Having Done All to Stand

“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” (Eph. 6:13).

What does it mean to “having done all”? The Greek word Paul uses for “having done” (katergazomai) conveys the idea of accomplishing, completing, fully preparing for a task. It is the image of a soldier who has methodically equipped himself, who has not neglected a single piece of armor, who has secured every strap, adjusted every plate, tested every weapon. This soldier is not standing casually; he is braced, ready, prepared to resist every blow that the enemy will bring.

The call to “having done all” is a call to complete obedience. It is a call to leave nothing undone, to exhaust every resource, to employ every weapon in the arsenal, to take up every piece of armor God has provided. It is the call to persevere, to endure, to fight until the very end, and then, when the dust settles and the last blow has been struck, to still be found standing. It is a call to full diligence, to be thorough, to leave nothing undone, to employ every resource God has provided for the battle. It is not a call to passivity or to await the end of the fight; it is a call to take action, to prepare, to be vigilant, to be relentless in our readiness.

Full diligence in the life of the believer means a readiness to engage in the fight before the first blow lands. It means:

But what does this look like in the life of the believer?

Truth is our Foundation: The belt of truth must be fastened tightly. Without truth, every other piece of armor is unstable. We do not merely acknowledge the truth, we embrace it, cling to it, wield it against every lie and deception the enemy brings. We must know it thoroughly, rehearse it continually, and apply it consistently. The battle will be lost in the mind long before it is lost in the field if we are not anchored in truth.

Righteousness our Breastplate: Righteousness is not a feeling; it is a position secured in Christ. The breastplate guards the heart against accusations, guilt, and shame. The enemy’s accusations will come, fierce and unrelenting , but we do not stand in our own righteousness; we stand in the righteousness of Christ. To be diligent in righteousness means to live in light of who we are in Christ, to walk in integrity, to confess and repent quickly, to keep our hearts guarded and pure.

Peace Steadies Us: The shoes of the gospel of peace keep us stable, grounded, unmovable. The evil day will shake the ground beneath us, but our feet are planted firmly on the gospel. This is not a passive peace; it is a readiness that prepares us to march forward, to stand our ground, to endure. It is the peace that says, “Though the earth gives way and the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, we will not fear” (Ps. 46:2). And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:7)

Faith Shield Us: The shield of faith is not merely to block fiery darts, it is to extinguish them. The enemy will hurl doubts, fears, temptations. Faith is not passive; it is active, vigilant, lifted high. Faith takes up the promises of God and says, “I will not be moved. My God is faithful. His Word is true. He will deliver.” Diligence in faith means refusing to let down our guard, refusing to let our shield drop, refusing to entertain lies and doubts that seek to pierce our resolve.

Salvation is our Helmet: The mind is the battlefield, and the helmet of salvation guards it against confusion, doubt, and despair. The enemy will attempt to make us question our standing in Christ, “Are you really saved? Has God really forgiven you?” but the helmet of salvation is a declaration of assurance. We are saved, sealed, secured in Christ. To diligently wear the helmet is to daily remind ourselves of the finished work of Christ, to let our minds dwell on what is true, noble, right, pure, and praiseworthy (Phil. 4:8).

The Word is our Sword: The sword of the Spirit is our offensive weapon. It is the Word of God, sharp and effective, able to pierce through every lie, every false teaching, every temptation. Diligence in wielding the sword means knowing the Word, memorizing it, meditating on it, speaking it, praying it, declaring it. The enemy cannot stand against the truth of God’s Word.

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12)

“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,” (2Cor. 10:5)

Prayer as Vigilance: The battle is not over. We must pray without ceasing. Prayer is the atmosphere of the battle, the constant connection to our Commander, the lifeline that keeps us alert, watchful, steadfast. To be diligent in prayer is to remain spiritually awake, eyes fixed on Christ, ears attuned to His voice, heart ready to respond to His call.

Paul’s call to “having done all” is not a call to relax after the battle. It is a call to vigilance before, during, and after the fight. It is the resolve to leave nothing undone, to be fully equipped, fully engaged, fully committed to standing firm no matter what comes. It is the resolve to not lay down our arms, to not grow weary, to not abandon our post. For the enemy may have been driven back, but he will return. And when he does, he must find us still standing.

Therefore, having done all, having fought, having resisted, having endured, having stood firm, do not lay down your armor. Do not relax your guard. Do not grow complacent. Stand firm in the Lord and in the strength of His might. The battle is not over until Christ Himself declares it finished. And until that day, we are called to stand firm, to hold the ground, to resist every attack, and, having done all, to stand firm.