Battle Ready: Equipped for Victory

When an athlete takes the field, every piece of gear matters. Imagine a football player walking out with no helmet, or a baseball catcher without their chest protector. It’s not just risky, it’s reckless. Paul paints the same picture in Ephesians: as Christians, we don’t face the game of life casually—we’re in a spiritual war. And every piece of God’s armor has a purpose.

In Part 1, we explored the foundation of our defense: the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness. These pieces of armor remind us that standing firm in this spiritual war starts with God’s truth wrapped around us and Christ’s righteousness covering us.

But the arsenal doesn’t stop there. There have been times in my life where I felt like I was walking into battle half-dressed. I had some truth in my heart, but no peace. Or I carried faith, but left my prayer behind. And every single time, I felt exposed to the attacks of the enemy. Paul describes four more pieces of essential armor, plus the power of prayer. Together, they equip us not just to endure the enemy’s attacks, but to actively advance God’s kingdom and walk in victory. Jesus arms us with peace, faith, salvation, His Word, and persevering prayer to make us battle-ready.

The Shoes of Peace

“…and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.”

Roman soldiers wore caligae (aka—the original gladiator sandal), thick-soled sandals with straps around the ankles. Their most distinctive feature was the hobnails hammered into the soles, like ancient cleats. The spikes gave them grip in mud, gravel, and steep terrain. Some historians even say Rome’s armies often won battles not because they had better weapons, but because their innovative footwear allowed them to march farther and hold their ground while others slipped. Soldiers without firm footing were easy prey.

Peace, then, wasn’t about luxury. It was about survival. Without secure footing, the strongest warrior can fall.

Paul tells the believers in Ephesus that our footing comes from “the readiness of the gospel of peace.” Think about that word readiness. To be ready implies preparedness, stability, and confidence in your position. The gospel promise gives us solid ground under our feet so that no matter the terrain—uncertainty, chaos, or suffering—we can stand.

Notice how he doesn’t write our peace but the gospel’s peace? So many of us try to find footing in shifting ground by throwing on a pair of flip-flops (you know, like that cheap pair you got back in 2009 off the Old Navy dollar wall that you keep by the front door when you need to run out and get the mail?). We are often tempted to search for stability in our careers, finances, relationships, or routines. But the truth is that all of these things are fleeting. Only Jesus can offer true and lasting peace—He’s the PRINCE of Peace! Paul uses the Greek word eirēnē here, which is equivalent to the Hebrew shalom. This type of peace means wholeness, harmony, and flourishing. It’s not just the absence of conflict, but the presence of God’s goodness and completeness. Jesus’s peace is permanent and enduring, not situational; we can walk through anything with Him.

John 14:27—“My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

This peace also comes with a mission. Isaiah 52:7 declares, “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation.” Our spiritual shoes aren’t just for helping us to stand firm—they’re for carrying the gospel everywhere.

Think about how the enemy tries to attack your peace: fear of the unknown, anxiety about what tomorrow brings, instability in your heart when life feels like shifting sand. But with gospel shoes strapped on, we can walk steadily through the storm. Jesus promised us, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

In other words: the shoes of peace don’t remove the battlefield—they anchor us so we can endure it.

The Shield of Faith

“In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”

The Roman scutum was no ordinary, “knight-in-shining-armor” type shield. Standing about four feet tall and two-and-a-half feet wide, it curved slightly to wrap around the soldier’s body. Constructed from layers of wood, bound in canvas and leather, and rimmed with iron, it weighed nearly 22 pounds. Before going into battle, soldiers would often douse the leather in water so flaming arrows would be extinguished on contact. Soldiers also adorned the center of their shields with metal strips that could turn their defensive weapon into a battering ram. When they stood side by side, their shields locked together and formed an almost impenetrable wall.

The shield was used for both personal protection and communal strength.

The shield of faith is the only piece of armor we are commanded to “take up.” Faith requires action. We have to lift it, carry it, and hold it up when the arrows fly. Faith in Scripture isn’t blind optimism. The Greek word here pistis conveys faith built from trust, confidence, and reliance. Our faith is anchored in the proven faithfulness of God. He has never broken a single promise and He won’t start with you. His trustworthiness should move us to live as through His promises are already accomplished!

Faith is both our shield and extinguisher. The enemy throws some fiery arrows: “God has abandoned you,” “You’re nothing but a failure,” “It’s never going to change.” Without a shield, those darts can wound deeply. But a lifted faith extinguishes those lies and says, “My God will never leave me” (Deuteronomy 31:6), “I am more than a conqueror” (Romans 8:37), “He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).

And when faith feels weak? We link our shield with others and become a fortress. That’s why it’s so important to gather as the church—because sometimes we need the strength of someone else’s shield alongside ours. Satan loves isolated Christians, because they’re targets. But when believers unite, we become nearly untouchable.

The Helmet of Salvation

“Take the helmet of salvation…”

A Roman helmet, or galea, was made of bronze or iron and often lined with sponge or felt for comfort. While it obviously protected the head, it also had cheek guards and a neck plate. These helmets were heavy (up to 10 pounds!), but absolutely essential. A soldier would never consider entering combat without one. One blow to the head could end the fight instantly! Helmets also carried insignia showing which legion or commander a soldier belonged to. It wasn’t just protection—it was identity.

