#Breastplate of righteousness

[theindomitablewoman]

The Full Armor of God

A Guide to Spiritual Resilience & Divine Alignment

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against (overcome/neutralize) the devil’s schemes.” — Ephesians 6:11

To “put on the full armor of God” comes from Ephesians 6:10-18, where Paul describes spiritual protection that believers need to stand against negative forces, deception, and challenges in life. It symbolizes embodying divine strength, wisdom, and virtues to navigate trials with faith and resilience.

The armor of God is not about engaging in physical battles but cultivating an inner state that protects against deception, fear, and ego-driven influences. It is about standing in divine truth, unwavering faith, and spiritual discernment. Below is a deep exploration of each piece, its scriptural foundation, insights from master teachers, self-reflection questions, and practical applications.

This passage is about SPIRITUAL EMPOWERMENT—it reminds you to stay centered in divine truth, reject fear-based conditioning, and navigate life with clarity, resilience, and love. It’s not about external battles but an internal alignment with your highest self, embodying divine presence in all areas of life.

"I've been to dark places. I've lost my foundation. Scrapped my knees, begging for something new. Just hold on tight so I can make it through. There's nothing else I can do. I guess I'm gonna have to trust you." -Stephen Stanley "Your Way, Not Mine Your Timing, Not Mine Your Will, Not Mine Your Path. Your Plan. My Life in Your Hands. I Surrender ALL to YOU!" -Jon Reddick

The Belt of Truth 

Grounding in Divine Reality

“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist.” — Ephesians 6:14

The belt holds everything together, just as truth secures our spiritual foundation. This is about discerning divine truth from illusion—whether external deception or internal self-delusion. Truth aligns us with higher wisdom and prevents us from being swayed by fear, manipulation, or false narratives.

“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32) — Jesus “Truthful words are not beautiful; beautiful words are not truthful. Good words are not persuasive; persuasive words are not good.” — Lao Tzu “Don’t get lost in your pain, know that one day your pain will become your cure.” — Rumi

SELF-REFLECTION

What internal or external illusions am I clinging to?

Where am I afraid of truth, and why?

How can I cultivate a deeper relationship with divine wisdom rather than seeking validation from human narratives?

FIND YOUR TRUTH

Engage in honest self-inquiry—journal truths you’ve resisted.

Practice discernment—notice where fear clouds your ability to see truth.

Meditate on scriptural wisdom to distinguish divine truth from societal conditioning.

The Breastplate of Righteousness 

Guarding the Heart with Integrity

“With the breastplate of righteousness in place.”  — Ephesians 6:14

The breastplate protects the heart, symbolizing the need to guard our inner world against resentment, judgment, and misaligned desires. Righteousness is not about moral superiority but about alignment with divine love, acting from integrity rather than ego-driven impulses.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8) — Jesus “The mind is everything. What you think you become.” — Buddha “Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.” — Dalai Lama

SELF-REFLECTION

Do my actions align with divine love, or are they driven by pride, fear, or validation?

How do I protect my heart from resentment without closing it off to love?

Where am I called to act with greater integrity in my relationships and work?

FIND YOUR INTEGRITY

Engage in heart-centered meditation to release anger or judgment.

Choose conscious kindness—act from love, even when ego wants to react.

Cultivate moral courage—stand for righteousness, even when inconvenient.

The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace 

Walking with Inner and Outer Harmony

“And with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.” — Ephesians 6:15

Shoes represent our foundation—how we move through the world. The gospel of peace is about embodying inner stillness and non-reactivity, choosing to walk in harmony rather than conflict.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.”  (John 14:27) — Jesus “Peace is every step.” — Thich Nhat Hanh “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” — Gandhi

SELF-REFLECTION

Where am I allowing external chaos to disturb my inner peace?

How do I contribute to peace (or conflict) in my relationships?

In what areas do I need to trust divine timing rather than forcing control?

FIND YOUR PEACE & HARMONY

Practice mindful walking—move with presence and gratitude.

Engage in conscious breathwork to cultivate inner stillness.

Choose peace over reaction—pause before responding in anger.

The Shield of Faith 

Deflecting Doubt and Fear

“Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” — Ephesians 6:16

Faith acts as a shield, protecting us from the “arrows” of fear, doubt, and negativity. It is trust in divine order, even when circumstances seem uncertain.

