In conclusion be strong—not in yourselves but in the Lord, in the power of his boundless resource. Put on God’s complete armour so that you can successfully resist all the devil’s methods of attack. For our fight is not against any physical enemy: it is against organisations and powers that are spiritual. We are up against the unseen power that controls this dark world, and spiritual agents from the very headquarters of evil. Therefore you must wear the whole armour of God that you may be able to resist evil in its day of power, and that even when you have fought to a standstill you may still stand your ground. Take your stand then with truth as your belt, righteousness your breastplate, the Gospel of peace firmly on your feet, salvation as your helmet and in your hand the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. Above all be sure you take faith as your shield, for it can quench every burning missile the enemy hurls at you. (Ephesians 6:10-17 JB Phillips)

How do you stand strong in God’s mighty power amidst the challenges you face at work? How do you stand against the devil’s schemes at your workplace or in your life?

Workplace Challenges

As Christians, some of the challenges we face in the workplace are of our own doing—consequences of our actions and attitudes. That’s why Paul warns us to live in such a way that nobody can find fault in what we do.

Some of the challenges we face in the workplace are part of living and working in a fallen world. Storms, sickness, weeds, broken down machinery, computers that crash, dust, garbage, death, decay, and rot are results of the fall.

Still other challenges in life and work are spiritual in nature. Sometimes it’s obvious when Satan is scheming against us like when he appeared to tempt Jesus. Other times, we’re completely unaware that a battle is raging in heaven over our soul and prayers, like when Daniel prayed and the angel sent to answer Daniel was resisted for twenty-one days (Daniel 10:12–14).

God’s Armor

When you find yourself in a spiritual battle God graciously offers you his armor to wear. Each piece of God’s armor – truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation, and God’s word are precious gifts that God offers you. Your loving heavenly Father designed them so that they fit your unique personality perfectly.

Truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, and salvation, are offensive weapons God gives you to protect yourself against anything and everything that the devil might throw at you. They are not defensive weapons to be used against your colleagues, or to brow-beat them into heaven. There is only one defensive weapon which God gives you, namely the sword of the Spirit. The sword of the Spirit is God’s word which comforts you and teaches you in all things.

The truth that there is a Creator grounds your work, and your life into a reality that is larger than yourself. The truth of sin, provides an explanation for things that you perceive that aren’t right in your workplace. The truth of redemption provides you with hope. By believing that Jesus Christ died for your sins and was raised from the dead according to the Scriptures, and that as the reigning Lord He now offers forgiveness of sins and the liberating gift of the Spirit to all who repent and believe enables you to stand righteous before a holy God, with your sins forgiven. This is not only good news for tomorrow, but the anchor that provides you with peace for today!

When your faith rests firmly on the bedrock foundation of the completed work of Christ, every flaming dart of fear and doubt that Satan throws at you in your workplace is extinguished. God’s free gift of salvation protects the talents, skills, wisdom, knowledge and understanding God has blessed you with. God’s righteousness protects your heart from the evil that surrounds you. The word of the Lord which is the sword of the Spirit, enables you to be strong in the Lord and his mighty power, and to resist the devil’s temptations that you face at work.

Putting on the full armor of God

You can’t put the armor of God on in your own strength. It is God, and God alone, who enables you to wear his armor. When you choose to allow God to clothe you with his armor, you experience God’s power strengthening you in your inner being. It is God’s power that enables you to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is Christ’s love for you in the darkest of places. It is God’s power that enables you to rest in God’s gift of grace.

When you are clothed with God’s armor – when you are clothed with truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation and God’s word you can stand firm against the devil’s schemes.

Just like it takes time and practice for a soldier to learn the proper way to hold a shield, or to use a sword, it will take time and practice to wear and use your spiritual armor effectively.

Throughout your day, pause in prayer and ask God to clothes you with his whole armor and to give you the wisdom to know how to use his armor.

Prayer

Father, I thank you that you have provided me with your armor so that I can stand strong. I rejoice that your mighty power is stronger and wiser than any of devil’s schemes. Father, buckle the belt of truth around my waist. Help me to rest in the truth of who you are, and who I am in your sight. Guard my heart with your breastplate of righteousness. Through the power of your gospel, may I be an instrument of peace in every encounter with other people.

Lord, I know that I can’t do this on my own strength, and so help me wield the shield of faith. Extinguish all the flaming arrows that Satan and people throw at me.

Jesus, thank you for your wonderful gift of salvation. Help me to look beyond my situation and focus on the immensity of your love for me. Thank you for the Bible. Speak to me today through your word so that I may be able to stand firm in this day of evil. Amen