What is the armor of God?
You’re under attack: in your mind, your home, your health or your faith. The Bible says you have armor. But what is it, and how do you actually put it on?
The armor of God is the protection God gives every believer for spiritual battle, listed in Ephesians 6:10–18: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:11). In plain words: your real fight isn’t with people; it’s with spiritual darkness (Ephesians 6:12), and God has already given you everything you need to stand.
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David couldn’t wear Saul’s armor
Before David fought Goliath, King Saul dressed him in his own armor: a bronze helmet, a coat of mail and a sword. David could barely walk. He took it all off, picked up five smooth stones and his sling, and walked out to the giant saying, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of Hosts” (1 Samuel 17:38–45). The armor that wins spiritual battles isn’t made by man. It’s God’s.
Each piece, in plain words
Belt of truth: knowing and living what’s true holds everything else together. Lies can’t get a grip on you.
Breastplate of righteousness: Jesus’ righteousness covers your heart, so guilt and condemnation can’t pierce it, and living right protects you.
Shoes of the gospel of peace: you stand firm on the good news, at peace with God, and ready to carry it to others.
Shield of faith: trusting God stops “all the flaming arrows of the evil one” (Ephesians 6:16): doubts, fears, accusations and temptations.
Helmet of salvation: knowing you’re saved guards your mind against the devil’s whispers.
Sword of the Spirit: the Word of God, your weapon. Jesus beat Satan’s temptations with “It is written” (Matthew 4:1–11).
And prayer: “pray in the Spirit at all times” (Ephesians 6:18). Prayer is how the soldier stays connected to the commander.
How to put it on every day
Start your day in the Word. Confess any sin. Remind yourself out loud who you are in Christ. Pray through each piece. When an attack comes, answer it with Scripture.
What the Bible says
- 01
The full armor.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed, and with your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.”
Ephesians 6:10–18 - 02
Our weapons.
“For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh. The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the flesh. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
2 Corinthians 10:3–5 - 03
It is written.
“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. The tempter came to Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” Then the devil took Him to the holy city and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple. “If You are the Son of God,” he said, “throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command His angels concerning You, and they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus replied, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “All this I will give You,” he said, “if You will fall down and worship me.” “Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus told him. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’ ” Then the devil left Him, and angels came and ministered to Him.”
Matthew 4:1–11 - 04
Resist the devil.
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
James 4:7 - 05
In the name of the LORD.
“But David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand. This day I will strike you down, cut off your head, and give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the creatures of the earth. Then the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. And all those assembled here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give all of you into our hands.””
1 Samuel 17:45–47 - 06
God’s own armor.
“He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on His head; He put on garments of vengeance and wrapped Himself in a cloak of zeal.”
Isaiah 59:17
Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.
Tomorrow morning, read Ephesians 6:10–18 out loud and pray through each piece before you look at your phone.
Common questions
Why is there no armor for the back?
Many point out that the armor is for standing and facing the enemy, not running from him.
Do I have to say a prayer to put it on?
There’s no formula. Praying through each piece is a powerful way to remind yourself what God has given you.
What is the only offensive weapon?
The sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. That’s why memorizing Scripture matters.
Read it with a guide.
Become’s study Bible explains every chapter in plain language, with a reading plan that starts in John and walks you through the whole story, in your language.