Devotional #15: The Full Armor of God-the Belt of Truth
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes…Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist -Ephesians 6: 10,14 (NIV).
People suffering from cancer and other illnesses are often prone to more intense spiritual attacks from Satan. This is because the Devil loves to attack the most vulnerable people in our world: To “hit you while you are down,” so to speak. Scripture confirms this: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”- I Peter 5:8 NIV. “Devour” is a strong and telling word. It means to “destroy completely, ” according to Oxford Languages.
Because Satan wants to destroy us completely, it is critical that we put on the full Armor of God to resist him. As Paul explains in Ephesians 6, the first component of the armor is the “Belt of Truth.” The belt is the piece of the armor that holds everything else together. Without it, the armor fails completely. When facing a life threatening illness, it is important to strap the truth around your waist daily, supporting the rest of the armor needed to resist Satan’s attempt to destroy you completely.
Scripture also tells us that Satan is not only a liar, but the “father of lies.” John 8:44 NIV. In fact, the Bible is full of examples of Satan’s attempts to conceal the truth--from his lies in the Garden of Eden to the lies he speaks in our modern era. As people already vulnerable, cancer fighters must strap on our Belt of Truth every day to combat Satan’s lies.
During my journey fighting cancer, I have clung to a few primary truths: Jesus healed every disease and sickness he encountered in His ministry (Matthew 4:23 NIV); Only Christ holds the “keys of death” Revelation 1:18 NIV, and His desire is that “none should perish” (2 Peter 3:9 NIV); that God has already ordained my “days” (Psalm 139:16 NIV); and because I know Christ, I have eternal life and can never die (John 10:28 NIV).
For Additional Study & Discussion
1. Think of an example in the Bible of Satan’s lies to mankind. What were the results? How can we learn from the example to better secure the Belt of Truth in our armor?
2. Read Matthew 4:1-11 NIV. List the lies Satan told Christ. How did Christ respond to Satan’s lies. What can we learn from this?
3. What could you do every day to help secure the Belt of Truth around your waste as you battle illness?