The Armor of God is meant for the intercession of others.

Eph 6:10-18. I have always looked at the armor of God as personal amor meant for my protection, until today when I read the entire context. Verses 10 & 11 are very personal. "Be strong in The Lord and in the power of His might. Be empowered to put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Verse 12 tells us what the armor is for, yes it's personal, but we find in verse 18 that it's not just for us. (praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful FOR ALL THE SAINTS!) Verse 12; For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
This is what the armor of God is fighting against. Not against people, flesh and blood, but against the real enemy, principalities, powers, rulers of darkness in THIS AGE, and against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. That is what we're fighting against, not each other, or man made things.
Verse 13 is having us take up that armor which we are empowered to do, like we are commissioned in His army, so His armor comes standard issue. Then it says; that you may be able to withstand, (That you're able to make it.) in the evil day. We cannot make it unless we have this armor on, it's His and He's given it to us, for our protection.
Gird your waist (Or loins) with truth. What are your loins made for, what is its purpose; seek truth, not the lie of the enemy in this evil time, when everything around you says that your loins were created for something else! Like everything else, it's for purity, which needs to be based in the truth of what we were created for, for holiness, set apart for the things of God, we were created in a certain way, a design for His purpose.
The Breastplate of righteousness. This is not from us, our righteousness, it's His, because ours is useless, ours is like filthy rags, it won't do us any good in battle. Walk righteous, be righteous, for that is what He is in you.
Shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Interesting, amor for peace! What are your feet for, walking in places, standing, bringing you to places you're supposed to go; "Your word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path." (Psalm 119:105) Are we prepared, have we given ourselves over to His gospel of peace, there is no other, so that we can be brought to the places we're supposed to go?
ABOVE ALL, taking the Shield of Faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. This is amazing, all the fiery darts, man do we need this. Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1) And faith comes by hearing and hearing The Word of God. (Romans 10:17) If we're not hearing, where is our shield of faith. Do we believe based on what we see?
Look at two previous verses; 6b and 7 doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to The Lord, and not to men. If we aren't serving God, by His will, from our heart, not our mind, and doing it to The Lord and not to men, then we are missing the Armor of God right there. We're putting on something else, or mis using His Holy Armor.
We need the helmet of salvation, without it we are not saved. It also provides His vision, with His clarity. And oh do we need the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. This is the Rema, (Original Greek word) the spoken Word of God, living in your heart, guiding your every step, your every swing of that sword. But this is amor of peace, meant for prayer and supplication of the saints. The word supplication at its root means begging, and praying as if it's necessary, like food, or water, because it is necessary. So this armor is as much about prayer as anything, and it's meant for; being watchful to this end, with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. To what end? Verse 18; praying always with all prayer and supplication (Begging, praying as a necessity) IN THE SPIRIT. If we are not Spirit filled, we can't accomplish this; Now, being watchful FOR ALL THE SAINTS!
We are born the first time in the flesh, in our mommy. Then Jesus in John 3 talks about being born a second time, being "Born Again" and this birth is by The Spirit. If we are not born again, we can't pray in the Spirit, and if we can't do this, we are without armor, and we can't intercede for each other, and we are left without protection, in this evil day, with all the wiles of the devil, wrestling against principalities, powers and and rulers of the darkness and against spiritual hosts of wickedness...how do we expect to survive, we can't. It's all connected, we need it all, without a piece missing, or we are caught unaware, unprotected, and without any hope.
That's why we live in a hopeless world, because without Christ, trying to survive on our filthy rags, we just can't make it, there literally is no hope without Him in our lives.

The New Year, a new fast.

Well it's the new year. The Lord woke me up this morning with a request; fast and pray. I have been praying and fasting of and on for the past 3-4 week, but I have been "cheating." Coffee, an extra meal before I begin my fast again. I have been eating roughly one meal per day with few exceptions, but when I am eating my one meal, it has often been extending into later "one meals." Now I feel like He's asking me to go all the way.
I actually can't wait to see what this will look like. I love it when the Lord speaks so clearly. Most of us long for a time when The Lord speaks, we hear, and then are able to obey. He is so good, He is such a good Father. What a wonderful Go we serve, wow.

Thank You Lord, You are so faithful to me.