Do you ever feel trapped in an endless cycle of guilt and shame? If so, I have good news for you—freedom is possible in Christ, and He’s given us everything we need for victory! Join me on this eight-day journey taken directly from my book, Simple Prayer, as we discover how to daily walk in the armor of God and be ready to win the battle against temptation!
Steve Robinson
Day 1
Scripture: Matthew 6:13
Deliver Us…
A Vietnam War veteran once shared a story with me. He described the terror of walking through open fields between dense stretches of jungle. Landmines were hidden everywhere, yet he and his fellow soldiers had to keep walking. Though this happened decades ago halfway across the world, there are spiritual minefields we walk through every day. Thankfully, we have a spiritual GPS inside of us pointing out these spiritual landmines.
They are areas of temptation and destructive sin waiting to explode in and around our lives. However, Jesus shows us in the Lord’s Prayer that we have a God who leads and delivers us from these dangers.
In Matthew 6:13, Jesus prayed, “And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” We’ve all heard about temptation, but it’s easy to overlook the second part of Christ’s statement: There is an evil one to be delivered from. We are in a real spiritual battle against an enemy named Satan. In John 10:10a, Jesus explained his evil intentions like this: “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.”
That sounds like a fight to me! However, check out what Jesus said about His role in our lives in the next sentence, John 10:10b: “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
Satan brings death. Jesus brings life.
No matter the landmines of temptation, the Holy Spirit will help us navigate tumultuous pathways to a godly, abundant life. The Apostle Paul also knew this, saying in 2 Timothy 4:18, “And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work andpreserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!”
Tomorrow, we’ll explore more of what Paul teaches about temptation so we can begin living the overcoming life God has called us to!
As you engage with God’s Word:
● What is God saying to me?
● What does it mean to me?
● How can I apply what God is teaching me?
● How can I be specific in prayer today?
After you reflect on these questions, bring everything to God in prayer.
Day 2
Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-13
Weapons and Armor
One of my favorite passages in Scripture when it comes to our battle against temptation is found in 1 Corinthians 10:13:
“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”
In other words, the Apostle Paul tells us God doesn’t allow Satan to heap on more temptation than He has equipped us to escape. You may have heard of the “whole armor of God” Paul writes of in Ephesians 6:10–20. He says it’s there to help us stand against Satan’s schemes because our real fight is spiritual. God equips us with spiritual weapons and armor to defeat temptation. Our job is to put the armor on every single day through prayer. Five defensive pieces of armor and one offensive weapon are available to you.
Paul was well-acquainted with the armor of a Roman soldier. When he wrote the letter to the Ephesian church, he was imprisoned in Rome. From being around many Roman soldiers, he had firsthand knowledge of what their armor looked like. Let’s look at these armor pieces over the coming days and discover how to apply them in our daily prayer lives—because we need them.
As you engage with God’s Word:
● What is God saying to me?
● What does it mean to me?
● How can I apply what God is teaching me?
● How can I be specific in prayer today?
After you reflect on these questions, bring everything to God in prayer.
Day 3
Scripture: Ephesians 6:14
The Belt of Truth
Ephesians 6:14 reads, “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth.” Below our ribs and above our spiritual hip bones sits a belt of truth. This part of the body is regarded as the seat of physical strength and generative power. The digestive system and reproductive organs are contained here.
A belt holds armor together, keeping it from sliding off, and Paul calls this belt truth. The truth of God’s Word holds everything together in our lives. Jesus called God’s Word truth in John 17:17.
The Bible is true and vital to our daily battle with temptation. As we pray, we can ask, “God, give me faith to live by the truth of Your Word rather than the enemy’s lies.” After all, it was a lie that enticed Adam and Eve to sin in the garden. It was Satan questioning the truth of God’s words. He said to Eve in Genesis 3:1, “Did God really say?”
The belt of truth defends our minds from the lies of the enemy and holds us together! This is why it’s so important to spend time in God’s Word daily—saturating your mind and heart in His truth.
As you engage with God’s Word:
● What is God saying to me?
● What does it mean to me?
● How can I apply what God is teaching me?
● How can I be specific in prayer today?
After you reflect on these questions, bring everything to God in prayer.
Day 4
Scripture: Ephesians 6:14
The Breastplate of Righteousness
In Ephesians 6:14, we learn about the next piece, the “breastplate of righteousness.” The breastplate was a piece of armor worn over the chest. Organs vital to life itself were protected by the breastplate—especially our hearts. Our hearts are the deepest part of who we are.
Righteousness means a place of right standing with God, making our relationship whole. On the cross, Jesus exchanged His perfect righteousness for our sin, paying the price for eternal life (2 Corinthians 5:21). This means we can live daily, not in our righteousness, but in the righteousness of Christ, which gives us the power to overcome Satan and sin.
Satan will try to strike at our hearts and condemn us, weakening our prayer lives. But we must allow the righteousness of Christ to protect and guard our hearts. Because, as Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.”
This is exactly what the breastplate of righteousness does.
