May 20

GOD GIVES YOU THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

Ephesians 6:14

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

The next piece of armor is called “the breastplate of righteousness.” The breastplate protected the body from the neck to the thighs, often in the front and the back. It may have been made of leather, bronze or chain mail. This piece protected the vital organs. No soldier went into battle without his breastplate. Isaiah describes God as putting on “righteousness as his breastplate” (see Isaiah 59:15-17).

No Christian soldier should go into battle without wearing righteousness. As we don this piece of body armor, we are reminded that this righteousness is not our own but Christ’s. As believers, we have been made righteous in God’s eyes—in other words, right with God. This “rightness” gives us the ability to stand up to Satan’s attacks when he tries to say we’re not really Christians or that we’re not “good enough” Christians. We can stand strong knowing that we have been saved by God’s grace alone and that Satan is incapable of inflicting any damage on our “right standing” with God.

GOD’S PROMISE TO ME:

• You will be able to stand your ground when you wear the breastplate of my righteousness.

MY PRAYER TO GOD:

Lord, you promise strength for the battle when I wear your armor. Help me hold on to the truth that you died for me and thus I have your righteousness. Satan cannot damage my right standing with you. May the breastplate of righteousness protect my faith and help me stand strong when the battle rages. Amen.