We are all in a spiritual battle, and we should prepare now for when that battle intensifies. In other words, don’t wait until you need it to try and get it. The way we prepare now for the battle is by putting on our spiritual armor and taking up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:10-17). We arm ourselves with the sword of the Spirit by getting into the Word and getting the Word in us, which takes time, practice, and investment. Taking up the sword of the Spirit is a growth process – developing a long-term lifestyle of engaging the Word – that requires grace and patience. It is a journey into learning how to use the truth of scripture as a weapon and when to deploy that weapon effectively.