"Wrapped in God's TRUTH" ~ Belt of Truth

copyrighted by Art4Him Studios 2024

"Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."       John 14:17

I had the privilege of painting this sweet, godly lady from my church to represent one of the pieces of God's armor...the belt of truth. As I studied about this piece of armor, I learned several things.
Roman soldiers would wear a sash or belt that was made usually of leather and wrapped around their waist to hold their pieces of armor in place; like their breastplate, the sheath to hold their sword and other valuable items they would need. When they went into combat, this belt was tightened. Soldiers nowadays wear a harness wrapped around them to help hold and carry the items needed as they go into combat.
As believers, we too wear a harness or belt as we go into spiritual combat. It is called TRUTH! In Ephesians 6:13-14a it says, "Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth." Paul is telling us, here,  that we need to gird/wrap ourselves in God's truth to be able to withstand the evil one; in our daily lives.
The enemy likes to distort the truth and constantly an accuses the brethren. He wants to hinder and harm the work that God is doing in our lives. He seeks to steal, kill and destroy. He's been a liar from the beginning. As Christians, we are to be children of truth. In John 8:31-32, we are reminded, "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, 'If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.' "
How do we put on the belt of truth? We can gain God's truth, through His Word: the Bible, praying, and attending church. It is through each of these things that we are able to wrap His truth around us.
Let's look at God's Word first.  Psalm 119:105 says, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." When we are in His word daily, He gives us the ammunition to not only fight against the enemy, but also to give us the nourishment we need to grow in our Christian walk, and share that with others. We also read in John 14:6, "Jesus saith unto him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.' "  He is our TRUTH and He is the only way to the Father. God's word not only gives us ammunition for defense, nourishment for growth and sharing but directions to the One who is TRUTH! He sets us apart as stated in John 17:17,  "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."
The next one we want to look at is Prayer. How can I relate prayer with the "belt of truth"? We just read how God's Word, the Bible, is TRUTH. It is God speaking to us. God does not want just Him talking to us, He wants to hear from us. When I was a lot younger in my faith, I thought prayer was just asking God for things, like health, family, help in trials, etc.. . Since then, I have learned that prayer is so much more. It helps tie in the fact that as a child of God, I do not have a religion but a relationship with the One who created me. Communication is important to build a relationship with someone, it goes both ways..
Jesus gave the perfect model for prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen."  I see so much truth, wrapped around us here.
When we pray, we are acknowledging who God truly is. We also are reminded that when we pray, we should want God's will, not our own. Do we ask for God to provide for our needs? YES! Here we see in this prayer that we are to ask for our daily needs. Philippians 4:6-7 says, "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." We are not to worry about our needs, just bring them to Him with a thankful heart.
We also see that we are to be confessing our sins as it says in 1 John 1:9, " If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  As we grow in our relationship with Him, His truth gives us the strength we need to protect us from the enemy.
Finally, we look at the church. How is that wrapping God's truth around us? By going to church, we not only hear God's Word, His truth, taught to us, we also are encouraged to lift the body of Christ up. When we are not going, we are not being encouraged in His truth and in the love of fellow believers. We are reminded that we are to encourage one another in love and good works. as stated in Hebrews 10:24-25, "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."   It's nice knowing that someone is praying for you, but how much more meaningful is it, when they take the time and physically pray with you in person or on the phone.
In this painting, we see each of the different ways we put on the belt of truth. This sweet lady has her Bible opened to represent reading God's Word, her hands folded in prayer and sitting at church prepared to learn more of God's truth. The background represents the painted glass windows of a church with a little picture in the circle. That circle also represents the belt of truth with the opened Bible and the praying hands. If you look at the open Bible, you will see a ribbon, with a buckle I added to represent the belt of truth. The gold wrapped around the canvas represents our real destination someday as His children…Heaven, where we will be surrounded by His truth for all eternity.
Are you walking in a manner that is worthy of your calling? Are you "Wrapped in God's TRUTH"...daily?