Ephesians 6:13
It is most important therefore to acquaint yourself with every aspect of God’s armor. You are fully fit to powerfully defeat any onslaught or contradiction on any day of confrontation, triumphantly standing your ground. The days where the law of hardships, annoyances and labor dictated your life are over! (Mirror Bible)

Do you understand your weapons?

To make sure soldiers are confident in themselves and how to use their weapons, the military implemented the weapons immersion program. It is used to pair a soldier with his/her weapon. Soldiers eat, sleep and train with their weapons, reinforcing the importance of the weapon(s) as well as increasing the skill level with them. The soldiers learn to break them down and put them back together again with speed and precision. They understand which weapon is more effective than the other, depending on the situation.

You have to do the same with your weapons. Though you may not have realized it, your heavenly Father, with the help of the Holy Spirit, has you in a spiritual weapons immersion program. He uses the trials of life and the temptations the enemy brings. As you fight this spiritual warfare, if you are listening and obedient, They train you at a deeper level about your weapons. You learn which one to use, how to use them, when to use them, where to use them, etc. One way to look at the armor is to see it in four separate areas: body, mind, and spirit and the connector.

The body-pieces are the belt of truth and the shoes of peace. The body pieces help you fight against the enemy as you relate to others. You use them in accordance with the word as the Spirit leads you. The Holy Spirit prompts you to choose to use those weapons in your everyday life.

1 Corinthians 9:19, 22b For although I am free in every way from anyone’s control, I have made myself a bond servant to everyone, so that I might gain the more [for Christ]. I have [in short] become all things to all men, that I might by all means (at all costs and in any and every way) save some [by winning them to faith in Jesus Christ]. (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition AMPC)

The mind-pieces are breastplate of righteousness and the shield of faith. The mind-pieces help you fight against the enemy as you relate to yourself. The battlefield is in the mind. The Holy Spirit reminds us to cast down every thought and imagination that exalts itself against what the word of God says. It does not matter what things look like. It only matters what the Bible says.

2 Corinthians 10:5 [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition AMPC)

The spirit-pieces are the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit which is the word of God. The spirit-pieces help you fight against the enemy as you relate to God. It does not matter if you choose them or not, or if you believe them or not, they are still available and true. Salvation is available, not because of anything you did or will do, it is available because of who God is and what Jesus did on the cross (Ephesians 2:8). God is His word (John 1:1). It does not change; the word is the same yesterday, today and forevermore (Isaiah 40:8). It does not fail because He does not fail (Matthew 24:35). It is always true (Psalm 119:142).

1 John 2:3-6  And this is how we know [daily, by experience] that we have come to know Him [to understand Him and be more deeply acquainted with Him]: if we habitually keep [focused on His precepts and obey] His commandments (teachings). 4 Whoever says, “I have come to know Him,” but does not habitually keep [focused on His precepts and obey] His commandments (teachings), is a liar, and the truth [of the divine word] is not in him. 5 But whoever habitually keeps His word and obeys His precepts [and treasures His message in its entirety], in him the love of God has truly been perfected [it is completed and has reached maturity]. By this we know [for certain] that we are in Him: 6 whoever says he lives in Christ [that is, whoever says he has accepted Him as God and Savior] ought [as a moral obligation] to walk and conduct himself just as He walked and conducted Himself. (Amplified Bible AMP)

The connection piece is praying in the Spirit. There are those who say praying in the Spirit is part of your weaponry. There are also those who say praying in the Spirit is not a part of your weaponry. I believe it is and it is the connector that makes the armor work. When you put on each part of the armor, you remain connected to God through prayer. You can prepare to fight every battle that comes your way. However, the victory comes because you fight in faith. You build your faith by praying in the Spirit (Jude 1:20). In addition, through prayer, you understand what it means to fight in a way that is honorable to God.

Philippians 4:6-7 Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, 7 then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ. (The Passion Translation TPT)

You will be in the spiritual weapons immersion program until Jesus returns. However, until then, you are always fully dressed in your armor, and ready to do battle at any time.

Please agree with me as I pray:

Father, I repent for all the times I used my weapons incorrectly. I know I often did more damage than good. I am sorry. Thank You for giving me a revelation about my weapons and requiring me to understand them. Thank You for prompting me and urging me, by the Holy Spirit, to learn to use them more effectively. Thank You for creating a spiritual weapons immersion program, uniquely and specifically designed for me. You are teaching me which weapon You designed and suited for every task. When the enemy comes, I want to choose the most effective weapon to do battle against him. I want to use the right weapon, at the right time for me, for one of my brothers and sisters in Christ, and for someone who has yet to come to You. Keep me in a spiritual immersion program where I have put on my armor, and I will not take it off again and I will increase my effectiveness for the kingdom…

Ask the Lord what He wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal His response as described here.