"Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist (v14a).

With his strong belt on, a soldier could move around with confidence, knowing his other armour pieces would not slip out of place.  We are to put on the "belt of truth" by learning more and more of the Bible's truths.  You can do this by reading Bible verses, thinking about them and memorising them.

"Stand ... having put on the breastplate of righteousness" (v14b).

A breastplate covered the soldier's body from his neck to his waist and protected the vital organs.  It was made of metal plates or chains so that no sword or arrow could get through it.  We need a breastplate to protect our hearts.  That protection comes from our righteousness.  This means our right standing with God and having our sins forgiven.  Jesus makes us right with God and protects our hearts.

"Stand ... having your feet fitted with the Gospel of Peace" (v15).

Roman soldiers wore heavy protective sandals with hobnails in the soles.   This made them sure-footed when in a battle with the enemy.   We wear shoes to protect our feet from thorns and rocks.

The word "Gospel" means the "Good News" that Jesus has made peace with God on our behalf.  Being "fitted to our feet" means that we must go and find other people with whom we can share the Gospel message that Jesus loves them and wants them to go to Heaven.  If they accept Jesus as their Saviour and Best Friend, then they can also experience Salvation and have eternal life.

"Stand ... taking the Shield of Faith" (v15).

The Roman soldier's armour also included a large shield made of wood and leather.  To get to him, the enemy's arrows had to get past the shield and then pierce through the armour that was worn on the soldier's body.

The Bible tells us that without us using our faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).  But, God has given us the faith, so we need to believe and trust Him to defend us against Satan's fiery attacks.

"Stand ... taking the Helmet of Salvation" (v17a).

The helmet protected the Roman soldiers' head.  We need helmets to protect our brains when biking or playing sports.  We need to let God control our minds so Satan can't lead us astray.  That means we have to be careful what enters our minds.  We have to be careful what we think about, what we read, what we watch on TV, and what music we listen to.

With Jesus as our Saviour and with the Holy Spirit guiding us every day, God will protect our brains and minds and keep us safe!

"Stand ...taking the Sword of the Spirit" (v17b).

With all our armour on, we're ready to pick up our swords and go into battle.  Our sword isn't made out of steel because we're not fighting against people.  We're fighting a spiritual battle - one that can only be won by God's power.  We must use the Bible which is our sword, to protect and defend ourselves, since it shows us what is right and wrong, how to live godly lives, and how to defeat Satan:

"For the Word of God is living and sharper than any double-edged sword.
It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).

The more you use a steel sword, the more chipped and duller it gets.  But, the more you use your Bible, the sharper and more effective it becomes.  This means we should be reading and learning verses from God's Word so the Holy Spirit can bring them back to our memory when we are tempted to do wrong.

A good soldier is always in touch with his commander and doesn't act on his own.  We are soldiers in God's army and God has given us everything we need to be victorious.  Paul assures us of this in 1 Corinthians 15:57:

"But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Remember, put on the whole armour of God and use your faith to stay in touch with our Commander, Jesus Christ, and be ever alert for the enemy's tricks and attacks.

God bless!