We often hear Christians say and preachers proclaim that when you become a Christian or a believer in Jesus Christ, your life changes and God’s blessings make life easy and He fights your battles.

However, the Bible reminds us that every true child of God soon learns that the Christian life is a war. Not only that, but without the weapons God has made available, our human efforts are not adequate; we are actually hopelessly underpowered.

Satan and his soldiers, the evil angels, are committed to hinder and knock the individual Christian out of combat and destroy him or her. The more effective a believer is for the Lord, the more he or she will experience the brutal attacks of the enemy: The devil does not waste his ammunition on nominal, worldly Christians.

Because we are no match for the devil in our own strength, we need help! We should be continually strengthened in the Lord and in “His mighty power” (verse 10).

God’s best soldiers are those who are conscious of their own weakness and ineffectiveness, and who rely only on God.

Paul’s command is: “Be strong.” We need to be strong because of our enemy. We need the weapons that are most effective against the attacks of Satan, and because the only weapons that are effective are the ones God has provided, Apostle Paul once again commanded the believer to “put on the full armour of God.”

It is necessary to put on the full armour; one or two pieces will not do. Nothing less than the whole armour that God provides will keep us safe.

Remember that the devil has all kinds of ways to attack: discouragement, frustration, confusion, moral failure, pride, religion, doctrinal error, etc. He knows our weakest points and aims for them. If he cannot harm us by one method, he will try another.

“Be strong!” These are military words. Every believer is enlisted in a battle in which we face a powerful enemy with many allies. We need to be strong for the battle.

• strong in character (v. 14)
• strong in faith (v. 16)
• strong in Bible knowledge (v. 17) and
• strong in Prayer (v. 18)

The words “Be Strong” may sound meaningless to someone who is going through trying times. You may feel that “Be Strong” does not apply to you, today. You may feel especially weak. Perhaps your trials have brought you to the edge of a cliff, temptation has almost destroyed you and your loved ones, you wonder if you can go on, and you know that you cannot change things.

You have tried to be strong. You wanted to clean up your language. You tried to control your temper. You made an effort to stop worrying. You decided to stop wounding with your tongue. You wanted to maintain a devotional life and yet you keep failing over and over again. Be strong!

The words that follow make this message even more powerful and meaningful: “Be strong in the Lord and in His might power.” (verse 1)

Some battles are too tough for us. Some enemies are too strong for us. But we have a powerful God and our Saviour, the Lord Jesus, said: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matthew 8:18)

That means that we can do all things through Christ. The Apostle Paul said: “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13)

Verse 13 (of Ephesians 6) does not say that when the enemy attacks you should run for your armour, or that when you are facing trouble you should look for God’s power and protection. No, it says that we must always be ready for battle, fully dressed and ready!

Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything to stand.” Ephesians 6:13)