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5 Practical Ways to Take Up the Sword of the Spirit Daily

5 Practical Ways to Take Up the Sword of the Spirit Daily

The sword of the Spirit is spoken of in Ephesians 6:10-18. This passage is known as the full armor of God. The Apostle Paul lists all of the parts of the full armor of God and one of these vital parts is the sword of the Spirit. Paul says, “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). From this passage of the Bible, we are told directly what the sword of the Spirit is—it is the Bible.

Not only is the Bible referred to as the sword of the Spirit in Ephesians 6:17, but Hebrews 4:12 also refers to the Bible as being the sword of the Spirit. Paul and the writer of Hebrews used the imagery of a sword in order to connect the listener to the modern day. Roman soldiers were well-known during New Testament times and they were equipped with the finest of shields, helmets, and swords. By using the imagery of a weapon, such as a sword, Paul was telling us that we need to use the sword of the Spirit in the same way.

Individuals don’t need to use weapons unless they are being attacked and this is also true for the sword of the Spirit. The entire passage of the full armor of God refers to putting on spiritual protection and using spiritual weapons to take our stand against the devil. The devil and his demons are always trying to cause us problems and make us ineffective for Christ. By putting on the full armor of God, we won’t give him the satisfaction of watching us fall.

Through putting on the full armor of God, we can fight against the devil’s attacks and be victorious because of God. God is always stronger and mightier than the devil, and He has given us the sword of the Spirit to fight back against the enemy. There will be times of spiritual attacks and spiritual battles, but God has not left us without help. If we take up the sword of the Spirit daily, we will be able to stand firm when attacks occur. 

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    1. Read the Bible

    In order to take up the sword of the Spirit, we have to read the Bible daily. Everything written in the Bible is profitable for teaching, rebuking, and correcting us (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The more we read the Bible, the more we will be equipped to fight against the devil’s attacks. The sword of the Spirit will help us to dismantle every attack the devil and his demons bring against us. 

    The devil likes to fill our hearts with lies, but we can fight back by reading the Bible and applying what it says into our hearts. As an example, the devil wants us to think we are unlivable, unloved, and hated by others, including God. We can fight back against these lies by picking up the Bible. The Bible tells us we are dearly loved by God, chosen and precious to Him, and loved by our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ (John 3:16-17; Jeremiah 31:3; 1 Peter 1:2; John 13:34-35). 

    Reading the Bible will be beneficial to us at all times. Even when we are not facing spiritual attacks, reading the Bible will enrich our knowledge of God. Investing in time to read the Bible every day will ensure we are taking up the sword of the Spirit daily. It might be difficult to make time at first to read our Bibles each day, but we need to try to incorporate it into our daily schedule. Waking up thirty minutes earlier and giving ourselves time to read the Bible daily will truly help us take up the sword of the Spirit.

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  • man eyes closed praying with Bible open on lap

    2. Meditate on the Bible

    Meditating on the Bible is a second way to take up the sword of the Spirit daily. Since the Bible is the sword of the Spirit, we cannot take it up without actually opening it and meditating on it. After we read the Bible, we need to take time to meditate on it. Meditating on the Bible means to think over what you just read. Give yourself time to think about what the Bible says and how you can apply it into your life.

    There is no time limit on meditating, therefore, take as long as you need. You could even journal while you are thinking over the Scriptures if it is hard for you to sit with your thoughts. Personally, this is a struggle of mine and sometimes it can help to jot down your thoughts and write what you learned rather than sitting in silence. Whether you choose to write down your thoughts while you meditate or you prefer to sit with your own thoughts, know that you are being successful at taking up the sword of the Spirit.

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    3. Memorize the Bible

    Memorizing the Bible is another way to take up the sword of the Spirit because we will begin to have Bible truths dwell in our hearts. Sadly, we do not always have access to the Bible or even to our phones in order for us to search a specific verse. If a spiritual attack happens at this time, we will be left without armor. This is why we need to have Bible verses memorized. Instead of being unaware of what the Bible says over a certain matter, we need to be ready by having Bible passages memorized.

    The beauty of having Bible passages memorized is that the Holy Spirit can bring these helpful truths to minds when we are struggling. The Holy Spirit cannot memorize these passages for us. We have to be intentional and memorize these passages for ourselves. It can be difficult to memorize passages, but the more we read the Bible and go back to certain passages, we will start internalizing them. 

    With time, these passages will become second nature to us. Not only will we be able to help ourselves by having these passages in our mind, but we will also be able to help our fellow believers in their time of need. Invest in spending time in the Bible, meditate on it, and memorize it too. All of these things will be able to help you take your stand against Satan.

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    4. Pray the Bible

    In addition to reading the Bible, meditating on it, and memorizing it, we also need to pray the Bible. While this might sound odd at first, it is extremely helpful. Similar to how many people pray various psalms, you can pray any passage of the Bible. By praying certain passages of Scripture, you will be able to take up the sword of the Spirit daily. If you are someone who has trouble forming your prayers sometimes, try to start praying various passages of the Bible.

    A Bible verse I pray often is Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” It is optional to pray this passage just as it is, but you can make it personal to you. 

    As an example, when I pray this Bible passage, I normally say, “Dear Lord, please help to alleviate my anxiety. I am coming to you in prayer, petition, and with thanksgiving. Please give me the peace that surpasses all understanding, and guard my heart and mind in your Name. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.” This is just an example as you can pray the Scriptures in any way you need at the present time. The Bible is beautiful and there are endless passages to pray as you take up the sword of the Spirit.

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  • 5. Applying the Bible into Our Life

    5. Applying the Bible into Our Life

    A fifth way to take up the sword of the Spirit is applying the Bible into our life. Taking up the sword of the Spirit means that we not only read the Bible and understand what it says, but we also start living out its truth in our life. It can be difficult to pick up the sword of the Spirit in this way, yet it is essential. If we apply the Bible’s teachings into our life, it will prepare us for any hard time. 

    Whether the hard time is a family issue, a financial issue, or a personal issue, reflecting on the Bible will change how we respond to these situations. We would be wise to never doubt the amazing work of the Spirit in our life in combination with reading the Bible. When we read the Bible and apply it to our lives daily, we will no longer see the world the same. Instead of seeing everything and everyone from a worldly perspective, we will begin to see things as God does.

    This is why it is vital to draw closer to God each day by applying His teachings into our lives and obeying Him. By taking up the sword of the Spirit, we will be able to cultivate our relationship with God and become more mature in our walk with Him. If you have trouble applying the Bible into your life, go to God in prayer. Ask Him to help you apply what you are reading in the Bible and He will help you. 

    Taking up the sword of the Spirit can be challenging, yet it is important. A few ways to do so daily are to read the Bible, meditate on the Bible, memorize the Bible, pray the Bible, and apply the Bible to your life. By doing these things, we will be able to take up the sword of the Spirit daily and be ready for any spiritual attack.

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    Vivian Bricker author bio photoVivian Bricker loves Jesus, studying the Word of God, and helping others in their walk with Christ. She has earned a Bachelor of Arts and Master's degree in Christian Ministry with a deep academic emphasis in theology. Her favorite things to do are spending time with her family and friends, reading, and spending time outside. When she is not writing, she is embarking on other adventures.