“Do not be afraid; just believe.” (Mark 5:36) — Jesus “Faith is not about everything turning out okay. It’s about being okay no matter how things turn out.” — Mother Teresa “As you start to walk on the way, the way appears.” — Rumi

SELF-REFLECTION

Where am I letting fear dictate my choices instead of faith?

Do I truly trust divine timing, or do I try to force outcomes?

How can I strengthen my faith in difficult moments?

FIND YOUR FAITH

Affirm divine protection daily—replace fear-driven thoughts with trust in God and Self.

Keep a faith journal—record moments where divine guidance appeared.

Surround yourself with faith-affirming people and teachings.

The Helmet of Salvation 

Guarding the Mind from Falsehood

“Take the helmet of salvation.” — Ephesians 6:17

The mind is a battlefield. This helmet shields against limiting beliefs, self-doubt, and deceptive thoughts. Salvation consciousness means aligning thoughts with divine wisdom, rejecting ego-driven fears.

“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2)  — Jesus “The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts.”  — Marcus Aurelius

SELF-REFLECTION

Are you choosing to indulge in Fear or Love? Are you loving yourself, too?

Are you choosing to feed Doubt or Faith?

Are you choosing to live in Deception or Truth?

Are you choosing alignment with Chaos/Distraction or Peace/Clarity?

HONE YOUR CLARITY/DISCERNMENT

Challenge limiting beliefs—ask, “Is this thought from love or fear?”

Meditate on higher truths to rewire thought patterns.

The Sword of the Spirit 

Using Divine Wisdom as Power

“The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” — Ephesians 6:17

The sword represents discernment and spiritual wisdom. Unlike other armor, it is the only offensive piece—truth and divine wisdom cut through illusion.

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4) — Jesus

SELF REFLECTION

How are you recognizing and disengaging from manipulative or ego-driven dynamics?

Are you trusting in divine guidance when faced with emotional challenges?

How are you moving forward with clarity and faith, rather than getting caught in cycles of doubt or external validation?

Are you holding onto your joy, creativity, and your spiritual calling despite resistance from others?

CULTIVATE YOUR WISDOM

Study sacred texts—use them as guidance.

Speak with clarity and truth—words create reality.

Putting on the armor of God is a daily spiritual practice—aligning with truth, righteousness, peace, faith, divine wisdom, and salvation consciousness which must be aligned with to sustainably produce the fruits of the spirit in your mortal life. 

How will you implement these in your life today?

FULL ARMOR OF GOD (Snapshot)

Belt of Truth 

Living in honesty and integrity, being grounded in divine truth rather than deception or illusion.

Breastplate of Righteousness 

Guarding your heart by choosing righteousness, aligning actions with love and virtue.

Shoes of the Gospel of Peace 

Walking with peace, spreading harmony, and being steadfast in faith even in adversity.

Shield of Faith 

Defending against doubts, fears, and negativity by trusting in divine guidance and protection.

Helmet of Salvation 

Guarding your mind from confusion, despair, and falsehoods, anchoring yourself in divine purpose.

Sword of the Spirit (Word of God) 

Using divine wisdom, scripture, and spiritual discernment to navigate challenges.

ARMOR UP!

[thelordismylightandmysalvation]

Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

Graphic via Verse of the Day - Ephesians 6:14-15 (ESV)

[walkswithmyfather]

“Armor Of God Prayer:

Father God,

I put on and stand firm with the BELT OF TRUTH buckled around my waist

I am safe and secure with the BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS guarding my heart from evil, helping me live a life that honors You

I diligently put on the GOSPEL SHOES OF PEACE, willing to go wherever you ask of me

I take and stand behind the SHIELD OF FAITH protected against Satan's fiery darts of doubt, fear, lies and deceit

Now on my head I place the HELMET OF SALVATION keeping my mind focused on You

I grab hold in my hands THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, the Word of God, sharp and true

I am prepared to live today in spiritual victory in Jesus' namel AMEN!” 🙏🕊️🙌

(Based on Ephesians 6:10-18)

[allscripture]

THE ARMOR OF GOD

10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Ephesians 6:10-18 (KJV)

[freebiblestudies]

Line Upon Line Lesson 078: The Breastplate of Judgment and Righteousness

Exodus 28:15 - You shall make the breastplate of judgment. Artistically woven according to the workmanship of the ephod you shall make it: of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, you shall make it.

