Ephesians 6:10-11 (NLT)

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.

We all face struggles in life, and it is so easy to get discouraged and feel overwhelmed. But the Bible reminds us that we have a source of strength to rely on when things get tough.

As Seventh-day Adventists, we believe in the power of prayer. We know that when we turn to God in times of need, He will provide us with strength to overcome whatever challenges we are facing. This verse in Ephesians encourages us to not only pray for God’s strength, but also to put on the “full armor of God”. This armor includes the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit.

The armor of God is a metaphor for the spiritual resources that God has given us to protect and defend ourselves against the attacks of the enemy. We know that the enemy will try to tempt us and to come against us, but when we put on the armor of God, we can stand firm in our faith and resist his schemes. The belt of truth reminds us to stay grounded in the truth of God’s word, the breastplate of righteousness protects our hearts from the influences of the world, and the shield of faith helps us protect ourselves from the enemy’s lies.

The helmet of salvation reminds us that we have been saved by grace and that our ultimate hope lies in Christ, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Bible, is a powerful weapon that can be used to combat lies and evil. When we put on the full armor of God, we can take a stand against the enemy’s schemes and remain strong in the Lord.

We can find strength in the Lord and rely on Him to help us overcome whatever struggles we may be facing. Let us remember to put on the full armor of God each day, so that we can take our stand against the devil’s schemes. May we always have faith in God’s strength and protection, and may He be our source of strength in times of need.