Are you a wounded woman or a warrior woman? I can help you become the latter.

While I was writing my book, When a Woman Overcomes Life’s Hurts, I was thinking about how easily we, as women, are wounded.

Hurtful remarks from others, stolen dreams, disappointments in relationships, or just a circumstance in life that seems unfair can make us cower in feelings of weakness and failure. But the Scriptures say our struggle is not against flesh and blood (people and their words), but against “the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).

That tells me we are to be warriors…not women who cower in our wounds.

Scripture exhorts us in Ephesians 6:10-11 to “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” and to “put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Then as we’re given details in how to put on those pieces of armor, we’re told to take the shield of faith “with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one” (verse 16).

I started thinking about how many of us fall prey to the flaming arrows or “fiery darts” of the enemy because we believe his lies:

No one will ever really love you as you are.
You are a pathetic example of a mom.
Your husband doesn’t really love you; he’s just going through the motions.
You call yourself a child of God? Just look at the way you behave!
You should be ashamed of all that is in your past.
Everyone knows what a fake and phony you are. Just give it up!
You can never live a life of meaning and purpose, so don’t even try.

Those fiery darts pierce our hearts, they stab our minds, and they condition our thinking. They convince us that God’s words are lies and the enemy’s words (sometimes our thoughts and sometimes actual words spoken to us through other people) are true.

But Scripture tells us to put on the armor of God as a defense against these lies, accusations, and fiery darts.

For years, I wondered what the analogy meant and how to actually suit up in the armor of God. Then my husband, a pastor, explained it in a Bible study one evening. He pointed out that every piece of armor symbolizes Christ. And therefore, putting on the armor of God is synonymous with clothing yourself in the character of Jesus Christ, or simply abiding in Him:

• We are to fasten the belt of truth around our waist, which means to know at the core of our being that Jesus is the truth. Jesus said “I am the way, the truth, and the life“ (John 14:6).
• We are to wear the breastplate of righteousness. Meaning, we are to cover our heart with Christ who is called “The Lord our Righteousness” in Jeremiah 23:6.
• We are to take up the shield of faith in order to extinguish those fiery darts from the enemy. Psalm 84:11 tells us “The Lord is a sun and shield…” and Christ is the object of our faith.
• We are to put on the helmet of salvation by guarding our heads and minds with Christ because Acts 4:12 says “Salvation is found in no one else.”
• We are to take the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God — and John 1:14 tells us Jesus is the Word made flesh.

When the enemy starts shooting his fiery darts at your heart and mind, telling you or arranging circumstances to make you feel that you are defeated, don’t shrink from the attack. Don’t become a wounded woman, who falls prey to His lies, accusations and schemes.

Instead, be a warrior woman. Know the truth of who you are and the power of Christ in you. Stand firm, clothed in (abiding in) the character and identity of Jesus Christ.

Suit up, my friend. Wield your sword like Xena the warrior princess. And bring it on!