True righteousness begins with a right relationship with God.

A Roman soldier would often engage his enemy in hand- to-hand combat. At such times, the weapon of choice was the short sword, with which he sought to penetrate his opponent's vital organs. For his own protection he wore a molded metal breastplate that extended from the base of his neck to the top of his thighs. It helped deflect any attacks aimed at his heart and abdomen.

The Roman breastplate has great symbolism in Paul's analogy because to the Jewish people, the heart represented man's mind and thinking processes; the intestinal area or bowels represented the seat of feelings and emotions. Proverbs 23:7 7 For as he thinketh within himself, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; But his heart is not with thee. says, "As [a man] thinketh in his heart, so is he" (KJV). Jeremiah 17:9 9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly corrupt: who can know it? says, "The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?" Jesus added, "From within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts" ( Mark 7:21 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, evil thoughts proceed, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, ).

During spiritual warfare, Satan's primary attacks target your thinking and emotions. If he can condition you to think and feel contrary to God's Word, he has won a significant victory. That's why he attempts to fill your mind with lies, immorality, false doctrine, and half-truths. He tries to blur the line between righteousness and sin by surrounding you with evil influences that increase your tolerance for sin. He clothes offensive sin in the blinding garment of entertainment. He puts it to music and masks it in humor to confuse you and deaden your spiritual senses. Satan wants to corrupt your emotions and draw you into sinful desires.

Putting on the breastplate of righteousness begins with a right relationship with God, who is the source of true righteousness. From that relationship flows the commitment to cultivate righteousness in your own life by learning and applying His Word. Therein lies the protection you need to safeguard your mind and emotions from satanic deceptions.

Suggestions for Prayer

Focus on strengthening your relationship with God today. Commune with Him in prayer. Meditate on His Word. Seek His grace in responding thoughtfully and righteously to the temptations you face.

For Further Study

Read Proverbs 10 Chapter 10 1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father; But a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother. 2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing; But righteousness delivereth from death. 3 Jehovah will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish; But he thrusteth away the desire of the wicked. 4 He becometh poor that worketh with a slack hand; But the hand of the diligent maketh rich. 5 He that gathereth in summer is a wise son; `But' he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame. 6 Blessings are upon the head of the righteous; But violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. 7 The memory of the righteous is blessed; But the name of the wicked shall rot. 8 The wise in heart will receive commandments; But a prating fool shall fall. 9 He that walketh uprightly walketh surely; But he that perverteth his ways shall be known. 10 He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow; But a prating fool shall fall. 11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life; But violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. 12 Hatred stirreth up strifes; But love covereth all transgressions. 13 In the lips of him that hath discernment wisdom is found; But a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding. 14 Wise men lay up knowledge; But the mouth of the foolish is a present destruction. 15 The rich man's wealth is his strong city: The destruction of the poor is their poverty. 16 The labor of the righteous `tendeth' to life; The increase of the wicked, to sin. 17 He is in the way of life that heedeth correction; But he that forsaketh reproof erreth. 18 He that hideth hatred is of lying lips; And he that uttereth a slander is a fool. 19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression; But he that refraineth his lips doeth wisely. 20 The tongue of the righteous is `as' choice silver: The heart of the wicked is little worth. 21 The lips of the righteous feed many; But the foolish die for lack of understanding. 22 The blessing of Jehovah, it maketh rich; And he addeth no sorrow therewith. 23 It is as sport to a fool to do wickedness; And `so is' wisdom to a man of understanding. 24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him; And the desire of the righteous shall be granted. 25 When the whirlwind passeth, the wicked is no more; But the righteous is an everlasting foundation. 26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, So is the sluggard to them that send him. 27 The fear of Jehovah prolongeth days; But the years of the wicked shall be shortened. 28 The hope of the righteous `shall be' gladness; But the expectation of the wicked shall perish. 29 The way of Jehovah is a stronghold to the upright; But it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity. 30 The righteous shall never be removed; But the wicked shall not dwell in the land. 31 The mouth of the righteous bringeth forth wisdom; But the perverse tongue shall be cut off. 32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable; But the mouth of the wicked `speaketh' perverseness. , noting Solomon's description of righteous people.

From Drawing Near by John MacArthur Copyright © 1993. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.

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