Can the Armor of God Help You Reach Your Health Goals?

If you have been reading my blogs, you are familiar with how the Ten Essentials for Health™ work together synergically to bring us the health God designed us to enjoy! I was recently praying for my clients, praying the Armor of Christ (Ephesians 6:10-20) over each one, and I realized the Ten Essentials for Health™ are in the armor. Join me as I share my aha moment!

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the LORD, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Ephesians 6:10-11*. When one stands up in the Bible, they are victorious (see Leviticus 26:37; Joshua 1:5; Daniel 2:44; 8:22), therefore, God promises us victory in every particular as we cooperate with Him and put on His armor.

God makes it clear who we are fighting against – the wiles (trickery, lying in wait) of the devil. When we cooperate with God the devil has no power over us; we will not fall for his traps, trickery, deceptions, perverse appetites or lusts. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (v. 12). We may think we are fighting against ourselves, family members, friends or co-workers, but we are not. We are fighting against “the wiles of the devil”, and that fight begins with our thoughts and thinking patterns followed by decisions and actions.

The purpose of the armor is to protect us. Therefore, we need to put on the whole armor of God that we “may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (v. 13), through the Strength and Power of Christ (Ephesians 1:19-23; 2:13).

“Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth…” (Eph. 6:14). If we are girted with Truth (John 17:17), we are empowered to cast down all temptations of the enemy and strengthened to accept the good gifts of Christ. With Truth, we will exhibit the fruits of His Spirit, and our lusts and our affections will be crucified (Galatians 5:22-25).

“…And having on the breastplate of righteousness.” (Eph. 6:14) The Old Testament high

priest wore a breastplate containing twelve stones representing the tribes of Israel. He was God’s representative for righteous judgment. Righteousness, Truth and Temperance work together (Isaiah 11:5) to give a correct judgment (Isaiah 59:17-20). Here we find our rest, our solace, that God will Judge us not as we deserve, but through Christ and His Righteousness. He is called the Sun of Righteousness with healing in His wings (Malachi 4:2). Christ’s righteousness imputed unto us instills in us an attitude of gratitude to express the great things God has done for us (1 Peter 2:9); how we have found peace (Isaian 26:3) and rest (Matthew 11:28-29; Hebrews 4:3). Therefore, our feet are “shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace” (Eph. 6:15), honoring and living peacefully with all men with a sweet atmosphere surrounding us, running the race set before us, going from victory to victory!

“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked” (v. 16). Faith is being so settled in the Truth of God that we cannot be moved no matter what fiery darts the enemy throws at us, even if it costs us our life (Daniel 3, 6; Revelation 12:10-11). We can Trust Jesus, our only Source for everything we have and need! If our job, our church, our pastor, our family, are our source of satisfaction in this life, we will be sorely disappointed. But if God is our Source from which all blessings flow, then our job is simply an assignment of God until it is no longer His assignment for us, and likewise with everything else. God is either our all in all or He is not. And we get to choose that reality with every thought and action. Notice, through Trust in God’s Power and Authority we will quench the fiery darts of the enemy. Jesus is the Water of Life (John 7:37-38; Revelation 22:1-2), and water puts out fire. May we stay hydrated with the Fountain of Christ (Isaiah 55:1; Revelation 14:7) to drown the devil.

What do you think “Take the Helmet of Salvation” (Eph. 6:17) means? We need our minds to be fortified with the Mind of Christ (Philippians 2:3-11) that His thoughts and thinking, His righteousness, judgment, temperance and truth will reign supreme in us. If we have the mind of Christ, all our words and actions will mirror His words and actions. AWESOME!

We also need, “the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” (Eph. 6:17). How can a young man keep his way pure? “By taking heed thereto according to Thy Word. With my whole heart have I sought Thee: O let me not wander from Thy Commandments. Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin

against thee.” Psalm 119:9-11. In the Armor of God, we have ample protection, but the only

weapon is the Sword; The Word hid in our hearts; Jesus is The WORD (John 1:1-5). Jesus answered all the temptations of the enemy with “It is written…” (see Matthew 4). Christ, the WORD, in us, is our Hope (Colossians 1:26); our All in All.

A few other weapons are found in Ephesians 6:18: “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Eph. 6:18).

Please know, dear Reader, I am praying for you.

Concluding Thoughts:

The Armor of God covers us from head to toe with Christ’s Helmet of Salvation (the “Mind of Christ”), His Sword of the Spirit (His Word hid in our heart) helping us to eat only “my necessary food.” (Job 23:10-12). The Shield of Faith quenches all the fiery darts of intemperate temptations of the devil. Girted with God’s Belt of Truth, empowers us to live a temperate life, enabling us to reflect Him more fully to others. With God, appetite and all other sins can be overcome! God has given you power and freewill to prosper within the temperate lifestyle He has designed. The enemy’s goal is to steal you and me from God through lack of faith and trust leading to intemperance and ultimately to our destruction, But Jesus has come to give us life and health more abundantly (John 10:10). Our shoes will testify to whom we choose to listen to (1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Philippians 3:13-14) and will determine the level of joy, peace, and rest we will experience.

Who will you listen to today?

Prayerfully yours,

Dana West, RD, LD, ACLMDIP

*all verses are taken from the King James Version Bible