The Full Armor of God (Expanded Version).
Ephesians 6
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, …
Lord, thank you for the truth of Your word and Your promises, which girds me up in the core of my body and holds my armor together.
… with the breastplate of righteousness in place, …
Lord, thank you for your righteousness that has replaced my sinfulness. Thank you for the protection it offers my heart. Thank you for the blood you spilled and your life that you gave so that I could be held blameless before the Father.
15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
Lord, thank you for the gospel, which is a light unto my path and a lamp unto my feet. Thank you for the path it makes for me, and the protection it affords me as I learn to walk in your ways.
16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Lord, I believe in your word. I believe in your promises. Thank you for the seed of faith in my heart that first led me to the gospel, and that now deflects and destroys the attacks of the enemy. I believe that You have overcome the world. I believe in the things of the spirit, that are not seen in this world. My faith is the evidence of those things and it deflects any doubt of victory.
17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Lord, thank you for the helmet of hope and salvation, which protects my mind and thoughts from the evil one. I bind every thought, motive, idea, and feeling to you, the one true God, to Jesus who sits on the right and of God. Lord, fill me up with hope and the knowledge of the power of salvation. Thank you for the word of God that cuts through all the deceitfulness and doubt that the enemy tries to throw against me. Thank you for the truth it wields. Teach me how to use the word of God to thwart the enemy. Increase my capacity to memorize scripture. Lord, grow the desire already in me to bask and soak in your word daily.
18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Lord, I thank you that you are the one who holds all things together, who makes all things to work together in unity and one accord. I pray for the saints, that we will always be fully clothed in the armor of God, that we will walk in your love always, that we will be so filled up with the gospel of peace, and your love, that we will be able to minister with ease, and the enemy will not stand a chance.
You have already overcome, we already have victory in Christ, because we have crucified the flesh and have been baptized into your death and resurrection. I pray that we will be able to cast off everything that hinders us so that each of us will be able to run the race laid out before us. Thank you Lord for the tools you have provided for us to run the race in such a way as to get the prize.
Lord I pray that your people will rise up in unity, and will stand on the firm foundation of your gospel. I pray that love will be the tie that binds us together, not as the world loves, but show us how to love each other with your love Lord, the same love that brought you to the cross. Lord, let us be willing to lay down our lives for one another, but not only our lives - also our emotions, motives, plans, and ideas.
Lord, teach us community, teach us true service to our brothers and sisters, and in that let the unbelievers be enticed to come into your kingdom. Let them see the mystery in us that brings about joy, peace, and love. Let them be wooed to your love, Lord. Let them urgently hunger for and realize the need for you, Lord.
All praise, honor and glory to your name O God, who is closer than skin, Lily of the Valley, bright morning star, and mighty to save. Amen.