One of the most interesting pieces of the vestments for the high priest was the breastplate of judgment. In general, a breastplate is a metal plate worn as defensive armor to protect the chest area.  However, this breastplate was different.

Let’s read together Exodus 28:27-30 and Exodus 39:20-22.

The breastplate was not made of metal. Rather, it was made of the same thread and fine linen as the ephod. The breastplate had twelve precious stones set in it. The breastplate  also had two gold rings and two braided gold chains to securely bind the breastplate to the ephod.

The breastplate symbolized the twelve tribes of Israel. The high priest was to keep their concerns close to his heart as he did his priestly work in the sanctuary. The high priest also represented the people to God on the day of atonement, which foreshadowed the final judgment.

Let’s read together Isaiah 59:16-20; Ephesians 6:14; and 1 Thessalonians 5:8.

Interestingly, there are references to a breastplate as protective armor. The breastplate is specifically referred to as the breastplate of righteousness in the books of Isaiah and Ephesians. The breastplate is referred to as the breastplate of faith and love in the book of 1 Thessalonians.

In the book of Isaiah, Jesus put on the breastplate of righteousness and redeemed His people. In the book of Ephesians, we are encouraged to put on the breastplate of righteousness.

Let’s read together Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 4:8; Psalm 19:9; Psalm 94:15; Isaiah 5:16; Jeremiah 4:2; Daniel 7:22; John 5:30; and 2 Thessalonians 1:5.

There is a clear link between judgment and righteousness in the Bible. Jesus redeemed humanity through His righteous sacrifice on the cross. As followers of Christ, we are exhorted to put on the breastplate of righteousness and to follow Him in faith and love.

Friend, will you put on the breastplate of judgment and righteousness?

[abasilence-ministries]

Exposing Opened Doors-A Spiritual Warfare Lesson

On the BattleField Spiritual Warfare Training God Almighty is the SOURCE of all wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.HE tells us in Jeremiah 33:3 to ask of him and he will show us great and unsearchable things.Through a study of God’s Word, and by the example set by Jesus Christ, I have been taught to address the core of issues and not the surface matter.In this training (Psalm 144:1), the Holy…

[tom4jc]

April 4, 2024 Verse Of The Day

[graceandpeacejoanne]

Isaiah 59: The Armor of God

God is not indifferent to wrong, and God knows you and I cannot rescue ourselves. #Isaiah59 #ArmorofGod

God is not indifferent to wrong, and God knows you and I cannot rescue ourselves. The Armor of God “He saw that there was no one    and was appalled that there was no one to intervene,so his own arm brought him victory,    and his righteousness upheld him.” Isaiah 59:16 (NRSVUE) God will redeem those who turn to the Lord, and God will give recompense to those who have made themselves enemies…

[dkcdude]

Raise Shields

I have to admit that I’m a fan of Star Trek and most of its children and grandchildren. One consistent thing across all variants of the show is that as soon as any sort of bad guy started attacking the Enterprise (or other starship), the first thing Captain Kirk (or other captain) would do is order, “Raise shields.” One thing I always wondered, though, is why they would wait until they were under��

[encourager98]

Put On The Breastplate Of Righteousness For Protectiom

youtube.com/watch The Breastplate is not for cowards! Ephesians 6:11-17 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God,…

[wiirocku]

Ephesians 6:14 (NKJV) - Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

[heartsings77]

Ephesians 6:10-18 NKJV 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;��18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

[muppetjokernumberfiftysevenfan]

I have returned.

my findings are below the cut, due to the wall of text.

I was correct in my assumptions about the astral plane. I was able to don the following:

the belt of truth buckled around my waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place ( ephesians 6:14 ), with my feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace ( ephesians 6:15 ), the shield of faith ( ephesians 6:16 ), and the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit ( ephesians 6:17 ).

I could not see myself, for there are no mirrors within the astral plane. at best, I could only see my arms, my torso, and my legs. I felt a strange weight betwixt my shoulder-blades, and found I had wings with which to carry myself.

and... so I did. with feathery, silvery wings, I flew toward the door on the horizon.

like I promised @themuppetarchives, I did not dare touch it. I stayed twenty feet away from it at all times.

