The events of the past month have been dizzying.

As expected, President Trump is driving furiously into battle like Jehu to whom many have likened him (2 Kings 9:20).

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Pray for your fellow intercessor.

Many of his initiatives are encouraging; some are puzzling; all are hotly contested in the public square, courts, and deep state.

As intercessors, we are called to enforce the Lord’s victory in this past election and to ensure His agenda — not man’s — is secured.

With opposition coming against the President from all sides, the battle is becoming more intense. In this war, we need all the resources the Lord provides in the powerful prayer Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:10-18.

Every day, I pray the armor on myself and those about whom I care.

Even so, I just beginning to understand its power.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (Eph. 6:10).

Our strength and power originate with Him.

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil (Eph. 6:11).

Human solutions, resources, and strategies will not prevail against a supernatural opponent whose strength outstrips ours in every way.

We need to be enveloped in the Lord’s armor.

Sort of like those Marvel superhero movies in which a soldier tramps about in a giant metal suit, fierce and ferocious.

Unlike that armor, the Lord’s flows. It does not hinder nor trip us.

We are freed to move as the Spirit and the Word instruct in our daily battles.

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 (Eph. 6:12).

As intercessors know, we face off against powerful, organized forces.

They have ranks, lines of authority, differing levels of authority. They are battle-ready and always practicing.

We need all the wisdom, power, and resources of the Lord of Angel Hosts to rout this enemy.

Using the metaphor of a Roman soldier’s armor, Paul unpacks the Lord’s provision for our battle.

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 (Eph. 6:13).

We aren’t much good in the battle when we are regularly being knocked back by surprise enemy moves or overwhelming onslaughts.

Weapon 1: The Belt

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth (Eph. 6:14a).

The belt represents Truth.

The truth of the Bible.

And the truth who is Christ.

Any deception we fall victim to weakens us in battle.

We bend our knee to the God of the Bible, without lifting Scripture out of context, without amending it to suit our agendas, without omitting key commands.

When I am tempted to accuse humans (a daily temptation), I activate the belt.

I remember Christ died for that person. My fight is not against him.

The Lord desires him to be saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth.

Weapon 2: The Breastplate

…having put on the breastplate of righteousness (Eph. 6:14b)

Christ’s righteousness must cover our torsos — our hearts, our lungs, and our stomachs.

Christ died to enable us to come into right relationship to the Father.

We appropriate this righteousness by accepting Christ’s atonement.

In this way, the breastplate mediates relationships.

When the enemy lies to me about my relationship with the Lord or challenges God’s goodness, I activate the breastplate, praying the Lord would set the enemy to flight.

When the enemy attacks my friendships with others, I activate the breastplate by calling upon the Lord to protect and mend those relationships.

When the enemy tempts me to overvalue the things of the world, I activate the breastplate to overcome idolatry of created things.

Weapon 3: The Gospel Sandals

…and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace (Eph. 6:15).

The Roman foot gear was studded in such a way that walking backwards would trip up the soldier.

He was meant to advance.

When I find myself flagging with inertia. I activate the sandals, asking the Lord to energize my passion.

When I find my way impeded by Satan, I activate the sandals. I ask the Lord to impart nimbleness to my feet so that I may literally leap over the demonic blocks or quickly find another way to the goal.

Weapon 4: The Shield of Faith

…above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one (Eph. 6:16).

The shield was as large as a man’s torso. Roman soldiers would dip their shields in water before battle so flaming arrows would fizzle out when they hit.

We need this kind of faith.

I activate the shield when I am in a season of hopelessness. I call upon the Lord to strengthen my faith when I am confronting enemy lies, discouragements, and defeats.

I activate the shield on behalf of others when I see them in similar seasons.

Weapon 5: The Helmet of Salvation

And take the helmet of salvation (Eph. 6:17a).

All healing, all hope, and all salvation is in the helmet.

This precious piece wrapped around our heads protects us from all sorts of enemy missiles — whether confusion, disorder, illness, impoverishment of spirit, or failure of confidence.

When I am ill, I activate the healing helmet.

When I am hopeless, I activate the hope of the helmet.

When I am in trouble, I call forth the Lord’s salvation for that situation.

Weapon 6: The Sword of the Spirit

…and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Eph. 6:17b).

Jesus taught us in His temptation how to use the sword against the enemy. When the enemy used Scripture out of context to tempt Jesus to sin, our Savior used the sword to thwart the attack.

Memorization is not a natural talent of mine, but I pray that the Lord drops His sword smoothly and neatly into my hand while in the battle.

And when the enemy attacks, the Lord activates His word.

And when the Lord calls me to attack, He activates the sword in my hand.

When a dear friend’s husband was dying, she reached out to me in fear for his salvation. He had serious doubts — stoked regularly by the liberal legacy media — about God’s goodness.

The Lord led us to battle with the sword. My friend put Scripture throughout the house. She played worship songs all day. She read the Bible with him.

The sword swallowed up his doubts, and he passed peacefully into the unhindered Presence of His Lord and Savior.

What is the Lord teaching you about His armor? Post your prayers below.

New York City–based Joyce Swingle is an intercessor and a contributing writer for IFA. With her husband, Rich, also a contributing writer for IFA, Joyce shares the gospel of Jesus Christ around the world through theater, speaking, writing, and film. Prior to going into full-time ministry, Joyce worked for about 20 major magazines and now works in pastoral ministry and Christian counseling. www.Richdrama.com. Photo Credit: jacqueline macou from Pixabay.