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While Satan, his demons, and men are liars and deceivers, God speaks only truth. When we gird up our loins with truth, we are protected from one of Satan’s most effective weapons: discouragement through lies. He attempts to deceive us, confuse us, blind us, keep us in a state of ignorance, and persuade us to trust “experience” or “emotion” or “common sense” or “human philosophy” or “logical reasoning”, etc. instead of God’s Word. He specializes in creating misunderstanding, faulty perceptions, misconceptions, and misleading circumstances in order to keep us defeated and discouraged. The Belt of Truth enables us to overcome all this.

Of course, there are many ways that the enemy attempts to deceive us. But there are a few areas which seem to be especially critical. If he can deceive us into having a faulty understanding of our sin, of God, of our identity as believers, of the power available to us, or of the value of prayer, we’re in trouble.

When I put on the belt of truth, I take some time in prayer to speak these truths back to God. I think He is pleased when I sort of  “remind myself” of these truths in His presence. As I do this, the enemy’s attempts to deceive me in these areas tends to wither away.

By the way, you may have noticed that the first five weapons mentioned in Ephesians 6 are defensive weapons. We must put these on first in order to ward off Satanic attacks. These are put on by using Scripture and prayer. You might pray a prayer something like this: “Father, I thank You that You have said in Your Word, … (quote the passage)…”, etc.Then there is one offensive weapon mentioned—the sword. I believe it is to be used by using Scripture in prayer and in making verbal attacks on the enemy.

In order to put on the belt of truth, you may want to start by praying something like this:

“Father, thank You that Your Word is Truth (John 17:17); that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth (John 14:17 and 15:26); and that Jesus is the Way, The Truth and the Life (John 14:6).”

Next, I find that if I spend some time reminding myself, in prayer, of the Truth as given in God’s Word about the following five areas, a huge number of Satanic attacks are thwarted.

1. The Truth about my sin.
2. The Truth about God.
3. The Truth about my identity in Christ.
4. The Truth about the power of God available to me.
5. The Truth about the effectiveness of prayer.

It’s good to spend a few moments confessing the truth about your sin, something like this:

“Father, I confess the truth about my sin. I recognize that it is serious, ugly, and deadly—but by Your Grace, it had been cleansed away by Jesus’ Blood.”  (Here you might spend some time letting the Spirit convict you of specific personal sin, then confessing the truth about it and receiving God’s cleansing and forgiveness.)

This is essentially a time of praise. Praise is confessing the truth about God!

The Bible contains many expressions of truth about God. Here is a partial list we can confess as part of girding up our loins with truth:

Expressions of Praise:

“Lord, You are:

Jehovah, the Eternal God

El-Shaddai, the Almighty

Adonai, Lord and Master

El-Elyon, God Most High

Jehovah-Jireh, The Lord my Provider

Jehovan-Nissi, The Lord my Banner of Victory

Jehovah-Rophe, The Lord my Healer

Jehovah-Shalom, The Lord my Peace

Jehovah-Rohi, The Lord my Shepherd

Jehovah-Tsidkenu, The Lord my Righteousness

Jehovah-Sahmmah, The Lord Who is here

Jehovah-M’kaddesh, The Lord my Holiness

My Saviour

My Redeemer

Wonderful Counsellor

The Truth

The Light of the world

The Way

My Deliverer

Everlasting Father

Lord of Glory

King of Kings

Lord of Lords

Just, the Righteous Judge

A God of Wrath

Full of compassion and mercy

Full of grace

Full of lovingkindness

Prince of Peace

The Alpha and the Omega

The First and the Last

The Beginning and the End

Lord of all

Great and greatly to be praised

Holy, Holy, Holy

Creator of the heavens, the earth, the seas, and all that is in them

My Strength and my Shield

Majestic

My Rock

My Fortress

All Powerful

All Wise

All Loving

Possessor of all wealth

Mighty

Never Failing

Never sleeping

Never leaving me alone

My Hiding Place

My Refuge

My Sustainer

A Very Present Help in trouble

The One Who forgives all my sins

We can confess the truth that He is worthy of all praise, honor, glory, worship, adoration, magnification, exaltation, thanksgiving, applause, laud, sacrifice, and tribute.

We can confess the truth that He is the Source of all riches, power, authority, might, strength, wisdom, love, truth, righteousness, holiness, salvation, sanctification, and glory.

Praise Passages

We can also confess the truth about Him by reading aloud from several of the many praise passages found in the Bible. Here are a few you may find useful. You may want to look these up and mark them in your own Bible.

