This is the first deeper look into parts of the armor of God a part of the series after This Is War. This first piece of armor addressed in Ephesians 6:14 is the belt of truth.

“Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist...” 

To understand a lot of the analogy made here we need to understand Roman armor. The way Paul wrote out the list of armor was exactly how a Roman soldier would put on their armor for battle. They would first start with their belt. 

Now, why is that?

Let me explain. The actual translation states “Stand, having girding your loins”. It wasn’t much of a belt but more of a girdle. Which would help stabilize the other pieces of armor and strengthen the core of the soldier in battle. Think of those back supports that weight lifters wear. This helped the body move for quick and swift attacks.

Let’s apply this to our spiritual armor.

If our girdle is truth and we need to gird our loins with truth this means that our foundation is built on the truth of God’s word. In order for us to be protected and go to war spiritually we need to have a firm foundation in God’s word. Without us girding ourselves in this we become unstable and opened up for attacks.

Truth is God’s word.

Truth is in Jesus.

Truth is God’s opinion on anything.

The reason knowing the truth and really knowing it to your core is because the enemy loves to operate in half truths. It’s sorta right but not actually right. This is why with everything we must take everything to the word of God. Seek the face of God on our decisions, our thoughts, emotions, ambitions, and our will and we will be strong against any plot from the adversary.

The belt does more than support the core of the soldier. It also holds the breastplate and the sword. Which are other pieces to our spiritual armor that we will discuss in another blog posts. So it is even more so crucial that we know what we believe and know God’s word. Everything else relies on this foundation. You wouldn’t want to lose your sword or your breastplate because your belt got lose.

Without the belt of truth there, the breastplate would have nothing to hold it up. That piece of armor is so heavy that it would weight you down and make you less agile. Now, spiritually speaking the breastplate is righteousness. We know there’s no way we in our own strength could be righteous. Our righteousness relies on the truth. The word of God that says we get our strength and righteousness because of Jesus. We’ll go over on this more in the next blog but I wanted you to know that the breastplate of Righteousness is upheld by the belt of truth.

Earlier I mentioned girding your loins. I’m sure you’re like what in the world does that even mean. Don’t worry! I’ll explain it to you! This term comes from Jewish cultural dress. Jewish men would wear long togas. The fabric would get in the way if they had any type of task that would require them to do physical activity. So they would tuck their togas up into their belts to allow for more freedom in their motion. To gird your loins is to restrict your clothes to free up your feet to move and avoid falling. We must spiritually tuck in things in our lives into the truth of God so that it doesn’t trip us up.

John 8:31-32 says “...Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”” 

The truth will set us free! With the boundaries of the word of God we are free.

Here’s my prayer for you:

Dear Heavenly Father,

I thank you for this reader. I thank you that you will show them your truth. That it will set them free and be a strong soldier for the faith. Send your Holy Spirit to guide them and shine the light on things in there life that doesn’t align with your truth. Strengthen their foundation in you and grow them up stronger in You Lord! All this I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen