And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit (which is the word of God). With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and petitions for all the saints.
Into the Text
There is power in the Word of God. We all know that. We’ve all heard that many times, but do we believe it? The final piece of armor God gives us is the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. It is the only weapon given to us with which we can defend ourselves. It isn’t a physical sword but a spiritual one. It is living and active and sharper than a two-edged sword (See Hebrews 4:12).
But to effectively use this weapon, we need to know the weapon. Otherwise, it will be ineffective. Simply having a Bible lay on our coffee table is not as powerful as having the living Word of God working through our everyday life.
God’s Word is powerful and effective, but we need to daily apply it to our lives.
Power from the Bible comes from obedience and the application of it. Reading and knowing God’s Word isn’t enough. Even demons and Satan know God’s Word (See James 2:19). The difference lies in us believing what God says in His Word, being obedient to His Word by living in faith, and applying God’s Word to our lives. When temptations, toxic thoughts, or outside deception come our way, we know how to fight back with God’s Word, our sword of the Spirit.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for giving us such a valuable weapon in Your Word. Increase my love for You and Your Word. Help me to use it powerfully in my life, the way that You meant for it to be used. Amen.