I... admit to feeling... pulled toward it. there was a weight within my chest, heavy like an iron ball attached to a chain that was being tugged by the door itself. it was a compulsion to step closer. to understand. to know.

but I was then reminded of those words of caution I asked for. so I did not move closer.

from what I can recall, the door looked like this:

I recall seeing swirls of color around the door. or was it underneath the gap of the bottom of the door? I cannot remember. I just know there were colors. so many, in fact, that some of them must not have been on the spectrum humans can see.

the door itself appeared to be made of... wood? the texture kept changing. the only constant was a swirl pattern, but that kept moving about as well. it was incredibly disorienting. I had to look away a few times.

the handle was, indeed, dark in color. a dark brass. that was the only true constant.

it was then that the door opened, just a crack.

I took several steps back, readying myself with the sword of the spirit in the event I was to enter combat with... whatever came out.

what emerged was beyond my wildest expectations.

a toy horse. small, plush, and made of felt.

it looked like this:

I... I think I heard it neigh at me.

or whatever constitutes as a neigh from the mouth of a felted horse toy.

as quickly as it appeared, however, it vanished behind the door as it closed back up. I think... I think it wanted me to follow it.

but given recent events surrounding horses, I knew better.

so I made my escape away from the door.

and then I woke up.

I don't. I don't know what to make of this. I can tell you, though, the door is indeed dangerous. I sensed evil behind it. the scent of sulfur filled my nostrils with every breath I took.

so.

I implore you.

do not open the door.

[renatogpadilla]

Light-Bleed.

It was supposed to be another patrol.

Lux and her Illuminators were supposed to be the scouts. That was the point of the name! Illuminate where the threat was and then Garen's men would take care of it. To the Demacian commoner, they were a charitable order of pious men and women who gave charity to the poor and downtrodden, but they could hold their own if push came to shove. Of course, that was only until backup arrived... At least without Lux outing herself.

So when they realized the little mage camp they were supposed to scout out was the current acting base of the Sylas of Dregbourne, saying they were in over their head was the understatement of the century.

Care to imagine what happens when you send a closeted Demacian mage-noble to a camp with a guy whose main superpower is to literally detect and absorb magic...?

What happens, as Garen Crownguard would discover that day, was a massacre.

When the Mageseekers arrived, there weren't many enemies left to fight. Just the marks of a long pair of magical chains, lining the split remains of the members of his sister's squadron.

If you're an older sibling, you might be able to imagine a fraction of the fear that Garen felt. All these bodies, of Mages and Illuminators alike... They could have all been killed, but they'd fought to the last man... They'd actually forced a retreat from Sylas from his own base. For all intents and purposes, they'd won the day!

But they weren't here to celebrate. They weren't here to cheer and rejoice that that monster had one less foothold in their home... They were dead. Splintered. Chained to death.

And his sister was nowhere in sight.

There was never a more panicked man than Garen Crownguard as he was in that moment. His men could handle the stragglers. He immediately started looking for survivors, but the big brother in him really only looked for one.

He caught the little flash of light out of the corner of his eye. Dim as death, but it was there. And he started digging under a small mound of bodies, once men and women of the Shield, like himself. And below the remains of about ten dead Illuminators, barely clinging to life, with a cracked breastplate, and a bleeding out of her side, her hands aglow, agonizing, but alive, was his sister Lux.

He picked her up as gently as he could in the state she was in. She'd hidden under the bodies to live. Or had they hidden her in the end, even knowing what she was? Gods, she would hate herself for this forever... He would make sure every single one of them had a hero's burial. He tucked her hands close to his chest so nobody could see, and his men understood. They took one look at him and told him to go. Normally, he would be the one staying above everyone else... Since when do his men give him orders? But this was Lux, and if there was one thing that had been abundantly clear since he day Garen had become a member of the Dauntless Vanguard and of the Mageseekers, and all of the men and women under him knew it, was the unshakeable faith and insurmountable love the Lord Commander felt for his little sister, and her for him. The few people that knew them personally would swear upon the Spirits that Lux was the only real weakness Garen had. The only thing that could cause him true damage.

And now his sister was dying.

The Mageseekers knew two things for sure as they saw him carry his sister away, running to where he knew she would have leashed her horse, Starfire, to a tree far enough away from danger: The first was that the pain he was going through right now was the most broken they would ever see him.

The second was that the reckoning that would befall the man that had dared lay hands on his little sister would be so righteously terrible, so incredibly brutal and visceral, that the Protector herself would look away in disgust.