Paul draws from Isaiah 59:16-17, where God Himself wears the helmet of salvation. Ours is the secure identity we have in Christ. Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44) and his favorite battlefield is right between your ears. When he tries to attack our minds, our thought life, or our identities, we don’t have to turn to wishful thinking. We don’t have to take the brain-splitting blows of negative self-talk, doubts, pride, or insecurity. We take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5)! We have the settled assurance that no one can snatch us out of Jesus’s hand (John 10:28)! The helmet of salvation reminds us, “I am a child of God” (John 1:12), “I am chosen” (1 Peter 2:9), “I am secure” (Romans 8:38-39).

I’m a huge football fan (Go Patriots!). Football helmets not only give protection, but they immediately tell you what team someone belongs to. There are some teams that don’t scare me at all. When I see their logo on a helmet, I don’t feel any worry, because I know there’s no real power behind them. But when I see a team with proven talent and strength line up, my heart rate changes. Their helmets carry weight, because I know they’re dangerous and have the ability to win.

That’s what the helmet of salvation is like for us. When the enemy sees us wearing it, he knows what “team” we belong to. He knows we aren’t marked by just any logo—we bear the insignia of the undefeated Savior who conquered death, sin, and the grave. To the enemy, that helmet is intimidating! I like to remind myself: I am God’s girl! My helmet tells Satan that he’s not just messing with me. He’s up against the authority, power, and victory of Jesus!

The Sword of the Spirit

“…and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

The sword Paul references in this passage is the machaira, a short, double-edged, dagger like sword. Unlike long spears or javelins, the machaira was used for up close, hand-to-hand combat. Roman soldiers trained extensively to master it. Their survival often depended on how skillfully they wielded it. Their weapon had to be sharpened daily, carried everywhere, and used with precision.

Paul calls our sword, the only offensive weapon listed, “the Word of God.” God’s Word is vital to fighting temptations and the enemy’s lies. This isn’t ordinary human speech—it’s Spirit-empowered truth.

It is alive and active! Hebrews 4:12 says God’s Word “penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Unlike any earthly weapon, it cuts well beneath the surface, reaching places no one else can touch. This is why memorizing Scripture matters—so the Spirit can bring it to your mind in the heat of battle! With the Word, we can block Satan’s lies and strike back with God’s truth.

The sword of the Spirit requires training. Just as Roman soldiers drilled with their blades daily, we have to practice wielding Scripture. Does a baseball player step up to the plate cold? No! He’s trained with his bat day after day! It’s not enough to simply own a Bible; we need to open it, meditate on it, and hide it in our hearts (Psalm 119:11)! It isn’t meant to collect dust on our shelves.

Think about it like a kitchen knife. A sharp knife slices cleanly through a tomato, but a dull one slips, crushes, and often ends us cutting you instead. The same is true spiritually: when our knowledge of God’s Word is dull, we not only fail to cut through the enemy’s lies—we can hurt ourselves in the process. Training keeps our sword sharp so it helps us, not harms us.

Sharpening our sword isn’t about tossing out verses like magic formulas. It’s about clinging to truth, believing it, and speaking it when lies press in.

Every day, we have a choice: go into battle with an unsheathed, sharp sword or step into the fight unarmed. Training in the Word doesn’t just prepare us for someday “big battles.” It equips us to face every temptation, every doubt, every lie—moment by moment.

Prayer & Perseverance

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.”

It’s important to see that Paul doesn’t stop at the sword. Prayer isn’t just a “bonus piece”—it’s what activates and empowers all the other armor! A soldier could have the best armor and the sharpest sword, but if he never listened to his commander or communicated with his unit, he’d still lose the battle.

Without prayer, you’re left with an empty suit of armor—just for show. Prayer fills it with power, because it keeps us connected to the One who forged the armor in the first place. Just like how your phone can have all the latest features and apps, but it’ll die if it’s not connected to a power source.

Prayer is constant dependence. Paul uses words in these verses like “always” and “all kinds of prayers,” because we’re not meant to fight a single moment in our own strength.

Prayer also shifts our perspective: it reminds us who the real enemy is (not flesh and blood, but spiritual forces) and re-centers us on God.

Paul doesn’t promise that putting on the armor removes the battle. Instead, it gives us endurance to stand firm in it. Perseverance means not running when things get hard. Not being surprised when the attacks come. Not relying on a quick, worldly fix, but leaning into daily spiritual endurance. Perseverance isn’t just surviving—it’s growing stronger through the fight.

James 1:12—Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life.

The armor of God isn’t just for us as individuals—it’s for the body of Christ as a whole. We are called to join the fight when we see others struggling to put their armor on, to rest in God’s protection, or to persevere. No soldier fights alone, and no Christian should either. Prayer, encouragement, and standing side by side are part of our battle strategy.

And here’s the beautiful truth: the gospel still advances, even on the battlefield. The enemy wants us distracted, afraid, and self-focused, but God calls us to lift our eyes. Even as we fight, opportunities arise to share hope, speak truth, and to love boldly in Jesus’s name.

With so much brokenness in the world, we have to remember that the war zone is the same for Christians and non-Christians. We walk through the same hardships and see the same atrocities, but we fight differently. We show up with supernatural armor, divine weapons, and the Spirit of God in us. Most importantly, we fight with a guaranteed victory.

It’s like watching a recorded football game when you already know your team has won. You may still see fumbles, interceptions, and tough plays, but the outcome is sure. In Christ, the victory is already ours! We fight from victory, not for victory. With the courage to stand firm, clothed in God’s armor, and strengthened by His Spirit, we truly can be battle-ready.

Jesus, I put on Your peace today. Guard my steps with stability when the ground beneath me feels unstable. May I walk boldly in the confidence of the gospel. Strengthen my faith. Lift my shield high when fiery darts fly my way. Protect my thoughts with salvation’s helmet, and sharpen my sword through Your Word so that I may fight back with truth.