Psalms: 9, 18, 20, 24, 29, 33, 34, 47, 57, 59, 66, 68, 89, 95-98, 100, 103, 105, 108, 113, 145, 147-150

Revelation: 4:8-11; 5:9-13; 7:9-12; 11:15-18; 14:6-7; 15:2-4; 16:4-7; 19:1-7; 21:1-7; 22:12-17,20

Isaiah: 35; 40:6-11, 26-31; 41:4-5,10,13,16-20; 42; 43:1-7,10-13,15-16,18-21; 44:3-4,6-8,22-26; 45:4-9,12-13,18-19,21-25; 46:9-10; 48:12-13,16-22; 49:13,22-26; 51:5-16; 52:1-2,7-15; 54; 55; 58:6-12; 59:16-20; 60:1-3,18-20; 61:1-3,10-11; 63:7,15-16; 64; 65:17-19; 66:10-16

Exodus 15; I Chronicles 29:10-13; Luke 1:46-55,68-75; Luke 19:38; Romans 8:28-39; 11:33-36; Ephesians 3:20-21; Philippians 2:9-11

Another excellent way of confessing the truth about God is singing hymns and songs of praise. The expressions and scriptures listed above will probably remind you of several of these.

I confess the truth about myself. We can pray and engage in spiritual warfare with greater confidence when we are firmly grasping the truth about who we are in Christ. This is essentially a type of “testimony” that demonstates that we believe we are who God says we are. This kind of testimony is powerful in overcoming Satan, as Revelation 12:11 makes clear.

“And they overcame him (Satan) because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even to death.” (Revelation 12:11)

According to God’s Word:

I am a child of God (Romans 8:16)

All things are working together for my good. (Romans 8:28)

I am an heir of God and a fellow heir with Christ (Romans 8:17)

I am being transformed into the same image (of the glory of the Lord) from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18)

I am in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

I am a new creature. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

I am a citizen of heaven. (Philippians 3:20)

I am redeemed. (Galatians 3:13)

I am God’s own purchased possession. (Revelation 5:9)

I am a stranger and pilgrim here on earth. (1 Peter 2:11)

I am an ambassador from the Kingdom of God (2 Corinthians 5:20)

I am held in His hand and no one can snatch me away. (John 10:29)

Sin shall not be master over me. (Romans 6:14)

I am seated with Christ in the heavenlies (Ephesians 1:20)

Christ is in me. (Colossians 1:27)

I am the righteousness of God in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

I have been made complete in Him. (Colossians 2:9-10)

I have been set free by the Truth. (John 8:31-32)

I am loved by Jesus. (John 15:9; Romans 8:38-39)

I have died to sin. (Romans 6:2-11)

I have been raised with Christ to walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4)

My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit Who is in me. (1 Corinthians 6:11)

I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

God supplies all my needs according to His riches in glory. (Philippians 4:19)

I have authority over all the power of the enemy. (Luke 10:19)

God will never leave me or forsake me. (Hebrews 13:5)

I am more than a conqueror in all things. (Romans 8:37)

I reign in life. (Romans 5:17)

Goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life. (Psalm 23:6)

I am qualified to share in the inheritance of the saints. (Colossians 1:12)

I have received the Power of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:8)

I confess the truth about the Power of God, working through me.

“You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.” (Acts 1:8)

“Now to Him Who is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us…” (Ephesians 3:20)

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know… what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.” (Ephesians 1:18-19)

“Truly, truly I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do, because I go to the Father.” (John 14:12)

“For the kingdom of God does not consist in words, but in power.” (1 Corinthians 4:20)

“’My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore I will rather boast about my weakness, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

“(That you may be) strengthened with all power according to His glorious migiht.” (Colossians 1:11)

“For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

“He gives strength to the weary; and to him who lacks might He increases power.” (Isaiah 40:29)

“In the last days difficult times will come. For men will be… holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power.” (2 Timothy 3:1,2,5)

I confess the truth about answered prayer. The enemy would love to convince us that prayer is a powerless exercise. He likes to remind us of times when prayer did not seem to change things. He will do anything he can to get us to doubt what God has said about prayer. That’s why we need to gird up our loins with the truth about prayer by filling our mind with verses like these:

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

“The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry. The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.” (Psalm 34:15, 17)

“Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.” (Psalm 37:4-5)

“And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” (Psalm 50:15)

“For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. Give ear, O Lord, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications. In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.” (Psalm 86:5-7)

“The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear Him: He also will hear their cry, and will save them.” (Psalm 145:18-19)

“Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near:” (Isaiah 55:6)

“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” (Jeremiah 33:3)

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?” (Matthew 7:7-11)

“Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 18:19)

“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” (Matthew 21:22)

“Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” (Mark 11:24)

“And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:1-8)

“And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” (John 14:13-14)

“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples” (John 15:7-8)

“And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, He will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” (John 16:23-24)

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:26-27)

“Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20)

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” (Ephesians 6:18)

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

“Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

“I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.” (1 Timothy 2:8)

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (James 1:5)

“Ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” (James 4:2-3)

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” (James 4:7-8)

“And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment, That we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as He gave us commandment.” (1 John 3:22-23)

“And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us: And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.” (1 John 5:14-15)

Obviously, I do not try to quote all these verses every time I put on the belt of truth! You may be impressed to use some more than others. However, you will find that as you commit more and more of these to memory, you will be building a powerful defense against many of the enemy’s attacks. Let the Holy Spirit be your Guide!

Steve Hall
1997