The Full Armor of God: the defenses and weapons that believers need to fight the spiritual battles

Spiritual warfare is a very real reality for Christians. Though Satan’s power has been defeated and his future is doomed (Revelation 20:7-15), he lives in the present. He still schemes (2 Corinthians 2:11). He still stalks (1 Peter 5:8). He still deceives (Revelation 12:9). He still ensnares (2 Timothy 2:26). He still hinders (1 Thessalonians 2:18). He still tempts (Ephesians 6:16). The thought of spiritual warfare scares many believers; however, the focus of spiritual warfare isn’t Satan, it’s Jesus and each piece of the armor comes from our Savior. As Jesus gave his apostles the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), He didn’t send them out alone. We aren’t alone either as God equips us (Ephesians 4:7-16), He empowers (1 Corinthians 12:11) and He accompanies (Matthew 28:20) as we engage in the spiritual warfare battles. Ephesians 6:10-12 instructs believers to be strong in the Lord and to put on the full armor of God in order to stand firm against the devil’s schemes. What is the full armor of God?

The first two pieces of the armor are the belt of truth and breastplate of righteousness. The belt of belt is a defensive piece as Satan fights with lies. Lies so go that it sounds like the truth. By focusing on God’s truth in his Word, we can defeat Satan’s lies. When we have genuine faith in the truth of God’s word we can recognize Satan’s lies that would otherwise defeat us. As believers, we need to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). We need not to cover sins but confess them. We need not to slander but speak with honest words. The breastplate of righteousness is to protect our hearts. Satan will attack our hearts as the seat of our emotions, our self-worth and trust. However, in Christ, we have a new identity as a new creation with the old gone and the new has come in its place (2 Corinthians 5:17). We can stand confidently in Christ’s righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21) rather than adopt worldly identities (Kell, 2021). The world would point out my every flaw and tell me how I am unworthy. However, I know that by Christ’s sacrifice, by his resurrection and by my faith, God reminds me that I am His child (1 John 3:1). 

                                          

The next two pieces of the armor are the footgear of readiness and the shield of faith. The footgear of readiness is for us to be prepared to spread the Good News. Being ready in the word and protecting our feet as we go out in the world, we can protect ourselves against compromise as Satan wants us to believe that telling others the Good News is worthless and hopeless; however, the footgear of God gives us the motivation to continue to proclaim the true peace that is available in God. This is where I struggle in my personal life. I fear saying the wrong thing or being unable to proficiently tell others about the Good News and counter the skepticism. The shield of faith protects from Satan’s attacks in the form of insults, setbacks and temptations. The shield protects and reminds us that with God’s perspective, we can see beyond our circumstances and the ultimate victory is ours. 1 Peter 4:12-14 says “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though suffering strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the suffering of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed for the Spirit of Glory and of God rests on you.” 

The final two pieces of the armor are the helmet of salvation and sword of the Spirit. The helmet of salvation is protection of our minds. Satan wants us to doubt God, to doubt Jesus and doubt our salvation. We are to protect our minds with the peace of God (Philippians 4:7). The peace of God is not the power of positive thinking. It is not that everything in a believer’s life will be peaceful. The peace of God is that despite the struggles, despite the pain, despite the conflict, we can know that God is in control (Proverbs 19:21, Colossians 1:17) and he will not leave us behind (Hebrews 13:5). The sword of the Spirit is the only piece of the armor that is an offensive weapon. The sword is the Word of God for when we need to be on the offensive. Hebrews 4:12 says “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword” The pieces of the armor may sound an odd metaphor for us in this modern age. However, the armor metaphor would have been very familiar to the original audience among the early Christians (Winger, 2023). The illustration of the full armor reminds believers of Isaiah’s warrior King: the belt of truth (Isaiah 11:1-5), shoes to pronounce the gospel (Isaiah 52:1-10), breastplate and helmet (Isaiah 59:17), and sword (Isaiah 49:1-6). 

This armor is still important to us today as believers. Every part of the armor is easy to remember to put on except the footgear and sometimes I forget to pick up my sword. As I mentioned before, I struggled with sharing the gospel for fear of saying the wrong and pushing someone further away from God. Sometimes it is more than fear, we get busy and forget our armor, letting our guard down. However, when we falter, we can cry out to God and he will not allow us to be taken from Him (John 10:28), he will restore our souls (Psalm 23:1-3) and in Jesus, we are strengthened to go back into battle (Romans 16:20) (Kell, 2021). Calling out to God when we are weak reminds me of the Twila Paris song The Warrior is a Child (1984). It is a favorite song of mine to remind myself that despite my showing outward strength, I still need the comforting calm of my Lord and Savior. It is a song that never fails to bring me to tears as I am comforted in the knowledge that I do not go through this life alone. I know the Lord of all Creation is beside me, encouraging me, guiding me and even smiling down on me. Every day, my heart prays that I am doing a good job in His name as a wife, a mother, a believer in a world that continues to push him aside. 

