Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Dressed and Ready

armor-logo

Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
Ephesians 6:16

 

Roman soldiers used two kinds of shields in battle. There was a small, round shield used in close-quarter combat, and a large, door-sized shield used when troops were advancing across an open plain. When the enemy fired a barrage of arrows, Roman soldiers linked their shields together and crouched behind them—total protection from the incoming barbs.

It is the latter shield—the large, body-sized one—that Paul says Christians are to take up as part of our spiritual armor. And that shield is a metaphor for faith. It is the Christian’s faith that is our best “full-body” defense against the attacks of Satan. Here’s why: Satan’s primary objective in spiritual warfare is to discredit God in the eyes of believers. If he can make us believe God is not to be trusted, then we become easy prey for his circumstantial attacks against us. Therefore, faith—unshakeable, undeniable, impenetrable faith in the goodness of God—is our number one shield against Satan’s attacks.

If you have any thoughts today about whether God is good and faithful, cast them aside! Take up your shield of faith and protect yourself from the enemy’s attacks.

Our assurance is only as strong as our faith.
R. C. Sproul

(Devotion by David Jeremiah)

 

wordfilled Wednesdaytag Please join us over at Lisa’s Extravagant Grace for more WFW.

13 comments:

luvmy4sons said...

It sounds so simle but it is so prfound. So often our worries our fretting stems from doubt about God's goodness or certainly His sovereignty. If we believe God is always good and is GOD having complete control over all He has made then we need not fear or fret. Keeping our eyes on Him and faith in His goodness is a great shield! Amen.

Tea with Tiffany said...

I have darts flying at me lately. I've been struck a few times, but I will not stay down. I'm fighting back with praise and my mustard seed sized faith.

Thanks for the reminder to get my shield.

Love you,

Tiffany

LisaShaw said...

Amen!

Powerful sharing of TRUTH!!

I love you dear one.

Cathy said...

Thanks for sharing that verse today ~

Runner Mom said...

Susan, this was wonderful, sweet friend! The full spiritual armor is needed daily. We can't let our guard down...but I do! Thank you for this image that I need to take with me where ever I go.

Love you!
Susan

Elaine and I would have loved for you to have been with us! We had a great time! I'm home now and have already called her!!! :)

Susan said...

Amen, Thanks for the reminder. About six months before I would go through some of the toughest years of my life my mother had a vision during her prayer time. The vision was of me, she saw me standing with an invisible shield around me. There were fiery darts coming in from all sides, like flaming balls but they would hit the shield and fall to the ground. She told me then, Susan, I don't know whats comming but I know you are protected. I have stood firm, put on the armor of God and I have come through the refiners fire. Today I am not the same person I was nearly 5 years ago. Thank You Jesus!

Lauren said...

This is very motivating... a great reminder! Thanks so much for visiting my blog - and for your kind words! I hope you come again soon!!

Be Blessed ~ Lauren

Anonymous said...

Hello,

thank you for visiting my blog today.

So simple and yet so powerful is this message. Thank you for this…I know I have been there, not really believing that I can put my complete faith in God, thinking, where will He take me if I do that, what will He put me through?

He has been working with me on that and I have come along way in the last year. I like the way you said to cast them aside…don’t even go there.

Great encouragement!

♥Hope

Anonymous said...

I also wanted to tell you that your grandchildren are just beautiful!

♥Hope

God Chaser said...

thanks for shsring this word of faith great lesson. What a mighty powerful weapon we have- if only we would remember to use when attacked. Blessings

Denise said...

Awesome my friend.

Peggy said...

Blessings Susan, Thanks for the ARMOR lesson & reminder to put on that FULL armor!

How wonderful that our FAITH will protect us through the battles & is needed most when we feel defeated or weary! Thank you for sharing thiis devotional! I'm doing a Bible Study on Ephesians plus another one that Beth is sharing from her church small group with me from Max Lucado that is so great!
Of course, we're not up to the end Chapter 6; but how often I need to remind myself of Eph. 6:13 before putting on the armor. We need daily to guard ourselves from evil & the enemy with all of this & be aware of his strategies!

Hugs & sweet blessings,
Peggy

Jenileigh said...

That was awesome Susan! Your words ring so true, " My God purposed me for a destiny created just for me. He knew my limitations before I did and that did not change His mind about the things He created me to do." If you don't mind, I may share some of this linking to you. It spoke volumes. Praying for your healing and strength! Hugs!