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In the journey of faith, believers quickly discover that life involves more than just physical challenges and that churches misrepresent the true gospel of grace.
There is an unseen spiritual battle ongoing unbeknownst to us.
The good news is that God has not left us defenseless. Through His grace and love, He provides a complete set of spiritual armor, the armor of God, to protect us and help us stand firm. Understanding and putting on this divine protection is essential for every Christian.
Drawing insights from Ashley D. Wille’s spiritual memoir, My Journey Through the Cross, let’s show how this armor works in real life.
A Battle Unbeknownst to Us
Before we can understand the armor, we must recognize the battle that we are wearing it for. The Christian life is not a passive existence; it is an active fight against spiritual forces of darkness.
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For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. — Ephesians 6:12
Ashley Wille describes this battle in terms of constant distractions and “hooks” that try to pull her focus away from God.
Mental and emotional hooks gain entry through all five senses… There is a struggle when I pay attention to these hooks. Part of me wants to bite the hook at any cost; the other part of me knows there will be trouble and regret if I do.
Standing with the Armor of God
The foundation of God’s armor is truth. Without it, we are vulnerable to the enemy’s lies.
The Girdle of Truth
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth… — Ephesians 6:14
The “girdle of truth” holds all the other armor in place. In her book, Wille talks about the importance of knowing the truth about who God is and who we are in Christ. She learned that many of her beliefs about God were wrong. For years, she lived under a “religious glass ceiling” constructed of Bible verses interpreted “under the law’s demands,” which made her feel condemned.
She explains the freedom that came from truth:
I now read those laws hearing the voice of grace saying, ‘You (as my precious child) will desire to do these things automatically (out of love) because I (Love Himself) am filling you and leading victoriously in my marvelous grace.’
The Breastplate of Righteousness
Our hearts need protection from accusation and condemnation.
… having put on the breastplate of righteousness, — Ephesians 6:14
This righteousness is not our own good behavior; it is the perfect righteousness of Christ given to us as a gift. Wille uses a powerful illustration with two garments: a ragged shirt labeled with sins and a stunning, sequined jacket. She explains that when we believe in Christ, we exchange our “filthy rags” for His “sparkly holiness.”
The heavenly coat does not cover up our old garments. It permanently replaces them because the sin is taken away into Christ’s death… Jesus came first to save, then to give life.
The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace
In the midst of battle, we need stability and readiness.
and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace. — Ephesians 6:15
These shoes allow us to stand our ground and move forward with the good news of peace with God. Wille describes how God taught her to find peace by focusing solely on Him.
The only way for me to maintain perfect peace was to have complete focus on the One who never changes.
This peace is not based on calm circumstances but on the unshakable truth that we are reconciled to God. No matter what chaos surrounds us, we can have a firm footing of peace, ready to share this hope with others.
The Shield of Faith
Faith is our active trust in God, which extinguishes the enemy’s attacks.
…above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. — Ephesians 6:16
The “fiery darts” are often lies, temptations, or accusations meant to make us doubt God. Wille calls these “hooks.” She learned that the only defense was to keep her eyes on Jesus.
I strained to keep my focus on Him as a variety of lured hooks surrounded me.
She writes that as her faith grew, “the hooks around me have become less appealing, so much so that it has become easier to live among them undistracted.” Faith—trusting in God’s character and promises—acts as a shield. When we lift it up, the enemy’s attacks lose their power.
The Helmet of Salvation
Our minds are a primary battlefield. The helmet protects our thoughts.
And take the helmet of salvation… — Ephesians 6:17
This helmet guards our mind by reminding us of our secure identity in Christ. We are saved, loved, and safe in Him. Wille struggled with feelings of guilt and condemnation until she understood that her salvation was complete.
I noticed that the Lord arranges specific insurmountable struggles in my life that hem me in on all sides. This forces me to forego my pride in self-effort… and instead, depend in humility and courage on Him alone to deliver me.
The Sword of the Spirit
The armor is mostly defensive, but God also gives us an offensive weapon.
…and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; — Ephesians 6:17
The Word of God is alive and powerful. It is our ultimate weapon against deception. Wille emphasizes the power of focusing on God’s Word.
Using the Word of God, the collective energy of the heart and mind can be focused into a heavenly laser that can pierce through the thickest darkness.
Jesus used Scripture to defeat Satan’s temptations in the wilderness. Likewise, when we know and speak God’s truth, we can cut through the enemy’s lies. This isn’t about memorizing verses to be a “good Christian”; it’s about wielding the truth that sets us free.
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The armor of God is not a metaphor for human effort. It is a picture of receiving everything Christ has already done for us. We stand firm by believing we are who He says we are: forgiven, righteous, peaceful, saved, and armed with His truth.
Ashley Wille’s journey shows that spiritual victory comes from surrendering our own strength and putting on God’s divine protection.
He now lives in our place, inside our earthly bodies given as a living sacrifice for Him, His purposes, and glory.
Copies of My Journey Through the Cross are available here. Grab one now!