But right now, Garen was running... and he was panicking. His sister winced in pain and her hands lit up brighter. She was glowing! He couldn't take her back to the Garrison! They'd know! He couldn't-!

"B-brother..." She could barely form the word. "Star..."

"I know, Lux, I know! I'll get her! I'll get you! You're going to be fine, I swear!" He rounded the corner and indeed, there was Starfire, whining like crazy. There had to be someone he could take her to...! All the healers were under the Crown, and everyone that wasn't was not going to keep their mouth shut about a Mage noble! Who else, who else...?!

He got close to the horse and his sister put a weak, glowing hand to her nozzle and whispered a name between whimpers.

"Isha..."

The horse got it immediately. As soon as she was free and Garen and Lux were on top, she bolted faster than Garen had ever seen her. Isha...? Garen hadn't seen her since the talk they'd had on the balcony a few months back... But she and Lux were close. She already knew... Whether she could help...

He'd trust his sister.

If she thought Isha could save her, he'd put his faith in her too. He let Starfire guide him to the woods next to a little town he'd never heard of before. Into the woods she galloped, fast as lightning, and dodged what Garen would later know were small metal plates on the ground. Traps, for intruders that got too close. Star knew the pattern by heart now.

His sister's whole skin was glowing. No. Not glowing... Flickering. In and out and dimmer every time.

The mare stopped in front of a ramshackle hut in the middle of the woods. Garen didn't have time to appreciate the decor. He patted Star on the head and carried his sister off.

"ISHA!!!" He shouted at the top of his lungs. "ISHA, SHE NEEDS YOU!"

He didn't hear the door unlock over his own heartbeat. The girl with the blue hair basically pushed the door down, her hand clutching something on her thigh.

"Garen? How did you-?" She managed. Then she saw her... Lux bleeding in her brother's arms, her glow wild and uncontrollable, barely clinging to life.

Her world came crumbling down all at once.

"Please..." Garen barely managed it.

That snapped her out of it. "Get her inside." She whispered, almost to herself, and then louder. "GET HER INSIDE, NOW!"

Whatever was on the main table was thrown to the side before Garen could lumber through the door. He put his sister there, in the middle of the room and gave Isha some space. At once, the raggedy woman started patching her up, taking whatever supplies she had on hand. And cleaning up the wounds.

"There's a lot of blood... I can't... There's gotta be SOMETHING!" She'd dressed the wounds and cleaned them up. She'd tried every ointment she could think of that would be safe and even removed pieces of metal from her wounds, but now Jinx was fully panicking. Lux was twitching on the table... What the hell could she do?! She'd not seen wounds this bad since... since...

"Stay awake, baby, stay with me!" The girl said, repeating it to both his sister and herself. Her hands moved so fast Garen couldn't keep track... He thought he saw a flash of purple as she moved from time to time, but that was probably him hallucinating out of stress. Little by little, a bunch of bandages and rags got tinted red...

Too red... Too much...! She could fix the lesser injuries but...

Oh. That's what she could do. What she and nobody else could.

She leaned over Lux's face. "Lux? I need you to listen to me... There's something I can do. And I don't know if it'll work, but if it does, it's going to hurt like hell. It's risky but it's all I've got, okay, love?"

Lux managed to lock eyes with her and Garen saw a softness - a love - he'd never seen in his sister before, even through the pain. She nodded. "Trust y-you..."

That was all Jinx needed to hear.

"I love you. Whatever happens, I love you, Luxanna." She kissed her like there was no tomorrow, and for a fraction of a second she was afraid there wouldn't be... "Garen, get her on the bed!" She said, and she ran to her workbench.

Garen didn't have to be told twice.

"I have you sister! I'm here, we're both here! We're not going anywhere!" He carried her to the room in the back and laid her on a comfy thatch bed. "What now?!"

Isha came into the room, rubbing a wet cotton furiously on her arm. "Now, you hold her down. This is going to be bad."

Then she pulled out a syringe and started drawing her own blood without a second of hesitation.

"What are you-?"

"My blood's not all normal. There's a drug in there that saved my life before. I'm hoping it saves her's too."

"Hoping?!"

"I'VE GOT NOTHING ELSE! YOU WANT HER TO LIVE OR NOT?!?!"

