After decades of including Ephesians 6:10-18 as part of my daily quiet time, or time of prayer or being quiet before God…..I noticed something kind of profound for me.

But before I get there a reminder: our struggle as Christians is not a flesh and blood struggle, it is a struggle against: “rulers” (local authorities), against “powers” those with power and influence beyond just local authority, against “world forces” which revel in oppression, enslavement, promoting vices which lead to personal destruction and the removal of personal liberty and freedom of conscience and action. In other words wickedness in the “Heavenly Places” in other words a general sense and observation something bad is going on across the world but it is not something you can identify specifically or who is doing it.

Now here is my revelation; the armor of God is two groups of three: 1. Truth, Righteousness, and the Good News of Peace. 2.Faith, Salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.

The first three are already accomplished by God! The actual quote is: “HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH” IT IS AN ALREADY DONE DEAL! WHEN YOU AND I BECAME CHRISTIANS HE SEALED US IN TRUTH, IT IS INSIDE US THAT IS THE REASON WE SEE DIFFERENTLY THAN THOSE WHO ARE NOT CHRISTIANS. WE LIVE IN OBJECTIVE REALITY OR TRUTH AND THEY LIVE IS SUBJECT FICTION.

The second and third are also already accomplished by God: “HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS” AND “HAVING SHOD YOU FEET WITH PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE”. BOTH OF THESE ARE COMPLETED BY GOD ARE AT POINT WE SURRENDER TO GOD THROUGH JESUS. WE HAVE HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND WE HAVE HIS PEACE AS PERSONAL POSSESSIONS IT IS FINISHED. WE HAVE BEEN A RENEWED NATURE BY WHICH WE CAN WITHOUT INTERNAL STRUGGLE LIVE IN TRUTH, IN KNOWING/DOING THE RIGHT THING AND STANDING AND WALKING AS PART OF OUR VERY EXISTENCE WONDERFUL NEWS OF THE PEACE OF GOD.

The next three parts of the armor of God are things we still must do as a part of our lives. These three aspects require that we intentionally apply ourselves thoughtfully and in our words and deeds: 1. WE HAVE TO TAKE ACTION TO STAND IN FAITH (THAT IS TO LIVE IN CONFIDENCE WITH COURAGE IN JESUS) “TAKING UP THE SHIELD OF FAITH” 2. “TAKE THE HELMET OF SALVATION” WE MUST INTENTIONALLY ACCEPT OTHERS AND OURSELVES AS GOD DOES, WITHOUT CONDITION BUT WITH A DESIRE FOR THIER BEST 3. “TAKE THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD” WE MUST TAKE ACTION IN OUR DAILY LIVES TO KNOW AND SPEAK AND APPLY THE WORD OF GOD.

Living in truth and reality is such a kick. Keep praying at times we as believers  will persevere.