Ephesians 6:11-17 NASB95
Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. [12] For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. [13] Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. [14] Stand firm therefore, having GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING put ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, [15] and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE FIRM FOOTEDNESS OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; [16] in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. [17] And take the HELMET OF SALVATION and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
The armor of God is not some prayer formula that you pray over yourself every morning before facing the day. It is what it says it is, the very armor of God. This is supernatural armor. It is God’s armor, and God’s armor is Jesus, for according to Galatians 3:27, having been “baptized into Christ,” we “have clothed ourselves with Christ.” All the pieces of the armor are different aspects of who Jesus is to us because of our union with him. The words “put on” literally means “sink into.” If you want to pray a prayer every morning concerning the armor of God than it is okay to daily remind yourself to restfully sink into Christ, who is our life and all that he is to us as God’s armor.
Jesus is the belt of truth because he is the truth about us, and the truth about every situation that we find ourselves in. Jesus is our breastplate of righteousness because the righteousness of Christ (his holy nature) is our righteousness. The only way to live a life of righteousness is to live from his righteous holy life. Our fellowship and intimacy with the Father and Holy Spirit is on firm, secure footing because Jesus is our peace with God. Our shield of faith is the faith of Christ himself, for we live “by” the faith of Jesus in every circumstance and temptation. Jesus is our helmet of salvation because we have the mind of Christ from which to think and see all things and all people, and as the Word, his voice in us, leading us step-by-step, is the great sword of the Spirit. What Jesus has to say in us – to us – about all things is what slays the onslaught of the enemy that tries to get us to walk after the flesh. Christianity is a person, not a formula, and that person is the risen Christ in union with us.