“In all circumstances, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.” — Ephesians 6:16
Paul used this metaphor to represent the Christian’s faith and belief in God. This shield unquestionably extinguishes all (not just some) of the flaming darts the evil one shoots at you.
Just as a physical shield protects a warrior in battle, so, too, the Shield of Faith protects us from the devil’s spiritual attacks. It’s a shield that deflects the lies, temptations, and fears, as well as the doubts that Satan throws at us.
Faith is not just a theoretical concept; without a doubt, it has practical implications for our daily lives. Through faith, we can overcome the hardships and challenges of this world and the enemy’s attacks. At the same time, when we face trials and difficulties, we can indeed trust God’s promises and believe He will see us through. We can resist temptation by having faith in God’s Word when confronted by it. Not to mention when we struggle with doubts or fears, we should pray to God for comfort and strength.
This faith is also the most significant difference between you and someone trusting in the world. Your perspective is eternal and ultimately not limited by what you see (what the world offers).
Faith is a Journey
Faith is not a simple, one-time decision. On the contrary, it’s a lifelong journey of growth and development. As we are sanctified, our trust in God naturally deepens, and we rely more fully on His promises. This requires a continual surrendering of our desires. Additionally, we need to follow where He leads us willingly. Through faith, we experience the fullness of God’s love and grace. Equally important, we find joy and peace in His presence.
Satan and his demons look for our weaknesses. He always seeks to exploit them for his purposes. If they attack us in the right place, they can more easily weaken our faith. He will oftentimes use our temptations, as well as our thoughts, fears, anxieties, and even our complacency, to try and destroy our walk with God.
The Shield of Faith reminds us that we are never alone in these battles. God is forever fighting for us. We can absolutely trust Him to guide us through every storm.
In summary, as the writer of Hebrews puts it, “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Faith involves both believing in God’s promises and trusting in them. Just as you put on your clothes daily, put on the Armor of God daily. Better yet, never take it off.
Learning to trust more,
Posted in A Word from the Pastor