Prayer Focus – Fasting Day 4: Do You Have Your Armor On?

It’s Day 4 of the 21-day season of fasting and prayer, for those of you who are participating in this special time leading up to Rosh Hashanah. I’ve sent out one encouraging word about this fasting season to my Presence Seekers University email subscribers, but today I wanted to share this prayer focus about the armor of God with everybody.

Here’s the question:

The last number of months have been a season of intense spiritual warfare in the Body of Christ.

I’ve felt it, and you’ve felt it; you’ve told me so. But: are we doing what it takes to win?

Specifically:

Do we have our armor on?

Ephesians 6:10-18 tells us what our victory strategy is. I love this strategy because it doesn’t involve staring at the devil; it involves staring at Jesus AND WINNING FROM THAT PLACE OF INTIMACY, which is key.

This passage says:

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

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. 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.

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:10-18).

The simple truth is that winning the battle doesn’t require us to rail against the devil. It requires us to submit to God, and the devil will flee from us.

When we’re lost in that place of intimacy with the Father–hidden under the shadow of His wings–no evil can befall us, nor can any plague come near our dwelling (Psalm 91).

I never used to understand that the armor of God was all about this intimacy with Father.

But then my friend John Jaques (who is an associate pastor at my church, and he and his wife are dear friends and kindred spirits of mine), wrote an ebook devotional guide about the armor of God. I edited it for him, and while reading it (to edit), I got such a revelation about the armor of God! (Divine setup, God. Yes, I get it.) 🙂

In this book, John talked about how each piece of the armor is part of our intimate walk with God, and how it’s connected to a specific body part for a reason.

You all know I’ve been going through a hard time recently, as many of you have as well. And while reading this truth about the armor of God, I was so comforted. (I’m actually crying while talking about it writing this post, LOL. I’m a weepy mess when it comes to the comfort and Presence and Help of God.) <3

For example, in the book, John talked about how God’s righteousness protects our heart from all the damage the world and the devil want to do to it. He’s so right, and I needed that, because my heart had taken a major beating over the last year. (I’m doing much better now, by the way; God’s Word is healing my heart more than I could ever describe.)

But beloved, we’ve got to put on our armor.

So this is our prayer focus for today: Put on the armor of God.

Here’s how:

• Pray through each piece of the armor of God, and ask the Lord for help with each piece.
• Meditate on what each piece means, and on why it’s attached to a particular body part.
• PUT ON YOUR ARMOR by verbally confessing, out loud, that you are putting on and walking in peace, righteousness, etc.

If you aren’t sure what each armor piece means, or why it’s attached to a particular body part–or even if you just need an encouraging word that will help you get AND STAY in that place of immunity under Father’s wings–go get my brother John’s ebook, called The Full Armor of God 7-Day Devotional: How to Dress for Success.

It’s a 10-page, instantly-downloadable e-book with 7 devotionals. It dedicates one day to each part of armor.

I can’t recommend his study on the armor enough; like I said, I edited it–but then I went and bought one myself after John made it available to purchase, just because it blessed me that much!

(And the link takes you to HIS Gumroad store, not mine. It’s not an affiliate link, and I’m not getting anything out of it for referring you to him. I just know his book will bless you.)

So beloved. Put on that armor. Peace, righteousness, the shield of faith with which we can quench ALL the fiery darts of the wicked one. Put it on, and walk in it today … and every day going forward.

I’ll send out additional, encouraging words throughout the fast via email, and sometimes via blog posts. Stay tuned. I pray you are pressing into intimacy with our Father like never before, and asking Him to do the miraculous in your life during this season.

Much love in Christ,

Jamie