As you engage with God’s Word:
● What is God saying to me?
● What does it mean to me?
● How can I apply what God is teaching me?
● How can I be specific in prayer today?
After you reflect on these questions, bring everything to God in prayer.
Day 5
Scripture: Ephesians 6:15
The Shoes of Peace
The next piece of armor is found in Ephesians 6:15: and having shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace. In hand-to-hand combat, the ability to stand, sidestep, walk, run, and move freely is essential. Notice that Paul says in Ephesians 6:15 to have your feet equipped with preparation, which means readiness.
Like a fighter in the ring with agile feet, the Holy Spirit equips us to share the Gospel of peace with the people we meet. When the opportunity comes, preparation makes us ready to invite others into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
The enemy wants to keep us timid, clumsy, and tripping all over ourselves with temptation. However, these gospel-ready shoes make us quick and able to do the good works God has planned for us (Ephesians 2:10). These spiritual shoes also enable us to live in peace rather than fear. No matter the circumstances of life that threaten to knock us into anxiety, stress, and worry, we have the power to walk in peace.
In Philippians 4:6–7, the Apostle Paul shares how: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
As disciples, we can be ready to share the Gospel of peace because we can walk in God’s supernatural peace every day.
As you engage with God’s Word:
● What is God saying to me?
● What does it mean to me?
● How can I apply what God is teaching me?
● How can I be specific in prayer today?
After you reflect on these questions, bring everything to God in prayer.
Day 6
Scripture: Ephesians 6:16
The Shield of Faith
When there is a fight, everyone needs a shield. In Ephesians 6:16, we are told, “Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” The shield is a piece of armor carried on the arm or in hand to block attacks and protect the entire body in battle. We need this because the enemy is shooting a constant barrage of fiery darts filled with accusations, temptations, and lies.
Our faith and trust in God to fulfill His promises are a shield that is strong enough to thwart the darts and lies of the enemy. God strengthens our faith by showing us time and again that we can stand resolute on His character and promises. As Proverbs 30:5 says, “Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.”
My friends, hold your shield high and tight in prayer!
As you engage with God’s Word:
● What is God saying to me?
● What does it mean to me?
● How can I apply what God is teaching me?
● How can I be specific in prayer today?
After you reflect on these questions, bring everything to God in prayer.
Day 7
Scripture: Ephesians 6:17
The Helmet of Salvation
There are few things more dangerous than a head injury. That’s why Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:17 to take the helmet of salvation. If one of Satan’s main tactics is lying, he will certainly go for the headshot and try to make us doubt our salvation. Our salvation is our ultimate security, the eternal promise we will live with God forever.
Have you ever struggled with the security of your salvation? Ever worried you’ve not done enough to keep God’s favor or love? I have wonderful news. As disciples, our confidence is not in our ability to perform perfectly—it is in the finished work of Jesus on the cross. Hebrews 10:10 gives us this assurance because Jesus’s body was offered on the cross as a sacrifice once and for all. The blood of Jesus saves us. As you put on this powerful helmet, ask the Holy Spirit to move your faith from yourself to Christ, where it belongs.
I love how David says in Psalm 140:7, “O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, You have covered my head in the day of battle.” Our salvation is secure, so put on your helmet with confidence.
As you engage with God’s Word:
● What is God saying to me?
● What does it mean to me?
● How can I apply what God is teaching me?
● How can I be specific in prayer today?
After you reflect on these questions, bring everything to God in prayer.
Day 8
Scripture: Ephesians 6:17
The Sword of the Spirit
Up to this point, each piece of spiritual equipment has been defensive armor. However, the last piece gives us an offensive weapon the enemy can’t defend against. Ephesians 6:17 tells us we wield the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. We’ve all seen swords—long, sharp, and sleek. They’re used to stab, thrust, and swipe at an enemy. Interestingly, the sword is also a symbol of power and authority. Our sword—our power and authority—is God’s Word… spoken out of our mouths.
Satan came against Jesus with three temptations. Each time, do you know how Jesus responded? By declaring God’s Word. His words sliced through Satan’s attacks, combating the lies and offers Satan made.
I have a friend who once took his young son camping. The boy had great fun until nighttime came. The branches rustling in the wind and sticks cracking in the forest scared him. Then he remembered a Sunday school lesson about the power of Scripture. Quietly, the boy slipped his Bible out of his backpack and laid it on his chest, hoping peace would permeate his skin from the book. While that’s a good gesture, that’s not how we get the Bible in our hearts! Instead, it’s through declaring the truth of Scripture from our hearts through our mouths. We wield the Sword of the Spirit by speaking it in faith just like Jesus did. This is why Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
We can wield God’s Word against deceit, lust, pride, and every other sinful landmine in our path. As David said in Psalm 149:6, Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand.
Jesus’s go-to weapon of spiritual warfare was God’s Word. It only makes sense we fight the same way He did. Speak the Word!
As you engage with God’s Word:
● What is God saying to me?
● What does it mean to me?
● How can I apply what God is teaching me?
● How can I be specific in prayer today?