Faith’s Shield Essential
In addition to all this, take up the
shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the
evil one.
– Ephesians 6:16
For we live by faith, not by sight.
– 2
Corinthians 5:7
What is your weak spot? Where are your vulnerable places
where Satan knows he can push your buttons, cause you to doubt God, send you
into a panic?
We all have them. We do. For some people, it’s your
children or grandchildren. For others, it’s the security of a large bank
account or a steady job. Maybe it’s your health. Whatever it is, Satan has you
in his radar and he’s coming after you. Guaranteed.
There’s only one way to combat Satan and that’s with
the armor of God. Most of us try to put on one part of the armor and leave
something else out. The thing is that with even the best armor, Satan’s attacks
can sometimes pierce us where we are most vulnerable. That’s where the shield
comes in to play.
Why do you think the Apostle Paul paired faith with a
soldier’s shield? Because it’s necessary to block Satan’s attacks. Armor can be
penetrated in its vulnerable places, like where the metal joins together. But
the shield is steady and true, especially when it’s locked together with the
shields of other soldiers.
Faith sounds easy. We all have it. We know that Jesus
died for us so that we might live. We’re Christians after all. But as the Book
of Job attests, faith doesn’t always make life easy. Sometimes it’s just the
opposite. There’s nothing Satan wants more than to use God’s children to discredit
God Almighty.
We are in a spiritual war, whether we acknowledge it
or not. Satan may not literally be attacking us with flaming arrows but we are
under attack. Where are you vulnerable? What are the things that temp you to
cast aside God’s ways for the world? What lures you away from where you need to
stay? Have you experienced persecution for your faith? Are you following false
teaching, a particular pastor, or the fun of a concert/church worship that isn’t
based on truth? Do you doubt God when something doesn’t go your way? Do you
lash out in anger when God doesn’t immediately answer your prayer?
We are going to have hardship in this world. God is
going to tell us no sometimes. Life on this earth isn’t easy. It can really
hurt. And even when all is well, we’re still looking ahead, one step at a time,
following a God who knows the way but isn’t telling us the plan. Instead, God
tells us to trust Him. God is faithful and true. He wants good things for us.
He knows what He’s doing. It really will be okay.
I can’t even imagine how hard it was for Abraham to
leave all that he knew for an unknown destiny. He did it anyway. He trusted
God. He walked by faith.
Today will have challenges we can’t predict. Lift up
your shield of faith, wrap yourself in God’s promises, walk in His light.
Whatever the day brings, He’s got you covered. When nothing else makes sense,
trust in Almighty God and you will find rest and peace for the journey.
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