Do you know anyone serving our country in the military overseas? I have a friend, Joshua, who is in the army and he is currently stationed in Iraq. Joshua is 20 years old and he and I became friends four years ago when we served together in Ghana on a short term mission trip. He has a heart for the Lord and for his country. He is proud to be serving America overseas.
Each day as Joshua gets ready; he puts on his weapons as part of his wardrobe. He has been trained to “never leave home without them” because someone’s life could depend on it…his or someone he cares about in his company. Joshua recognizes he is in a war 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. He must be prepared.
Friends, whether you know it or not, you are also in a war. It is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Our enemy may be harder to spot than the one Joshua is fighting in Iraq. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” [Ephesians 6:12] The Lord tells us in John 10:10 that our enemy’s battle plan is to kill, steal, and destroy us. We must always be ready.
Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:11 to always “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” He goes on in verses 12 through 18 to describe what the armor of God is and how we should wear it each day because trouble will come our way and we need to be prepared for it.
We are in a war for our own life and the lives of those we love. This isn’t a dress rehearsal. It’s the real deal. When you become a Christian, you join the army. It takes us all working together [1 Corinthians 12:12]. Even the armor Paul talks about demonstrate how we need one another.
The different pieces of armor spoken about in Ephesians 6 are like the armor Roman soldiers wore in Paul’s day. If you notice, there is no piece of armor that covers the back. It is because the Roman soldiers would fight their enemy back to back thus protecting their fellow soldier’s back. It is from this form of battle we get our phrase “I’ve got your back.” As Christians, we are to support our brothers and sisters in Christ in battle through prayer and encouragement.
Joshua was named after a mighty man of God who also happened to be a soldier. He is known for many things including the statement:
“But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” [Joshua 24:15]
There is a war going on. It’s time to suit up and pick your side. You’re needed, so put on your armor and let’s go. I’ve got your back!

*Please remember to pray for Joshua and all of our men and women serving our country overseas and at home. They willingly lay down their lives for us every day.
Romans 5:7-8 “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”