Put the Word on First

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness. (Ephesians 6:13-14)

The first piece Paul named in the armor is the belt of truth. For a Roman soldier, the belt was not an accessory. It was the foundational piece. Every other piece of weaponry or armor was attached to it. The breastplate was connected to the belt, and the sword hung from it. Without the belt, the whole suit of armor was loose and unreliable. This is what Paul meant by putting it first. Truth is the Word of God. The context Paul is working in is praying always with all prayer and supplication. That is where this armor gets put on.

Every morning, before you walk into the day, you pray what God's Word says. You speak it out loud. You take what is written and say it over yourself, your family, your calling, your health, and your provision. That is how the belt gets cinched. That is how the breastplate of righteousness stays in place. That is how the sword stays ready.

When you pray the Word over yourself every morning, you put the belt on first. Then everything else will fall into place.

Practical Application

Before you step into your day tomorrow, take ten minutes to find and speak specific Scriptures about who you are in Christ. So that when you pray, you are not just praying generic prayers, but praying the Word of God in specific, directed ways that you can speak aloud over yourself. Do it before you look at your phone, before you check the news, before anything else. Put the belt on first and see how differently the day goes.

John 17:17; Psalm 119:160