How important is that shield of faith? Letβs look once again at Ephesians 6 where we are told to put on the whole armor of God; βπΈππ π§π πππ, π₯πππππ π₯ππ π€πππππ π π ππππ₯π π¨ππ₯π π¨ππππ πͺπ π¦ π¨πππ ππ ππππ π₯π π’π¦ππππ πππ π₯ππ ππππ£πͺ πππ£π₯π€ π π π₯ππ π¨πππππ π ππ.β This verse starts off with an βabove all,β indicating that this indeed is very important. We can see just how important this is if we take a moment to look at that shield in the natural.
This was not a little round shield, like the one carried by Captain America, this was a huge oblong shield as big as a manβs body, sometimes known as a door. Two layers of wood, covered in leather and then drenched in water. You guessed it; the water would extinguish the fiery darts of the wicked one!
Back in the days of Caesar, there was a centurion named Sceva who defended the castle-gate. Sceva bravely fought with his fellow soldiers for 15 hours against the enemy in a particularly ferocious attack. Afterwards, 30,000 arrows were picked up from the floor of the battlefield and Caesar was presented with Scevaβs shield which had been pierced by 230 arrows! Sceva lived to tell his grandchildren the story of this victory because he had taken up his shield.
The enemyβs tactics back then are the same ones he applies now, the strategy was to launch thousands of fiery darts right at the start to create fear, confusion, and panic. Designed to unnerve the soldier into making a mistake, lowering his shield in terror. He hasnβt changed.
Today the enemy launches fiery darts of fear, shame, anxiety, depression, confusion, lies, envy, and unbelief, to name but a few. 1 Peter 4:12 says; βπΉπππ π§ππ, ππ ππ π₯ ππ π€π¦π£π‘π£ππ€ππ ππ₯ π₯ππ ππππ£πͺ π π£ππππ πππ ππ πͺπ π¦, π¨ππππ ππ πππ€ π¦π‘π π πͺπ π¦ ππ π£ πͺπ π¦π£ π₯ππ€π₯πππ, ππ€ π₯ππ π¦ππ π€π ππ π€π₯π£ππππ π₯ππππ π¨ππ£π πππ‘π‘πππππ π₯π πͺπ π¦.β There is a battle, we cannot avoid it, spiritual warfare is real, but God has given us a strategy, a way in which with Him at our side we can win!
We need to take up that shield of faith knowing that it will indeed quench those lethal darts. Faith in a God who can be taken at His Word, in a God who can be trusted, in a God who will take care of us no matter what. Faith in a God who sees the big picture, whose perspective is complete. Faith in the Great I Am, The Victorious One, the One who will never ever leave us, our wonderful and faithful Father. He is worth putting your faith in! 
Claire's Prayer 
Numbers 6:25…
The Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
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