Brenda’s Blog – April 10, 2018
“Put on the shield of faith to ward off the fiery darts of the evil one.”
One of my favorite visuals is the spiritual armor from Ephesians 6. I try diligently (but not truly consistently) to “put on the armor” each morning before I start the day. One of my most important pieces is the shield of faith. It isn’t the tiny little hand shield, but the large one used to form a strong front for the entire line of warriors. It required several people to stand together connecting their shields in front, along the sides, and over the heads. It created an iron box which protected from the flaming arrows.
These days those arrows are flying fast. If I walk into the day without the protection, I am a sitting duck. What are those darts? Discouragement, distress, distrust, depression – all those D-arts. And there is a vocal track which accompanies the whizzing weapons. “You are not good enough; your children are hurting and where is God? You are making a mess of everything.” And as the song says, “on and on and on and on it goes. BUT faith says, “No, you are my child and you are in my plan. Your family is Mine and I have them in my hand.” NOTHING can separate me from the love of God.
What darts are aimed at your heart? Where are your soft spots? Enlist others to stand behind the shield with you. The last part of the armor verses says, “having done all to stand firm, pray at all times in the Spirit.” Join with others to form a shield which the enemy of our souls cannot pierce.
Let me pray with you – and you pray with me. Let’s be soldiers of the Cross together.