In conclusion, the full armor of God are the tools every believer uses to fight in the spiritual battles that we can face every day. The majority of the pieces are for defense to protect our minds and our hearts. To shield us from the enemy’s attacks. Our offensive weapon is the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. Even when the world rejects the authority of the Word of God, God reminds us in Jeremiah 8:9, “The wise will put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped. Since they have rejected the word of the Lord, what kind of wisdom do they have?” And when people reject us as believers, and this is something I need to remind myself quite often, we need to remember that they are not rejecting us but God. 1 Thessalonians 4:8 says “Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.” So believers, arm yourself with the Word of God and put on the full armor and prepare for battle.

References

Kell, Garrett (January 18, 2021). Tempted and Unarmed Why We Need the Armor of God. Desiring God. https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/tempted-and-unarmed. Retrieved July 2, 2026. 

Winger, Mike (February 7, 2023). Explaining EACH Piece of the Armor of God. YouTube. https://youtu.be/Wvcwe-wqN6M?si=qK3uV9gGqPNUt3Lu. Retrieved July 2, 2026. 

When Mikan Road Was Ours: one man's journey into his family's past and reshaping his future

When Mikan Road Was Ours by D.K. Furutani is a story of four generations of a Japanese American family as they experienced the California agricultural fields, the bittersweet of inheritance and what it means to belong. Mr. Murano is a reclusive high school English teacher who is just exiting through life. Still reeling from his father’s sudden death and his own cancer diagnosis, he goes to work, comes home, grades papers and tries to appease disgruntled parents. However, his routine is broken when he inherits his great-uncle’s unpublished memoir. He is transported to 1930s California as the Murano family works their farm. Mr. Murano discovers family members he never knew and the complexities of the past in the words of someone who lived it. From the California farms to the concentration camps of World War II and beyond, Mr. Murano discovers the truth of his ancestors and even himself. 

When Mikan Road Was Ours is the debut novel of D.K. Furutani and it was engaging. It is rare to find a new historical fiction which featured the Japanese-American experience in America. It is beautifully written; however, I struggled with this story as it is an uncomfortable and extremely sad time period in American history. However, it is a story of resilience. It is a story of strength. It is a story of a man who finally finds the connection to his Japanese heritage that he has been desperate for and lacked in his life. The story is separated by Mr Murano’s present life as he reads the memoir and the memoir himself. And readers do not learn Mr Murano’s first name. He is only acknowledged as Murano or Mr Murano the entire story. Overall, it is a hard story to read but very important. I recommend When Mikan Road Was Ours. 

When Mikan Road Was Ours is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

Edgewood: the first book in a young adult sci fi action adventure series

Edgewood is the first book in the Edgewood series by Karen McQuestion. Russ Becker has found the late night walks along the quiet streets of his small town as an escape. One night it all changed as he witnessed a strange astronomical event in the sky. He soon discovers that he has gained extraordinary powers and he wasn’t the only one. He soon meets Mallory, a young girl with the power to control minds. Jameson can move objects with his thoughts and Nadia has developed empathic abilities. He learns that they have more in common than just their new abilities. As they are learning about their new abilities, they also learn there is a ruthless organization that wants to exploit their powers. As the enemy closes in and threatens Russ’s family, Russ and his new friends join forces and fight back. 

I am more familiar with Karen McQuestion’s contemporary fiction book and she is one of my go-to authors. The Edgewood series has always been on my radar to read. Edgewood is the first book in an action-packed sci-fi young adult novel. It does start off a bit slow, as most sci-fi stories do in my opinion, however, the story picks up and I was on the edge of my seat. I was Intrigued with Russ as a young man who suffers from insomnia. A series of strange events leads him to a small group of other extraordinary teenagers. As the story reveals hidden agendas and secret organizations, I had a few questions and suspicions that the story does not answer. However, overall, I enjoyed this story and I look forward to reading the rest of the series. I highly recommend Edgewood. 

Edgewood is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Glimmers of You: a brother's best friend, friends to enemies to lovers romantic suspense

Glimmers of You is the third book in the Lost and Found series by Catherine Cowles. Caden Shaw wasn’t just her brother’s best friend, he was the one Grae needed him the most. That is until he disappeared from their small town. Now he is back with his cocky smirk, with his infuriating nicknames and more handsome than ever before. When a man she causally dated won’t take no for an answer, she desperately involves Caden, pretending that he is her new boyfriend. Caden then suggests they fake being madly in love in order to also get Caden’s scheming father to get off his back. One problem: it is very hard to pretend. She has been in love with him for years, even when she hated him for leaving. There’s no denying the sparks between them. Someone is watching. Someone is not happy that Caden and Grae’s new relationship and will do anything to keep them apart. 

