As Christians, we are in the midst of spiritual warfare. Roman soldiers were equipped in battle with breastplates to protect their vital organs. Without this protection, the soldier was vulnerable to instant death. Fortunately, the Lord has provided each of us with a breastplate of righteousness to protect and guard our spiritual hearts.When we accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, we were declared righteous. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1 NIV). But our Lord challenges us to grow in righteousness, keeping the breastplate on by fleeing temptation, avoiding sin, and following His plan for our lives.To grow in righteousness, we must make the choice to regularly study God’s Word and spend quality time with Him. In this way, we will deepen our relationship with Him. As we grow in knowledge and love of our Lord, recognizing and avoiding triggers to sin, and turning to God when facing temptation, the arrows cannot penetrate our personal protective equipment (PPE), and we are fully protected.