Text: Judges 16:1-2, 19-21
Memory verse:
”Put on the whole Armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.“
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The purpose of the armour of God is to show us the reality of spiritual warfare, the reality of our adversaries, how we can combat them and the solid protections we have in the midst of the battle. It also helps us to realize the nature of the battle; that it is not a physical battle but spiritual. We also know the influence of the unseen realm on the seen. It helps us to look beyond what is seen into what is unseen. ”We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.“ ‭‭(2 Cor‬ ‭10‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬).
The seventh armour is prayer. ”praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, …“ ‭‭(Eph‬ ‭6‬:‭18). One will wonder why this is put as the last one on the list instead of being the first. It is to show to us that the armours of God do not only involve praying, that is, calling God into your battle but partnering with God in your battle. Victory in spiritual warfare doesn’t only require you to wear some armours but to put on the whole armour of God. Wearing six and leaving one out will create an opening in you, which the enemy can take advantage of. That’s why the scripture warns us not to give the devil a chance or allow him to outsmart us, for we are not ignorant of his schemes (Eph 4:27; 2 Cor 2:11). For example, you can’t be fasting and praying while you live in self-righteousness or even live in unrighteousness. That will be too dangerous! Many prayerful believers have strangely become casualties as a result of this. Samson is a good example. Though his warfare was a physical one but a shadow of spiritual warfare. He knew his enemies, the Philistines and was definite about it. He kept on sustaining his victory over them until he threw away his belt of truth and his breastplate of righteousness (Judg 14:8-9; 16:1). The enemy capitalized on it and brought him down, turning the victor to the vanquished, a deliverer to an entertainer!
Friends, for you to effectively use the armour of prayer, all the other six armours must be in place. May you not be a casualty in the midst of the battle, in Jesus’ name.

Prayer points
1. Father, please help me to always put on the whole armour of God and never to leave any part of my life exposed, in Jesus’ name.
2. I refuse to be a casualty in the battle of life or to fall after I have done all, in Jesus’ name.

Today’s declarations
1. My prayer has effectual power because I put on the whole armour of God.
2. I enter into a partnership with God in warfare when I engage my armour of prayer.