Jesus, since my breastplate is made out of the righteousness of God, help me yield to being the person He is trying to make me into. Jesus, God made You, Who had no sin, to be sin for me, so that in You I might become the righteousness of God (2 Cor 5:21). I now except that righteousness as my breastplate of righteousness in and through You.

Jesus, I know that if I am already involved with a business partner or already married to a spouse who is an unbeliever I should try to help bring them to You. But, if I am thinking about joining a business partner or getting married to an unbeliever, You are telling me not to. This is because being a partner or a spouse with an unbeliever can hinder me from getting my breastplate of righteousness on. Therefore, You are saying to me: Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness (2 Cor 6:14)? Help me with the situation I am in so I can get my breastplate of righteousness on.

Jesus, help me turn the issues of this world over to Your care, so I can be much more able to get my breastplate of righteousness on. As it is written: “He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” Now He Who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness (2 Cor 9:9-10). Help me realize that You are generous; help me accept the fact that I don’t need to worry about worldly issues because of that generosity.

Jesus, my breastplate of righteousness is to protect me from Satan, who masquerades as an angel of light; and, it also protects me from his servants, who masquerade as servants of righteousness. And, it is to help me trust those Christians who love me. Help me look for a person like Paul to help me with my spiritual growth into righteousness. Why? Because I (Paul) do not love you? God knows I do! And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. Help me know who those spiritual leaders are who love me and those who don’t. Let Your breastplate of righteousness protect me from those who ACT like they love me but are fakes.

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve (2 Cor 11:11-15). Jesus, let this breastplate lead me away from such deception and trickery. Help me recognize them even though they are masquerading as loving people.

Jesus, teach me this important principle, that when I put on the breastplate of righteousness, which is part of the full armor of God, I am putting on part of my new self. You taught me, with regard to my former way of life, to put off my old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of my mind; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (Eph 4:22-24). Help me understand this putting on of my new self as a part of this breastplate of righteousness. Help me see that this happens in my moment-by-moment, issue-by-issue decisions during my day.