The Helmet of Salvation
Ephesians 6:17a
Take the helmet of salvation… (New International Version)
What Does it Mean?
The fifth piece of our spiritual armour is commonly called the helmet of salvation. Again, this is symbolic of a part of the armour worn by Roman soldiers. The helmet, naturally, protected the head from attack. There is an obvious importance to the armour that protects the head from injury: the head is a vulnerable part of the body and, certainly in the 1st Century AD, head injuries were less likely to be survived than other kinds of injuries.
The helmet is no less important in the spiritual suit of armour that we are given by God. It is representative of the way that satan wants to attack our minds. Let’s face it: that was how he defeated Eve in the Garden of Eden (see Genesis 3 and 2 Corinthians 11:1-3). Our minds are crucial in the battle against satan, because the mind is the chief battlefield where satan desperately fights to gain advantage. But if we wear the helmet of salvation, God controls our minds and satan cannot so easily lead us astray!
You might be wondering how you can wear the helmet of salvation to protect you from satan’s frequent attacks. There are two keys to this. One is the word salvation. If you understand the nature of your salvation – what you have been saved from and what you are saved into, then you are naturally better equipped to defend your mind against satan’s attacks.
The second key is what you feed your mind with. For example, the books we read, the movies we watch and the music that we listen to can all have an effect on how well protected our mind is against the assaults of the enemy. 2 Peter 3:18 encourages us to grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus – if we do this, by studying the Bible and other Christian resources, and by listening to worship music, we are strengthening the helmet that protects us. If, however, we feed our minds with things that give satan an inroad to lead us astray, then holes will soon appear in our protective headgear.
Ponder-Points
How well protected is your mind against the attacks of the enemy?
Can you think of any things that you feed your mind with that might give satan an advantage in the battle for control of your mind?
How can you change the balance in your mind so that satan is at a disadvantage and God is more in control?
Think back to the list you made on day one. How can the helmet of salvation be used to protect you?
Prayer
Father God, we thank you that you have given us the helmet of salvation to aid us on the battlefield of our minds. Thank you for our salvation. Please help us to recognise every day what we have been saved from and what we are saved into. Father God, help us to identify the ways in which we allow things into our minds that give the enemy an advantage on the battlefield, and show us the ways we can redress the balance in your favour. Amen.