Glimmers of You is a brother’s best friend, friends to enemies to lovers romance. Grae is the only sister in a house of brothers and she grew up being able to defend herself against all antagonists. However, that all changed when she had a medical emergency that changed their dynamic much to Grae’s horror. I loved Grae’s determination to be seen as everything but her illness. I enjoyed seeing more into Caden’s family dynamic as well as the reasons why he left their town in the first place. Their romance was sweet, filled with fun banter and steamy love scenes. The suspense kept me guessing to the very end and the perpetrator was a surprise even though I guessed him before the final reveal but it still surprised me. I enjoyed Grae and Caden’s story and I am looking forward to the last two stories in this series. I highly recommend Glimmers of You. 

Glimmers of You is available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audiobook

Destination Funeral: four friends reunite for a funeral in a story of grief, healing and forgiveness

Destination Funeral by Paige Harbison is a story of grief, healing and forgiveness. The complicated and yet magnetic matriarch, Babe dies, four estranged friends gather together at her Mercy Island estate for the reading of her will. Didion, Babe’s oldest daughter, arrives to find Sammie, her youngest sister, and Matt, her ex best friend already there. Soon, Austin, the final attendee and her ex boyfriend arrives. The atmosphere is filled with the tensions and awkwardness that Didion expected. They were expected to stay the weekend and Didion braces herself for an ugly weekend. However, they find themselves experiencing Saturday over and over and over again. Trapped in a time loop with seemingly no end and no instructions how to stop it, the four adults are forced to confront their past of betrayals, breakups, and buried truths. How can one endless weekend be exactly what they need to save their futures? 

Destination Funeral is described as a “laugh-out-loud funny and equally heartbreaking novel” with The Big Chill (1983) and Groundhog Day (1993) vibes. However, I struggled with this story. I did not laugh out loud once and I didn’t find it heartbreaking at all. I disliked the characters, especially Babe. She is supposed to be a complex woman but is really a miserable woman who favors her youngest child and was in and out of her daughters’ lives as it suited her. The parentification of teenage Didion hit hard and gives her a bit of sympathy for her hardness and cold demeanor. Overall, I did not enjoy this story. I read Ms. Harbison's previous book and I did not enjoy it either. Her writing style is just not for me. However, if you enjoy Ms. Harbison's previous books, you may enjoy Destination Funeral. Unfortunately, I do not recommend Destination Funeral. 

Destination Funeral is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

Unexpectedly in Love: a fake dating romance

Unexpectedly in Love is the first book in the Sherbrookes series by Christina Tetreault. Victoria “Tory” Sherbrooke has a problem. She is the maid of honor in her friend Ivy's upcoming wedding. Unfortunately, her ex-boyfriend is the groom’s best man. No one, including her ex, will accept that their relationship is truly over. In order to get everyone off her case, she decides to show up to the wedding with a boyfriend. Her family’s charity bachelor auction would be the perfect place to find a fake boyfriend. Duncan Ferguson had lost a bet and now he is a part of the auction. He planned to fulfill his obligation and walk away. However, when he hears Tory’s plan, he can’t help but agree. Falling in love was never a part of the plan. As they spend time together, the more and more their fake relationship feels very, very real. 

The fake dating trope is one I usually enjoy; however, I just wasn’t feeling this one. I didn’t like Tory from the get go. I found her shallow and immature. At one point, she accuses Duncan of using her for a connection when she is using him to fool her ex boyfriend and others. I rolled my eyes at that. As the first book in the series, I understand establishing characters and building the world. Unfortunately, there were way too many connections and relationships introduced in the confusing way. In the first chapter alone, there were dozens of names and connections mentioned instead of introducing them as they appear in the story. It really slowed the story down from the beginning. From there, the story felt chopping and disconnected. Overall, I did not enjoy this story and I will not be continuing the series. I do not recommend Unexpectedly in Love. 

Unexpectedly in Love is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Echoes of You: a best friend to lovers with fun banter and intense suspense

Echoes of You is the second book in the Lost and Found series by Catherine Cowles. Nash Hartley has always been everything to Maddie Byrne. Best friends, Protector. Partner in Crime. And the one person who was there in her darkest hour. However, she always wanted more, being unsure if Nash wanted the same, she never acted on her feelings. She left town and moved on, a choice that haunted her. Now, she has moved back to their small town, hoping that she has left her nightmares behind and seeing the only person who made her feel safe. As she tells Nash about the events which led to her return and he promised to do everything to keep her safe. However, her worst nightmare arrives in town, a man who will do everything he is power to keep Maddie or make sure no one else would. 

Echoes of You is a best friend romance with fun banter as well as intense suspense. Maddie is a strong woman who was determined to avoid being a victim again, not realizing that she fell into the very situation she vowed never to be in. In shame, she hid the truth. My heart broke for Maddie as she recounts her experiences and learns to trust Nash and others with her deepest secret. I loved how the Hartleys rallied around her. While readers know the villain who would cause trouble and the wait to see how he would pounce and act was intense. There was another villain lurking in the shadows that surprised me. Overall, this story kept me glued to the pages and I could not put it down. I am looking forward to the rest of this series. I highly recommend Echoes of You. 

Echoes of You is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook