“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” — Ephesians 6:11 (ESV)

Paul says to put on the whole armor of God. The idea here is not that we try it on once in a while, or pick and choose the parts we like. The Greek language Paul uses suggests this is something you keep on. Always. The armor of God isn’t just something you use when life gets hard—it’s part of your everyday Christian life.

This armor is who you are in Christ. As we’ll see in the coming verses, each piece of the armor symbolizes something vital—truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God. These are not accessories. They’re essentials. The Christian life isn’t a casual walk—it’s a battle. But it’s a battle we thrive in, because of who God is and how He’s equipped us.

Paul uses the word “schemes” to describe the devil’s work. The Greek word here refers to methods or strategies. Satan isn’t random or sloppy. He plans. He studies. He watches. He sets traps. He has methods he’s been using since Genesis 3 when he first tempted Adam and Eve. And again, we see those same tactics on display in Matthew 4 when he tried to tempt Jesus. He twists God’s Word. He offers false promises. He appeals to pride and desire. He deceives.

One of Satan’s main strategies is to blind people to the truth of the gospel. 2 Corinthians 4:4 calls him “the god of this world,” saying he “has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.” His number one goal is to block the gospel. He’s not just anti-Christian—he’s anti-Christ. He’s an anti-minister. That’s serious.

We need to take these tactics seriously. They’re not imaginary. They’re real. But again, we don’t face them alone.