Ephesians 6:16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
In warfare a shield is designed to help protect the one holding it and those who might shelter behind it. And the same can be said of our faith. Paul encourages believers to take up the shield of faith as a powerful tool to help us guard against the attacks of the enemy. He compares those attacks to flaming arrows. It is with the shield of faith that these attacks are defeated. Our shield is used to extinguish these arrows. By our faith we are victorious over the attacks meant to discourage and destroy us.
So how do we do this? How do we grow our faith and make it strong enough to extinguish the arrows of attack?
We begin by remembering God and His promises. We trust He will be there for us because we know He loves us and wants what is best for us. And we know that we can put our full confidence in Him because He is faithful to do what He says He will do.
We learn to rely on God and His grace rather than on ourselves. His grace is a free gift, totally underserved and something we did nothing to earn. Yet it is there and we can rely on it. We know He gives us His grace and blesses us regardless of what we have done. He loves us and wants what is best for us, so He showers us with grace.
As we do these things, our faith grows. Our shield is strengthened and we are victorious over those flaming arrows aimed our way. But it is a choice we make daily to put on the full armor of God which includes the shield of faith.
Equip yourself, friends. Take up your shield and distinguish those flaming attacks.
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