The Shield of Faith

"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

Have you ever thought about what it means to be truly effective in spiritual warfare? It’s not just about being protected. It’s about being effective. And the Shield of Faith is one of the most critical pieces of armor you can carry.

Ephesians 6 talks about more than just the schemes of the devil. It warns about the fiery darts he sends your way. These aren’t just random attacks. They are targeted arrows designed to take you down. Arrows dipped in pitch, set on fire, and released with the intention of piercing your heart and setting your life on fire.

But here’s what you need to understand. The devil’s goal isn’t just to hit you. If he can’t get to you, he’ll try to hit someone close to you. His hope is that the fiery darts will cause collateral damage to the people around you. And the only way to truly defend yourself and those you care about is by taking up the Shield of Faith.

Back in those days, shields weren’t just metal plates. They were often covered in leather, soaked in water, so that when flaming arrows hit, the fire would be extinguished. Without that covering, the arrows would stick and cause destruction. But with the covering, the fire was put out before it could do any damage.

Your faith is your covering. It’s your ability to stand firm against the attacks of the enemy, not because of how strong you are, but because of who your faith is in. Faith isn’t about pretending the attacks aren’t real. It’s about believing that God’s power is greater than anything the enemy throws your way.

When you take up the Shield of Faith, you are putting your trust in God’s promises over the lies of the enemy. You are choosing to believe that God’s Word is true, even when your circumstances say otherwise. You are choosing to be covered by His strength, His protection, and His goodness.

Make the decision today to take up the Shield of Faith. Let it be your covering. Let it be your protection. And let it be the reason you stand strong when everything around you tries to take you down.