Put On

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. (6:11)

Question: with God on our side, do we just stand back and watch him work? Basically, is our role in this spiritual onslaught to do nothing? (We are not strong in ourselves anyway, so what could we possibly do to fight successfully?) In some mysterious way, do we somehow just “let God do it all”?

No. Paul gives specific instructions about deliberate actions that we believers are to take. We are not to be idle, or passive, but intentional and active. We are to put on every piece of God’s armor.

Clothes don’t put on themselves. Everyone has to put on their clothes in the morning; maybe with help—but it’s not something that happens without intentional effort. In the same way: we have to intentionally put on the battle clothing and gear that is available. There’s no Scriptural teaching that conveys the message that “since you are a believer, you’re good; you’re covered; you’re clothed. No need to do anything else. Just enjoy yourself in this walk of faith! And, can I get you something to drink while you prepare to lounge around?”

It’s interesting to me that we are the ones to put on the armor that God owns and gives. The armor is identified as “God’s armor.” It’s from Him. We are not in self-protection mode. We are not scrambling to find ways to protect ourselves. We are not looking for self-help, self-realization, or further ways to “pull ourselves up by the bootstraps,” or convince ourselves of the idea that “God helps those who help themselves.”  He has provided the help we need, but we need to take action to set that help in motion.

I remember once flying over the beautiful Rocky Mountains at sunset. The journey from Los Angeles to Denver was breath-taking. It was one of those sights that keeps you staring out the window, marveling at the beauty of the glorious, rugged terrain below. When the plane landed, the pilot was greeting the exiting passengers. I asked him, “How much of that flight was on auto-pilot?” He smiled and said, “About 95%.”

We will not be successful in this fight by being on auto-pilot. We are in the fray, active, defending, responding, and putting on the armor. Again, this is a deliberate action. The victory—which Paul defines as resisting the enemy in the time of evil—will not happen by chance, or by autopilot (push a button, and forget about it), or ‘somehow it will just take care of itself’. In order to see this success realized, we have to put on the armor.

I’ll mention here a personal practice and spiritual discipline. I was encouraged by a close friend of ours many years ago to deliberately put on the armor each morning. That resonated with me as a very important spiritual activity, and so I have done that by prayer, over myself, and over my children and their spouses. I pray for them to be clothed with each piece of the armor. This is one way of expressing the “putting on” of the armor. If I know any of us have a specific need that requires a particular piece of the armor, then I linger on that piece a little longer in prayer. I put on the whole armor each morning—again, it’s a purposeful event. Perhaps this practice will be useful to you, and that God will give you insights for your family and friends as you pray for them to be clothed with each specific piece. This is one way we can help each other to put on the armor of God.

What is the purpose of putting on the armor? Paul says in this verse that it is to resist the Enemy in the time of evil. We assume a position of strength by “putting on” the armor, and the result will be standing firm against the Enemy.

“Father, we ask for your help in putting on the whole armor. Thank you for providing it for us. May we not neglect this important activity of actually appropriating what you have given to us. In our life, and in the lives of others, we ask for your help in clothing us today.”