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This week’s Abide comes from the passage in the Our Daily Bread devotional for Monday 29th April, which is Ephesians 6:11-18.

Superhero movies encompass various battle scenes that keep you on the edge of your seat. The thing that helps a superhero survive the battle is a good, solid suit of armour. The superhero wears the suit, approaches his or her enemy and a battle royale begins.

Unlike superheroes, we aren’t spending our days flying off of rooftops and unleashing laser beams out of our eyes to defeat the enemy… well at least I’m not. However, we are fighting dark powers daily, sometimes without realising it. And just because we can’t fly doesn’t mean we don’t have superpowers. We have superpowers, and as the passage tells us, those powers come from God.

Turn to Ephesians 6.

Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Our struggles are not against flesh and blood like you and I. In fact, Paul tells us we are in a spiritual battle with the evil one. It’s easy to forget this, but the Bible is real about it. Even in the Lord’s prayer, Jesus encourages us to pray that our Father would “deliver us from the evil one”.

So how do we strengthen ourselves when battles are on the rise and we are feeling weak? Well the good news is that God is the one who strengthens us and Paul explains that by using the image of a soldier’s armour.

In verse 13,

Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground.

We are able to stand our ground like a superhero wearing armour because God clothes us with His armour.

Before you walk out the door each day or even before your feet touch the ground in the morning, envision yourself putting on the Armour of God. Let every article of clothing you are wearing be a symbol of God’s armour.

Visualise yourself standing firm in the belt of truth buckled around your waist. Imagine your jacket as a breastplate you wear of God’s righteousness. When placing your feet into your shoes, step into the steadiness and readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. Let your faith shield you from the arrows of the evil one. Place the helmet of salvation on your head and grab your Bible, the sword of the Spirit.

Imagine how different your reactions would look for the battles that are up ahead if you took 5 minutes each day in the car or getting ready in the morning, to put on the full armour of God?

Finally, verse 18.

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 for all the Lord’s people. Even those we go into battle with, because remember, our struggles are not against flesh and blood but against the spiritual forces of evil.

This passage is an incredible reminder of the hope we have through Christ and our inheritance from Him. He gives us the armour we need to face each day.

Picturing ourselves putting on the armour of God will help us to be ready when trouble comes. Investing time in engaging with the Bible and praying with the Lord will strengthen us for future fights.

Remember in all of this, we’re not doing this alone. Jesus has already triumphed and God has the final say. Sometimes we don’t always feel these truths and need God’s protection in how we respond in these times of trouble.

This week, spend a few moments putting on the armour that God has given you, His power is at work within us.