As she said it Garen could barely notice her eyes glowing, a small flash of purple, and then a brighter glow, not from her eyes, but from the syringe. A mix of crimson and neon purple that Garen could feel went against everything he once believed in... Blood Magic, in the most literal sense.

Isha got closer. "Okay, Lux, here goes. Whatever you see, it's not real. We love you!"

She stuck the syringe in the biggest wound she could find and pressed, trying for the life of her to focus on her job and not on Lux's screams of agony as the Shimmer entered her system.

Garen held her down on the bed as much as he could...

And then the lights went crazy.

One moment, her skin glowed like she was about to burst, a mix of gold and purple as gorgeous as it was terrifying. Her eyes, her hair, everything in the room changing colors wildly. The daytime seemed to turn off at one point. The sun outside looked blue, the shadows on the corners of the room felt brighter than any torch and the mirror reflected nothing but a black void where the light should have hit.

All throughout, Luxanna writhed in pain, and all throughout Jinx and Garen held her. And at some point, Jinx put a hand on Garen's shoulder, and he returned the gesture...

One last, massive scream of agony, Lux, lurching forward with almost enough force to push Garen off, and Jinx could swear she lifted a few feet off the bed, the light of her and Garen's own bodies dancing haywire as the Bright Lady fully lost control... and then...

Darkness. Pitch black darkness.

And little by little, the colors returned to the room. The right colors. Dimmer than before, but slowly returning regardless... Like the saturation was coming back to an old photograph.

Lux didn't move. Garen didn't move. He just held her, like a broken ragdoll he couldn't - he wouldn't - live without.

Isha didn't let go of Lux's hand as she sprawled herself and put her ear to her chest... Jinx had never prayed honestly in her life until now.

Nothing.

Nothing...!

Terrible, unreal nothing...!

.....

And then, faintly, weakly, almost imperceptibly, but there...

A heartbeat.

And now Jinx let the tears out.

"Oh, Lux!" She held her so tight she might've crushed her if she wasn't careful. "Oh, love, you really had us going there, honey! You'll be okay, you'll be okay...!"

She was alive. Garen looked at the gaping wound in her side and... He couldn't believe it. It was a small change, but the wound wasn't bleeding anymore! In fact it was... closing. Not super fast, but fast enough to notice.

His sister would live.

He finally allowed himself to breathe as he dropped on the corner of the room.

And very faintly, because his voice was still gone, he laughed. A nervous cry-laugh, like only a big brother could. And his tears began to dance in his eyes and off as well...

*****

It took a few minutes for them to catch their breath and Garen left the room to let Lux recover. He had taken off his armor. It had felt heavy for the first ever time today.

He sat on the couch outside the room in his slacks as Isha came out of the room, pacing.

"She's stable." She said. "Might not wake up for a while, but she'll live..." She had something folded over her shoulder...

She went over to her workbench and picked up a huge backpack and dragged it to the door. Then she sat on the floor, leaning on it.

Garen finally found his tongue.

"You saved her life." Whatever else he had to say would have to wait. That mattered the most. "Thank you."

She just gave him a look... He knew where she lived now. She thought that might be less of a problem than she might imagine, but time would tell...

"Who?" That's all she said. And from the venom in her voice, Garen knew exactly who she meant.

"Sylas of Dregbourne. I take it my sister told you who he is?" He didn't give a singular shit about protocol right now. Isha deserved to know.

"She's mentioned him." She'd done a hell of a lot more than mention him. Somedays, when they weren't... active at night, Lux would wake up in a cold sweat from a nightmare the memory of 'Sylas the Unshackled' had caused. "Where?"

"Near the Hinterlands. The border between them and Demacian civilization proper... Just a forward camp, though."

"It's enough." She got up and stormed into her room. She leaned down over the bed and gave Lux a soft kiss before turning to her nightstand and leaving a little contraption there. A tiny toy monkey with a pair of cymbals in its hands and a crank in its back.

She looked at her. Her Light. Her Lux. Barely alive, having survived an agony few but Jinx herself would ever know...

"What are you doing?" Garen asked as she left the room in a huff.

"When she wakes up, she's going to need you." She said. She was in a place she hadn't felt herself in in a long time. "When this happened to me, I started hallucinating. I lashed out. Couldn't think straight. God knows what that means for a girl with Magic at her fingertips. You might have to restrain her."

Garen didn't think she could be mad enough to try what he thought she was going to try.

"And where are you going?"

