I enjoy Ephesians' description of putting on God's armor. It's a very visual representation and most of us can imagine how a soldier looks when he is dressed for battle. However, I find it challenging to translate that into a practical daily translation. As women living in 2023, what does armor mean to us? The aim of this article is to give practical applications that we can use in our daily lives.

Be Aware of Lies, But Think on the Truth.

Make a list of all the lies you have believed regarding a particular issue and write them on a sheet of paper. Write the corresponding biblical truth in the next column. Meditate on this truth and practice fighting against the lies you encounter. To take it a step further, try memorizing the biblical truth you write down so that it is readily available to combat the lies when they come up. This process is like preparing for battle. Arm yourself with the truth so you are ready when the lies come up. Just as a soldier would train and prepare to face an enemy, you are training and preparing your mind to recognize and reject the lies you hear.

Check out these other practical exercises to help guard your heart, thoughts, and words.

Rehearse Your Victories.

Journaling is one of our most potent weapons. Although we don't think we'll forget all of God's faithfulness, we do. Write down past victories against sin and the enemy. Write down spiritual milestones. For example, if I feel discouraged or overwhelmed, I can look back on my journal entries to remind me of how God has been faithful to me in the past and that He will continue to be faithful in the future. Write down any scripture, vision, word, encounter, or anything else the Lord has used for your good. Use it as a reminder of your faith and God's power.

Here are some additional examples of how to use this form of spiritual armor.

How to Have Victory Over Your Thoughts.

How to SOAP Journal.

Call in the Troops!

There are few epic battles won by oneself. To win a war, you need comrades to defend, strengthen, and protect you. I call this having a lifting team. Be in constant fellowship with others to encourage each other. Establish close accountability relationships so you can fight with your friends. Wise counsel brings safety and power.

Read, Listen to, and Speak God’s Word.

In the same way that guns and weapons are regarded as the primary weapon in battle, we cannot disregard God’s Word as the most obvious weapon at our disposal. All the above applications apply to the sword of the Spirit. As we spend more time with God, the more we feel the Spirit living within us. The more we read, listen to, and speak scripture, the stronger we are and better prepared for battle. By tapping into the power of the Word of God, we can have the courage to stand up against the enemy and the strength to overcome any obstacle that comes our way. God's Word is powerful, and His promises will never pass away. It is the ultimate weapon that can help us to win the spiritual battle. For instance, when we feel like the enemy is pulling us down, we can draw strength by meditating on 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 which reads, "For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds." By meditating on this passage, we can gain strength to stand firm and resist the enemy's lies, knowing that God's promises are steadfast and unshakeable.

You can also use these scripture-based prayers to help get you started.