When Michelle, one of Bronner’s buyers, told me she was adding an armor of God shield to Bronner’s religious gifts offerings, I was super excited! In truth, the ARMOR OF GOD is a huge part of my family’s testimony.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full ARMOR OF GOD so that you can stand against the devil’s schemes.” Ephesians 6:10-11
Daily Clothes
Putting on the ARMOR OF GOD is like putting on a pair of pants and your favorite Tee. At least in my mom’s experience.
At the time I was a teenager, you know, too cool for that rite. But, unencumbered by my ignorance, she would go through a set of scriptures every day in what she referred to as her “daily clothes,” reading them with authority, out loud. Mom’s daily practice called upon the God of heaven and earth to hedge her family from the “schemes of the Devil,” as Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:11.
I am grateful for a mom who stood and continues to “stand in the gap.” As I looked for a scriptural reference to the effectiveness of our prayers over others, I came across Isaiah 59:16, which reads:
“And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.”
As I kept reading, I felt God confirming the theme of this post as verse 17 continues:
“For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak.”
There it was again, in Isaiah … GOD’S ARMOR!
In those years, Mom’s faithfulness was sowing a seed in her family — whether she knew it or not.
The Power Of Prayer
In those early years, my dad was away for extended periods for work, coveting my mom’s prayers, no doubt.
Dad shares, “Once, I was loading a tanker in the middle of winter from the bottom with caustic acid. Above the tank is a dome you open so you can see the level. After we had started the pumps, I realized that the hose was leaking from the fittings. So I turned the pump off and climbed on top to see why it was leaking under pressure and where the problem lay. I realized when I looked in that the internal valve on the trailer was frozen and, as a result, wasn’t allowing the the acid to flow into the trailer. At this point, the trailer had become warm enough to allow the spring to open and the acid shot straight up through the manhole just as I pulled my head back and leaned away. It just missed me. By God’s grace and activated by your mom’s prayers, undoubtedly.”
This is just one of many testimonies my parents have shared with me from over the years. Miracle upon miracle working out in their lives.
We’ll never truly know how many times the intercessory prayers of others have kept us in the shadows of His wings and care until we see Him face to face! But I’m confident it’s far greater than I realize in my own life.
Where Two Or More Are Gathered Together…
Now that he’s home, Dad prays daily with Mom, taking up the Armor Of God.
“Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:19-20
It’s a legacy of faithful parents I am proud to inherit.
Picking Up The Armor For Myself
Consequently, it wasn’t until I was an adult that the seedling of armor my mom planted would burst forth through the soil of my own life. As I recall, it was when I came upon a study by Priscilla Shirer titled “The Armor Of God.”
This study, spurred by my mom’s devotion to those particular passages and by my curiosity, caused me to take a deeper dive to understand the scripture I’d heard confidently proclaimed time and time again.
The Armor Of God
In a short list, the armor of God seems so simple:
- Gird your waist with TRUTH
- Put on the breastplate of RIGHTOUSNESS
- Shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of PEACE
- Take up the shield of FAITH
- And the helmet of SALVATION
- Finally, the sword of the SPIRIT, which is the Word of God.
Perhaps too simple …
As I delved more intimately in study each week into the purpose of each piece of the heavenly armor God gifts us, my mind was completely blown. The armor of God is anything but simple.
Becoming My Mother
It wasn’t long before I found myself “turning into my mother.” (It’s a bit early in life for that already … right?! 😜) I visualized myself taking up each piece as I recited the verses aloud on my drives to work. In addition, I prayed golden nuggets from the study to lavishly decorate my suit of armor. This rite undoubtedly infused each day with a supernatural confidence and strength that can only be found in Him. I know this to be true because, unsurprisingly, I fell out of the practice.
The enemy doesn’t like when we “armor up” so he cunningly strategizes to cause us to cease. Perhaps with the same careless attitude of my youth , or by convincing one that they are just words and not really accomplishing anything, so what’s the point?! Maybe just out of thoughtlessness or distraction …. Whatever the enemy’s tactics, they are targeted and precise, tailored to anyone he is up against. He doesn’t play by a rule book. Anything to get us to stop goes.
Within the past year, I’ve found myself wanting to revisit the study to reacquaint myself with the gift we have in each piece of God’s mighty armor. Just going through the short list once you’ve worn “designer” armor is simply not enough!
Take Up The Shield Of Faith
To quote Priscilla Shirer, “The Armor of God. All day, every day, an invisible war rages around you — unseen, unheard, yet felt throughout every aspect of your life. A devoted, devilish enemy seeks to wreak havoc on everything that matters to you: your heart, your mind, your marriage, your children, your relationships, your resilience, your dreams, your destiny. But his battle plan depends on catching you unaware and unarmed. If you’re tired of being pushed around and caught with your guard down …”1 then this Armor Of God Shield religious home accent from Bronner’s is a great reminder to get dressed in your “spiritual clothes” everyday!
Undoubtedly, the shield of faith also makes a great inspirational gift for the spiritual pillar in your life — whether it be for parents or grandparents, a pastor, friend or mentor.
TAKE UP THE SHIELD OF FAITH, WITH WHICH YOU CAN EXTINGUISH ALL THE FLAMING ARROWS OF THE EVIL ONE. TAKE THE HELMET OF SALVATION AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD.
Ephesians 6:16-17
1. “Armor Of God Workbook With Video Access.” Going Beyond Ministry https://www.goingbeyond.com/resources/workbooks/armor-of-god-workbook-with-video-access/