Recently I began reading the book “Victory in Spiritual Warfare,” by Tony Evans. This season has prompted my heart to go deeper in prayer, and I am desiring to understand what it truly means to put on the full armor of God.

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. ¹¹  Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For our struggle is not against  flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, Ephesians 6:10-14a (NASB)

I began reading this scripture and I found myself lingering in verse 14 a little bit. I searched for the definitions of the words I was reading. In Merriam Webster, I looked up the word stand. It said, “to maintain one’s position//stand firm.” Next I looked up the definition for girded on Dictionary.com. There were four definitions. 1. To encircle or bind with a belt or band. 2. To surround, enclose, hem in. 3. To prepare (oneself) for action: and 4.To provide, equip, or invest, as with power or strength.

What is the truth? God’s Word is truth.

How do I equip and invest truth in myself?

Reading and studying God’s Word has been a struggle for me over the years. Some of it has been because I have just read it and have not studied it. It has felt intimidating to me at times. I am also a very simple-minded girl, and I thought I was not smart enough to understand it. However, that is what the enemy wants us to think. He wants us to stay out of God’s Word so we don’t have anything to stand on when trials and temptations come our way.

This week, I began something new. The concept is not new to me, but like other things I have learned along my Christian walk, I have known the concept, but I haven’t put it into practice. I have known in my mind, but it hadn’t truly reached my heart.

This concept I am talking about is when we hear or receive a lie from the enemy, we replace it with God’s truth. To know it is a lie, we have to know and receive God’s truth.

The lies I have believed about studying God’s Words have hindered me from truly knowing who God is and understanding His truth. The enemy tries to make me think I am stupid or not able to understand God’s Word. He uses others to affirm those lies. The truth is as a child of God and one who has received and believed in Jesus Christ, I have the Holy Spirit in me, and God’s word says:

But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. ¹⁵ All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you. John 16:13-15

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. John 14:26

The truth is if I don’t understand what I am reading in God’s Word, I have the Holy Spirit in me. He will guide me into truth. He will help me discern what I am reading. He will show me how to study what I am reading. God has provided me with what I need to read His Word and to know His truth. Sometimes, It means I need to ask the Holy Spirit for help. Other times, it means I need to look in other areas of scripture to fully understand what I am reading.

When we believe the lies, we begin to give up. When I believe lies about who I am and who God has created me to be, I give up. I give up studying God’s Word because I believe I can’t or won’t ever be able to understand it. If I believe the lie that I am stupid or incapable of knowing what God has for me, I will give up seeking.

I have realized that too many times in my life, I have allowed the lies to become truth instead of replacing the lies with truth. I have not put on the belt of truth very well.

Can you relate to this?

What lies have you believed?

What lies have become truth in your life?

How can you exchange them for God’s truth today?

This has been a personal journey. I am journaling and writing down the lies God has revealed to me as I ask Him to examine my heart. Then I am going into God’s Word and finding the truth that replaces those lies, and I am learning how to put on truth daily.

As we do this, the lies get replaced with God's truth, and we begin to live free. Share on X

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; ³² and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” John 8:31-32

I want to live free!

That begins by putting on the truth each day.

Will you join me on this journey?

Heavenly Father, I ask for forgiveness for believing and living the lies I have believed. Help me to replace those lies with Your truth so I might live free and share that life of freedom in You with others. Heal those places in my heart that have been damaged by these lies. Restore me and the relationships around me. Thank You for Your truth. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit, who lives in me and guides me into all truth. In Jesus, Name!