Preparation is key to any battle, whether it be military wars, sports competition, interpersonal conflict or spiritual temptations. In verse 11, we were instructed to put on the full armor of God as a defense against the devil’s attempts to influence us. Now, Paul begins to break this preparation for temptation into distinct steps, corresponding to military armor of his day.

We are to “take up” the various parts of the armor, one by one, understanding each so that we can use them to maximum effectiveness. Our goal is to resist in the “evil day.” While this surely has some prophetic value in reference to difficult times ahead for the Christians of the first century, it also has anticipatory value for all Christians. Satan continues to prowl around looking for Christians who are ill-prepared for him. He is way more powerful than we are. However, we can resist and stand firm, but we must use all the armor.

Three times now Paul has said to stand firmly against the devil. The picture is of an enemy onslaught trying to knock you back from your position of advance. Satan continually attempts to beat us back from what we have already obtained. Of course, we stand on the Rock, who is Jesus Christ and the gates of hell will not prevail against the church. However, the enemy continues his assault against our faith. Though he may not affect our security, he may weaken our assurance and influence us to doubt our Savior.

Obviously, armor is a metaphor for the different spiritual actions we must take in order to be successful in resisting temptation. The first action is “having girded your loins with truth.” This refers to a belt used for gathering in the tunic, and was the place where the breastplate was attached and from which the sword and other instruments of battle hung. It was the first piece of battle equipment put on. (The phrasing of this actually alludes to the Old Testament; the NASB translators indicate this by using caps in the verse, in this case Isaiah 11:5).

If there is no foundation of truth, then there is no basis for confidence in any of our other defenses (see Psalm 11:3). Satan knows this and truth is the first thing he attacks. In the Garden of Eden, he subtly asked, “Has God said …?” (Gen 3:1). He always brings truth into question, planting the seed of doubt.

So, as Christians, we must know and study the truth, for it sets us free from the deceptions of God’s enemy (John 8:32). We must make it our daily practice to be in the Word and for the Word to be in us.