How to Put on the Full Armor of God Prayer

The whole armor of God is mentioned in the book of Ephesians 6:10-18.  Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand (Ephesians 6:10-13). The armor of God, written about by the Apostle Paul, was a letter to the Church in Ephesus to encourage believers to visualize what it’s like going to a battlefield. He gave us the following armors to be put on spiritually:

1. Belt of truth
2. Breastplate of righteousness
3. Sandals of peace
4. Shield of faith
5. Helmet of Salvation
6. Sword of the Spirit

Belt of Truth: Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth.

The belt of truth is tied around your waist where you will also put your sword, the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. You can say that it is the basic foundation of your Christian life that must always be tied around you, keeping you alert and prepared to use God’s Word as a weapon against the lies of the enemy.

Breastplate of righteousness: Ephesians 6:14, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

The breastplate of righteousness is close to your heart, protecting you from shame, guilt and condemnation directed towards your heart. Fortunately, the righteousness of Christ protects you against these attacks of the devil.

Sandals of peace

Ephesians 6:15, And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Sandals of peace cause you to move forward with God, armed with a mission to continuously bring the Gospel wherever you go.

Shield of faith

Ephesians 6:16, Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked;

The shield of faith protects you against the arrows of the enemy, such as fear, doubts and lies. Your faith in Christ will keep you firm against the enemy’s attacks.

Helmet of Salvation

Ephesians 6:17, And take the helmet of salvation; 

The helmet of salvation, placed on your head, protects your mind and guards it against the lies of the enemy. Your salvation in Christ begins with the awareness and knowledge of God’s amazing grace towards your life and others, allowing you to have a sound mind in love and power through Christ.

Sword of the Spirit

Ephesians 6:17, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

The Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, is placed on the belt of truth wrapped around your waist. It is important that you spend time reading, studying and meditating on God’s Word, because it is your weapon against the attacks of the enemy.

How do you pray to put on the full armor of God? You can pray in this manner:

In Jesus’ name, I put on the whole armor of God to prepare myself for the spiritual battle I may face today. I wrap around me the belt of truth, where I put the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God; the helmet of salvation, protecting my mind against the attacks of the enemy; the breastplate of Christ’s righteousness, defending me against condemnation and self-righteousness; the shield of faith, protecting me against the arrows of doubts, fears and worries; and sandals of peace, which keep me moving forward in Christ every day. Thank You, Father, for I am more than a conqueror, in Christ Jesus. Amen.

What does putting on the full armor of God mean?

Putting on the full armor of God means being prepared for spiritual battle, and placing full trust in the authority of God’s Word as you put your faith in God and in His Word. It is a prophetic gesture; by putting on the armor, you are stating that you are ready to face the challenges in the battlefield of life. We know that it is definitely tough being a believer of God, because the moment we said yes to Jesus, we become part of God’s spiritual warriors in the Kingdom Of Light. And Satan isn’t happy about it.

You were once in darkness, but now you have come into God’s kingdom of light (see Ephesians 5:8). The enemy will now fight against you too, to take you down and cause you to return to where you once belonged. However, with the help of the Holy Spirit and by the grace of God, you are more than a conqueror through Christ. There’s no need to fear, because you will overcome everything, just as Jesus overcame the world, as He promised.

We are constantly battling against unseen forces, in the dark places, and in the heavenly realms where ordinary and worldly people can’t perceive or understand. Oftentimes, the enemy uses such people to persecute us and attack our identity, as well as our faith in Christ. However, God’s full armor protects us from such attacks of the enemy. We are guarded from our head to the sole of our feet by heavenly armor, as stated in Ephesians 6:14-18.

How do we put on the full armor of God each day?

To put on the full armor of God daily, simply come to the Father and pray. You may also declare the Scripture and put on God’s armor piece by piece, as discussed earlier. It can also be fun to teach the armor of God to your children, if you have them. Teaching them about God’s full armor from Ephesians 6:14-18 helps them to visualize what it is like being a warrior of God. You can make prophetic gestures as you put on each piece of armor—the belt, the breastplate, sandals, helmet, shield, and sword.

Sometimes, the Holy Spirit leads you to only pray for a specific type of armor, depending on the circumstance. For instance, if you feel that your mind is being clouded with fear, worry and doubt about the future, you can put on the helmet of Salvation to protect your mind against ungodly thoughts. If you are experiencing spiritual attacks of condemnation, guilt and shame, you can put on the breastplate of righteousness and ask God to let it shine. In prayer, you can be creative as you use your mind to pray to God.

The best time of day to put on God’s armor is every morning when you wake up. When soldiers go to battle, it usually happens in the morning, and occasionally at night, when an ambush is planned. When soldiers go to sleep, they certainly don’t wear their armored garments in their bunk beds. They take them off and rest. It’s the same thing in our spiritual walk. You are not always in a season of battle. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. If you observe life, sometimes it’s smooth and going well, but sometimes it’s down and rocky; there are days where the attacks are heavy and floods come in suddenly to make you drown in the problems of life. These are the times where your battle is at its most ferocious and the armor of God must be worn.

However, I believe that a wise spiritual warrior must be ready at all times, and in all seasons. After all, our spiritual enemy does not take a break. There’s no season for the enemy to rest because he knows his time is almost up. 1 Peter 5:8 says, Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. The enemy is always seeking an opportunity to attack believers. So, if a day comes where your spirit is sleeping, it is an ideal time for the enemy to attack you. You must not let this happen, and you must remain alert at all times. Sometimes, when you wake up, the enemy can attack you through a family member who may be speaking negatively about you, or perhaps your spouse forgot to wake you up and you are late for work. 

Preparedness is an important characteristic of a true spiritual warrior. You must be prepared at all times, rejoicing and thanking God in all circumstances, for this is His will to you in Christ (see 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Keep an awareness of putting on the whole armor of God every day, whether you are asleep, awake, and even in your dreams. God is protecting you at all times, and no demon can surpass His power. Even in our stumbling and failing, God is able to manage all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).