III – Be

Self-Defense Body Armor for Spiritual Warfare

For the Christian, self-defense is not limited to warding off physical threats only; it includes the tactical necessity for acute and discerning situational awareness to thwart personal temptations and spiritual attacks.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Free Online Educational Resources to Grow Your Spiritual Knowledge ]

The pastor of Ada Bible Church, in Grand Rapids, MI, Aaron Buer, preached the 4-part sermon series titled The Armor of God, which examines each element of the Roman armor and weapon that the Apostle Paul used as a metaphor for the defensive and offensive tools Christians require when battling against spiritual forces. (An earlier series explained the reality and nature of spiritual warfare in our daily lives; attacks to our soul coming from three directions: the devil, the world, and our own nature.)

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Watch each of the videos below to more completely understand the protective biblical body armor God tells us to put on every day.

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Pray the Prayers of the Apostle Paul

Prayer and reading Scripture are fundamentally important in our Christian journey as the primary ways to build a deep, loving, personal relationship, seek guidance, express praise and thanks, confess sins, find strength, and align our will with God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These are the “lifeblood” of a believer’s spiritual health, enabling participation in furthering God’s kingdom and His work on Earth.

[ Read SemperVerus articles on the topic of SPIRITUAL FITNESS ]

Effective prayer is a vital, transformative connection to God rather than merely a way to request favors of him. Essential themes include treating prayer as a conversation, seeking strength over easier circumstances, and fostering a submissive heart.

[ Read SemperVerus articles on the topic of the BIBLE ]

The Apostle Paul’s prayers in the New Testament are characterized by, among other qualities, intense gratitude, intercession for the spiritual growth of churches, encouragement, and requests for wisdom, love, and vigor for believers. His key prayers focus on strengthening faith, unity, knowing God’s will, and persevering in hope.

[ Read SemperVerus articles on the topic of PRAYER ]

Use Paul’s prayers as transformative inspiration for your own prayers. What follows is a compilation of all of Paul’s prayers and prayer directives, drawn from the book Praying with Paul: A Call to Spiritual Reformation by D.A. Carson:

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US Dept. of War Elevating Chaplaincy Corps Back to Spiritual Significance


US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth spoke via a Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) video Dec. 16, 2025 to announce immediate changes to directives given to military chaplains. He said George Washington’s original intent of establishing chaplains was that they were “to be the spiritual and moral backbone of our nation’s forces.” But he said that role has been degraded due to “an atmosphere of political correctness and secular humanism,” which has minimized chaplains to the role of “therapists, instead of ministers.”

[ Read the SemperVerus article, US Military Academy Prayers ]

Watch the video and read the transcript below:

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Bible Use Is on the Rise Again in America, According to State of the Bible 2025

Research published by American Bible Society in its 15th annual State of the Bible report for 2025 shows a renewed interest in Scripture in today’s culture, marked by a notable uptick in Scripture engagement and Bible use—driven especially by men and young adults.

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What You’ll Find in the Report:

⇨   The Bible in America Today
After a decline, Bible use is on the rise again in America. Unexpected groups are leading this resurgence, engaging with Scripture in new ways.

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