We tend to think of the armor of God as something you put on, external pieces of battle gear that you wear on the outside to protect the life inside:
Therefore put on the full armor 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. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
In this passage, even the words "put on," take up," and "take" could imply protecting yourself with something you lack or don't yet have, and therefore must "put on."
But what if the armor and its protection extends from the inside - out, rather than outside - in? Wouldn't that make sense, given the reality of our new and noble heart?
So what does that look like?
- You already have the Truth moving within you, having permanently given his heart and mind to you.
- You've already been transfigured into the righteous radiance of Christ's own goodness.
- You're already poised to bring the restoring shalom ["peace"] of Christ to others around you.
- Jesus has already given you the settled and faithful confidence he has in the Father.
- You've been rescued and renewed by the saving life of God.
- The mind and heart of Christ, voicing his affection for you and counseling your heart, dwells within you richly.
We can certainly "put on" or practice or rehearse the armor of God, remembering what we've already been given. But the armor is an internal powerhouse: The power and protection move from the inside - out.