"Hunting." She answered, and she took out a giant... Godesses, what was that thing? It took Garen a minute to comprehend it. Eight metal tubes strapped together to a massive chamber with a handle and a trigger. Scattered paint littered its surface in intricate patterns. She opened the bag with one hand and fed a bunch of scrap metal where she kept the back of the contraption open with the other. An absolute metal abomination of a weapon. "He went too far. Never again. Stay with Lux. Don't go anywhere. More importantly, don't let her go anywhere. If it's anything like what happened to me, she'll try to leave. Hard."

"You can't just take on Sylas by yourself! He's got gods know how many mages guarding him at all times, and even if you could find him, he did that to Lux! Lux had Magic!" Garen was one to talk... Like he didn't want to go himself! But she had just saved Lux's life. He wasn't going to let her throw her own away!

"Exactly. Magic he would steal. Magic he could use. He's so used to fighting your way... He won't be ready for me." Another weapon left the backpack. A single tube this time, thick as hell, almost as long as Isha herself. A metal shark head adorned what Garen assumed to be the nozzle, painted in blue, pink and gold. "Nobody ever is."

He couldn't stop himself. He got up and grabbed her by the shoulders. "And when he kills you? When Lux wakes up and you're dead? What then?! Why save her life if you're just going to make living it miserable?!"

That actually gave her some pause. Good, some common sense! Finally!

"You got somebody, G?" She sounded different... Darker. She was hurting just as much as him. "Somebody you love? Not like you love your sister... Someone you would die for if it meant they got to be free for a day at least... Someone like that?"

"I do. She... Disappeared during the first revolt Sylas started. I haven't seen her since." Garen had to stop himself from wondering the worst.

"What's her name...?"

"Katarina."

"Sounds pretty." And Jinx got the tiniest smile from the Lord Commander. "If it was her on that bed, and I wasn't here to save her... If you knew who did it. Would you stay your hand?"

The thought alone made him sick to his core. "I KNOW who did it! And going at him like this is not the play! He knows how this works!"

"Sylas knows how you work, Garen. He'll be expecting Mageseekers and Illuminators. A grand show of force, scorched earth, the works. That's why I can do this and you can't. Because I don't need Mageseekers and Illuminators to burn everything to the ground. Because he can't plan for me."

"I won't let you." And he meant that shit. He admired the hell out of her now, but he would not let her be killed by that monster too.

"Lord Commander." She said as that purple glow came to her eyes brighter than ever. Those eyes that were like daggers. Bright, glowing daggers that stabbed deep into Garen's soul. There was a rage in those eyes he had never seen on a human before. "With all due respect... You don't have a choice."

And then she pushed him. Harder than he'd ever been pushed in his life. He'd fought the trolls of the Freljord one on one and he'd not been pushed that hard! He flew over the table and landed back on the couch, pure shock in his face.

He saw her in full now. Her veins glowed purple for a second, her eyes a rabid animal's. She unfolded the thing on her shoulder at last, a dusty, dark green hoodie with fangs at the rim, the inside lined with so many toothy grenades Garen couldn't count them all. She readjusted that contraption strapped to her thigh (because of course that was a weapon too) and lifted both of those insane machinations of hers in one hand each as she turned to face the door.

Still in shock, Garen could only form one question.

"Isha... Who are you?"

The girl at least graced him with an answer.

"Not Isha." She said as she pulled the toothy hood over her head. And she sounded like a demon. Garen would know. He'd fought demons. "My name is Jinx of Zaun. When Lux wakes up, ask her who that is."

And in a flash of purple, she was gone.

*****

Jinx unstrapped Starfire from her tree. The mare didn't whine or step back. She knew what time it was too.

"Take me there."

And Starfire did. She carried the Witch of the Woods, weapons and all, like it was nothing. Almost flying through meadows and forests, ever onwards towards the Hinterlands. Towards their prey. She thought of the kind of monster she was hunting....

And a voice in the back of her mind said "Kill", and Jinx didn't have to be told twice.

[wanderinginhisgrace]

Just wanted to remind anyone going through spiritual warfare, you are not alone. God is with you in the fight. He has given you the tools you need to fight the enemy. Put on the armor of God and pray. Never seize praying.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,”-Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭10‬-‭18‬

[abasilence-ministries]

It's not enough to quote the names of the pieces. You must put them on and activate them. Are you Dressed for Battle?

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