How to be Spiritually Ready for Easter

It’s just a few days before Easter. We’re always in a spiritual battle, but if you’re like me, this is when you’re particularly vulnerable to spiritual attack. Everything intensifies during Easter because Satan knows God is getting ready to do something incredible through your church.

So what do you do?

I’m guessing you’ve preached from Ephesians 6 on multiple occasions. I want to remind you that preparing for spiritual warfare isn’t just for the people we teach. As leaders in God’s family, we’re in the battle, too.

The Bible says in Ephesians 6:13, “Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm” (NLT).

Let’s look at what we need to do in order to stand firm:

• Belt of truth (6:14): This represents integrity, which means not compartmentalizing your life so you’re behaving one way in the pulpit and another way the rest of the week. If you lack integrity in one area of your life, you’ll be vulnerable.

Is there some area of your life you’re afraid your family or your congregation will find out about? Do people know the real you?

• Breastplate of righteousness (6:14): God will not bless an impure heart. Satan loves to attack us with impure temptations. He knows if he can get his foot in the door of our purity, we’re goners.

Are you letting impurity into your life? What could accountability look like?

• Shoes of peace (6:15): The Bible tells us we’re to do two things with peace. We’re to live it, and we’re to speak it. If you have an unreconciled relationship, you’re wide open for Satan.

Do you have any unreconciled relationships in your life?

• Shield of faith (6:16): On our own, we don’t have the power to stand against attacks from the Enemy. Satan will work to fill our minds with doubt, discouragement, and depression. Having faith means believing the promises of God rather than the lies of the Enemy.

Are you currently believing any lies from Satan? What does God’s Word say about those lies?

• Helmet of salvation (6:17): You can’t choose what happens to you, but you can choose your thoughts. Your thoughts determine your feelings, and your feelings determine your actions. Thinking about our salvation in Christ is protection from destructive thoughts that ultimately lead to destructive behavior. We can take hope in our salvation. No matter what we are facing today, the battle is already won in Christ.

Are you currently struggling with destructive thoughts? What would it look like for you to set your hope in Christ?

• Sword of the Spirit (6:17): The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. It’s a weapon that takes aim at Satan’s territory. Jesus taught us to use this weapon when he faced Satan’s temptations in the desert as he responded to Satan with memorized Scripture.

Are you consistently memorizing Scripture, so you’re prepared to take new ground from Satan?

In prayer, ask God to help you put on his armor:

Lord, help me to live with integrity.
Lord, help me to build my life on truth.
Lord, help me to keep my life pure today.
Lord, help me to make peace in my relationships.
Lord, protect my mind from impure thoughts.
Lord, help me memorize your Word.

Easter will be great for your church; put on the full armor of God so that you’ll be standing after the battle.