"Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth"

      Loving Father, You are the eternal spirit who fills all things and has chosen me in love before the foundation of the earth to adoption as your child (Eph. 1:3-6).  Precious Savior, You took on a human body to save Your people from their sins (Matt. 1:21).  You lived righteously and died as my substitute on the cross - suffering the wrath of God that was due to my sins.  You rose victoriously and are now seated at the right hand of the Father (Heb. 1:3) and with You as my High Priest I can draw near with confidence to the throne of grace (Heb 4:14-16).  Holy Spirit, You brought about my new birth (John 3:5-6) and thereby convicted me of my sin, of coming judgment and of the hope that is only in Jesus Christ (John 16:7-11).  Help me never to forget these glorious truths. 

"And having put on the breastplate of righteousness" 

      Heavenly Father thank you for imputing the righteousness of Jesus Christ to my account so that I now stand before You holy and righteous in Christ (Rom. 5:18-19). 

      Thank you for the new man you have made me to be which is Your very likeness, created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.  I thank you that I am thereby enabled to put off the old and put on the new today (Eph 4:20-24). 

"And having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace."

      Lord, help me to realize the stability, the firm footing that comes from being thoroughly equipped by the gospel.  I know that I was once an enemy of God and rightly deserved eternal judgment.  I know that I was once hostile in mind and engaged in evil deeds against You (Col. 1:21)  But I am now at peace with You through the gospel (Rom. 5:1).  You are my God and I am one of Your people (Heb 8:10).  I thank You that You are for me, that You are causing all things to work together for my good (Rom. 8:28) , and that nothing can separate me from Your love that comes to me in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:35-39).

"In addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one."

      Lord, I admit that there are sinful desires within me and Satan's temptations seek to inflame those desires and lead me into sin (1 John 2:15-16).  Help me by faith to see those lusts of the flesh as lusts of deceit (Eph. 4:22) that would make me its slave (John 8:34)  Help me by faith to turn aside from those lusts of the eyes and be content with what You have given me (Heb. 13:5) and realizing that it is in You alone that I can have true fullness of joy (Ps. 16:11).  Help me by faith to put aside the boastful pride of life and to be humble (James 4:6) - that I might love Your praise more than the praise of men (John 12:42-43) 

"And take the helmet of salvation."

      Lord, help me to call to mind the hope of the salvation I have in Christ (1 Thess. 5:8)  Guard my thoughts from despair.  Guard me from making temporal hopes my main motivation.  Grant me a clear grasp of the heavenly hope that is mine.  Thank you that one day I will see my Savior as He is and that I will be made to be like Him (1 John 3:2)  Thank you that I will one day walk and talk with my King throughout eternity (Rev. 21:3)  Thank you that He will remove all sorrow, and sickness, and affliction (Rev. 21:4)  Thank you that I will enter into the joy of my Master (Matt. 25:21)

      Lord, may this hope of salvation grant me a diligence after purity in my life (1 John 3:3).  Help me to endure and be joyful even in times of suffering (Rom 5:1-5).  Help me not to lose heart  over the temporary afflictions that I face (2 Cor. 4:16-18) 

"And the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

      Lord, thank you for this wonderful weapon that I have against the schemes and attacks from the devil.  Thank you that I have access to Your all-sufficient Word that has been given to us by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:19-21)  Holy Spirit grant me understanding of the Word of God (1 Cor. 2:12).  Holy Spirit grant me to walk in Your fullness (Eph. 5:18) as the Word of Christ richly dwells within me (Col. 3:16) 

      Lord, help me to delight in Your Word and to meditate on it day and night (Ps. 1:2).  Bring to mind Scriptures throughout this day that will enable me to resist the devil and to stand firm even as Jesus did when He was tempted (Lk 4:1-14)