Put On The ‘Full Armor Of God’ For Hope

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes”  (Ephesians 6:11 NIV).

Put On The ‘Full Armor Of God’ To Maintain Hope

We all experience times in our lives in which we feel hopeless. For some, these periods linger into years and years. Given these circumstances, I would like to equip readers with some thoughts on how to maintain hope when all hope appears to be gone. In this article, you’ll find some thoughts on the importance of hope in your life. For your consideration, Job was a strong disciple of God, but had all of his possessions taken. He expressed hopelessness in Job 17:15 saying, “Where then is my hope — who can see any hope for me?”

I have heard it said before that the most dangerous man is one without hope.  He feels he has nothing to lose and no future. I have seen the look in someone’s face when there is no hope. I have seen this in hospitals, prisons, nursing homes, hospice facilities and even in church.

One of the greatest goals of the enemy is to convince you that you have no hope and that God has forgotten you and you have no future. I recently heard on a Christian radio station, “If you do not believe in the promises of God, then by default you are believing in the lies of the enemy.” Carefully read the following premise: You must know that you are a beloved child of God that is very precious in his sight. He desires you to seek Him and for you to be happy. He will walk with you always and never leave you. All of your sins have been paid by the blood of Jesus.

The enemy appeared in the Garden of Eden with the same goal as today – divide, destroy, and deceive.  The relentlessness enemy wants to rob you of your hope and joy.

Ephesians 6 goes on to explain how to fight the enemy.

The Belt (of Truth):  “Stand firm in the belt of truth buckled around your waist,” Ephesians 6:14. The belt of truth involves our hearts and our minds. Truth keeps us close to Christ and is essential in the Christian walk. The belt of truth holds our amour in place. Commit yourself daily to be in the Word. “Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth!” Psalm 86:11.

The Breastplate (of Righteousness):  With the breastplate of righteousness in place,” Ephesians 6:14, a soldier with a breastplate goes into battle boldly with confidence. The enemy is constantly attacking with lies to steal our hope. Without the breastplate of righteousness, these will penetrate your heart. Become aware of who you are in Christ Jesus. Come boldly into His presence, (Hebrews 4:16).

The Shield (of Faith):  “Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one,” Ephesians 6:16. The shield not only defends our whole body, but also our armor. The shield of faith has a very specific function: To stop all the fiery darts of the wicked.

The Helmet (of Salvation):  “Take the helmet of salvation,” Ephesians 6:17. Satan’s target: Your mind. Satan’s weapon: Lies. The enemy wants to make us doubt God and our salvation. The helmet protects our minds from doubting the truth of God’s saving work for us. Our mind is the battle ground. “Since we belong to the day, we must be serious and put the armor of faith and love on our chests, and put on a Helmet of the Hope of Salvation,” 1 Thessalonians 5:8.

The Sword (of The Spirit):  Put on “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” Ephesians 6:17.  The sword of the Spirit is the only weapon of offense in the armor, but the Word is also a tool for defense. Lies and deception are all weapons the enemy uses against us.  With the Sword of the Spirit, God’s word, the people are equipped to deal with them all. We need to trust in the truth of the Word.

It is so important that you begin each day with hope. Romans 5:3-4 tells us, “we know that suffering produces perseverance; and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” So if you feel that there is no hope in your situation, be patient and realize that you will develop perseverance, then character, and finally hope. It is a promise from God. Be blessed!

Prayer:  Dear God, Thank you for Your provision and protection. Deliver us from all that is evil. Amen.

Meet the Author

Todd Shupe is a Men’s Ministry Specialist through the General Commission of United Methodist Men and is in training to be a Certified Lay Minister through the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. He currently serves as the President of the Baton Rouge District of United Methodist Men and is a Board Member for Gulf South Men and serves on the Action Team for The Kingdom Group. He is a volunteer for the Walk to Emmaus, Grace Camp, and Iron Sharpens Iron. Todd resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

We welcome your comments below.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Thank you for visiting. We trust that you have enjoyed reading our articles.

Liked this post?

Read more below or search for more topics...

  • Return to the Father

    Return to the Father “If you return to me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve me” (Jeremiah 15:19 NLT). All of us that follow Jesus have many things in common.  One of which is that we are all sinners.  As we become a believer in Christ, we are born again into God’s family.  Once you are born again you cannot be unborn.  Our relationship with God can, and will be, damaged by sin.  However, read this closely – no matter the sin- the relationship is still there.  The Parable of the Prodigal Son (also known as the Two Brothers, Lost...
  • The Best New Year’s Resolution

    The Best New Year’s Resolution “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2 NIV). January is the time for New Year’s resolutions, right?  I am considering joining a gym and need to get in better physical shape.  You may seek to spend more time with family, find a new job, etc.  All of these are fine goals.  I read a recent article that indicated that most New Year’s resolutions will be abandoned...
  • Read Scripture And Then Use It

    Read Scripture And Then Use It “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24 NIV). I enjoy reading the Bible, and I if you are reading this you probably do as well.  I also enjoy group Bible studies, Sunday School, small groups and any other means of studying and learning Scripture.  I study Scripture because I want to learn more about God.  I know “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the servant of God may be...