement is how you build up your band of brothers. Never go into battle alone. Of course, God will go with you, but He intends for you to battle with a band of brothers next to you, side-by-side. Having men like your dad, godly mentors, and pastors is important. They have been your age and know the battles you are facing. They can help. Your Christian friends can also help. Encourage and pray for each other. Find a few guys you can share your needs with, knowing they will hold you accountable, pray with you, and help you. Do the same for them.

You are easy prey if you are alone. Satan’s frequent lie is that if others know the battles you are facing they will think less of you. What he doesn’t tell you is that the battles you face are the exact ones they face. Now that you know that, you can help each other without being judgmental. Encouragement protects you from losing courage and giving up.

Gear up from head-to-toe to do battle. You need:

  The helmet of salvation

  The bulletproof vest of righteousness

  The utility belt of truth

  Combat boots of peace

  The riot shield of faith

  Your assault weapon, God’s Word

  Battlefield communication of prayer

  The mutual encouragement of a band of brothers

In My Experience:

In college, I wrote “The Armor Prayer” in my devotions, and I’ve used it through the years. It prepares me to fight battles God’s way. Each statement relates to a piece of battle gear. Below each I’ve added comments describing how it has influenced my behavior.

  Remind me today who I am in You so I don’t settle for anything less than Your best.

As a young man I carried the label “missionary kid.” Don’t get me wrong; I wore it proudly. But when your dad is the missionary, pastor, and Bible school director, everyone expects you to be an angel. After a while, I had to ask myself a tough question, “Am I behaving because people expect it or because I love God and want to become all He has designed?” At the root of the question was where my identity would come from. Was I just being a missionary kid or was I being God’s son? I made a clear decision to be the latter. Have you settled this question in your own life?

  Make me righteous like You today so I can live right and fear nothing.

Another thing about being raised in a minister’s home was a constant concern for how people viewed you. You don’t dare wear clothes that are too nice or you’ll be criticized; too homely and people will think you are a poor reflection on the church. Say too much or too little, and you might hurt someone’s feelings. How do you say what is just right every time? The end result was a constant concern for people’s opinions. The Bible suggests you can’t easily please God if you fear what people think. Of course, I also feared what my classmates thought of me. The cure for insecurities and fears is holiness. Pleasing God gives you personal confidence and frees you from the fear of man. I concluded that if God is smiling I don’t have to worry about how people see me. That set me free! Are you living to please God or man?

  Teach me Truth today so I don’t fall for lies.

A guy one year ahead of me in high school built his life on a lie—that money could get him out of anything. His dad had lots of it.

When this guy killed someone in a careless auto accident, his dad’s money got him off the hook, but has yet to wipe away the guilt and shame and the health problems that resulted. When you build your life on truth, it is strong; when you build it on a lie, you are weak and will fail. The more you know God’s ways, the more surefooted you’ll be throughout life. Are you building your life on the truth or a lie?

  Help me today to defeat destruction in someone’s life so they can enjoy Your peace.

There were a few unpopular girls in my class. Some guys felt free to put them down. Sadly there were times I piled on. But that immediately stopped when I saw the pain our words inflicted. I asked God to forgive me, and I apologized to the girls. I wanted to be an agent of God’s kindness. Where Satan had brought destruction, I wanted to deliver God’s repair. What do your words and actions deliver compared to what they should?

  Grow my faith today so I see what You’re up to in every situation.

It’s always been easy for me to become frustrated when things don’t turn out the way I had hoped or planned. But it takes a strong man of faith to look past the disappointment and see the new opportunity. I didn’t date much in high school, but I did have two girls I really liked. Though I pursued, nothing developed with either. I was disappointed; I even doubted myself. “Don’t I have what it takes to attract a girl?” But God was preparing a better relationship with someone else more suited for me. I met her as a sophomore in college and we married two years later. God is always looking out for your good even in the midst of difficult circumstances. We just need to ask Him, “Okay, God. What are You up to now? Where’s the good You have planned?” It takes faith to ask Him and to look for it, and to patiently wait for His perfect plan to be fulfilled. Do you trust that God has your best interests in mind even when things seem out of control?

  Give me a Word today so I become strong in You.

I’m physically hungry every day. I need food to stay strong. I know the same is true of God’s Word. But it is so easy for me to go days or weeks without jumping into the Bible. It can feel like such a chore. Guilt floods over me when I see my dusty Bible on the nightstand. Have you ever felt this way?

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

— Philippians 4:4–7

But one day I realized something. God didn’t prepare His Word to condemn me. He gave it so I could joyfully experience Him. See how the truth can free you from a lie?

Today, I read the Word to be refreshed, not to check something off my daily to-do list. Sure, I need the discipline of consistency, but I don’t beat myself up either. I read looking for God’s invitation to adventure with Him—to actually do what He asks me to do. Throughout the day I repeat a verse to myself or remind myself of today’s adventure. That makes it fun and refreshing. The result in hindsight is that God has given me strength others denied themselves because they didn’t chose to be people of the Word. Is Bible reading still a chore for you or have you moved into the joy of adventuring with God? Ask God to help you, and He will.

  Let’s talk today so I feel Your presence and receive Your direction.

I like to pray. Now I do, that is. Praying really took off for me when I learned to talk with God all day. When I face a decision I just ask, “God, what do you want me to do here? As I see it, there are two options. Are there others? If not, which is best?” He lets me know, too. When confronted by temptation I pray. When I receive good news, I say thank you. We just talk all day.

This conversational closeness makes my regular prayer time natural. I don’t have to work myself up; I just close myself in with God and I pray about my thoughts and feelings and turn my worries and dreams into petitions. I especially like to pray over what I’m reading in the Word. As I think about people—those I love as well as those who irritate me—I pray for them. Everything I do, wherever I am, I talk with God. Have you ever realized prayer could be a constant ongoing conversation with God all day? Try it!

  Keep me in relationship with godly friends today so we can encourage and challenge one another.

This doesn’t often come natural to us guys. You know, making a conscious effort to have peers and godly men in your life that will keep you accountable spiritually. To be strong men we need a band of brothers. This doesn’t come natural to me. I’m private and independent. But I’ve learned nothing makes me stronger than relating well with other godly men.

In high school, I had such a friend in David Thomas. We were friends, but we also added a greater purpose to our friendship by holding each other accountable. We talked to each other about our spiritual fitness, looked for counsel from God’s Word, and prayed together. We were competitors in track, weekend mountaineers together on the Inca Trails in Bolivia, and incurable adventure seekers. I also had godly men who invested in my life—David North, Doug Ayres, Herman Lima, Marceal Apaza, George Davis, Eugene Hunt, Gary Miller, and others who are just names to you but heroes to me. Each shared strength with me in unique ways.

As young men, we find it hard to admit we don’t know what we don’t know. We feel that being in a learning posture before others might minimize us. But nothing can be further from the truth. God wants to use you to make those around you stronger, and He wants others to strengthen you. I like the idea of others benefiting from my strength, but I must humble myself to let the strength of others build me. Becoming a real man can only take place in the company of godly men.

Guys wonder why they struggle with the same things year after year in their life. It’s largely because they are living isolated lives, separating themselves from one of God’s sources of victory—other godly peers and men. Who are the peers you lean on and the godly men you look up to for help? Who are you intentionally offering strength to?