Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.
– Ephesians 6:11–18
Ephesians 6:11–18 is the expectation from Paul to put on the whole armor of God. And I think it’ll be pretty obvious when I’m reading from this passage and praying according to this passage. But let’s just start in Ephesians 6:11. Yes, God. We want to stand against the schemes of the Devil today and every day in our lives. So we say yes to this armor. We want to live with this armor on today. Give us wisdom and discernment, power, strength, everything we need to stand against the schemes of the Devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness against the spiritual forces of evil and the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:11–18 Asks God to Open Our Eyes
Oh God, open our eyes to the spiritual battle around us. Help us to see beyond the natural, to the spiritual, to spiritual forces of evil and the heavenly places who are working to harm us, to harm others around us today, who want us to experience hurt and pain, and who are working to destroy us. God help us to see that’s our battle today. It’s not with other people.
It’s spiritual forces of evil and the heavenly place is not flesh and blood. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand firm. Yes, God help us to stand firm. We want take up your whole armor ultimately to stand firm in the final day, stand therefore having fastened on the belt of truth. Yes, God, we pray for that. We pray for truth to guard our minds and our hearts in Christ and having put on the breast plate of righteousness.
Ephesians 6:11–18 Asks God to Help Us Live Righteously
Yes, God help us to live with the righteousness of Jesus today. Help us to live clothed in his righteousness and his shoes for your feet. Having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace, Scott Mayer, our feet, be ready to share the gospel of peace today. How do we know that’s the battle that’s happening today? There are people around us who don’t know the gospel of peace, that the spiritual forces of evil and heavenly places are trying to keep in the dark.
Help us to faithfully share the gospel of peace, to go with our feet into the world today and share the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one. Yes, God, help us to live with that shield of faith. Help us to extinguish flaming darts from the evil one, coming our way with faith in you, with trust in your work and obedience to your word, with faith. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.
Asking God to Help Us Remember Our Salvation
Yes, God, help us to live in the reality of what it means to be saved today. What it means to be your son or daughter, with your word in our hearts. With your word in our hands. Help us to live according to it, to proclaim it. Praying at all times in the spirit with all prayer and supplication. Oh God, we know we’re in a spiritual battle today. And so help us to fight spiritual battle with spiritual weapons. With your word and with prayer, help us to pray continually all day long. God help us. We pray to live today in this armor. And by the end of the day, to lay our heads on a pillow at night and to have stood firm. We pray these things. We pray by your grace in your power, through your armor. Lord Jesus, we pray in your name. Amen.
David Platt serves as a Lead Pastor for McLean Bible Church. He is also the Founder and Chairman of Radical, an organization that helps people follow Jesus and make him known in their neighborhood and all nations.
David received his B.A. from the University of Georgia and M.Div., Th.M., and Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Some of his published works include Radical, Radical Together, Follow Me, Counter Culture, Something Needs to Change, and Don’t Hold Back.
He lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area with his wife and children.
