Ephesians 6: 10-11 | 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
For many these are familiar verses. Memories of children’s church coloring pages or paper crafts always come to mind as I read this passage and I am reminded of the pieces of armor …
Ephesians 6:14-17 | Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 [f]in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
But paper helmets and card stock shields don’t cut it in this battle we are in; we need the real deal: spiritual weapons for the spiritual battle.
These battles, the schemes of the devil, the barrage of flaming arrows from the enemy, they all take a toll on our bodies, our minds, and our hearts. As Christ followers, we know what Scripture says and we believe it with all that is in us, but we also feel the weight of the reality of life in a broken world. We get tired. Some days the real weapons that we know we need just feel too heavy to hold when our spirit is battle weary and worn. So what then?
My Battle Plan
Trust that the shield of FAITH is big enough, sufficient enough, strong enough and thrust that thing into the ground and hide behind it. Stake your claim to the ground you are standing on, refuse the notion to retreat, don’t give up and trust in the LORD.
Psalm 32:7 | You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance.
Psalm 119:114 | You are my hiding place and my shield; I wait for Your word.
I know this strategy will not end the fight. I know the enemy’s attacks will most assuredly keep coming. BUT I can TRUST in the LORD. I can rest in peace. I can wait with confidence knowing my Jesus is with me, fighting for me, sustaining me, and supplying my every need.
Wounded I kneel behind my shield of faith. I will take the time to allow the Lord to comfort me, bind up my wounds, and tend to my brokenness. And in His timing, I will recover and reengage in the fight.
Hebrews 11:1 | Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
WHO Not What
Each piece of armor is crucial and I am so thankful for the protection they offer. But today, I am meditating on the shield of faith and WHO, not what, my faith is in. It isn’t in myself or my abilities, it isn’t in anything of this world, my faith is in Jesus. He is my SAVIOR. He is my DEFENSE. He is my PEACE.
Jesus is kind, good, gracious, compassionate, and gentle. All things that I need in this season of strife and transition. And though He is all these things, He also is all powerful and always victorious. He is my strength and my song.
Psalm 118:14 | The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.
So I sit, hidden behind my shield of faith, waiting on my Lord, singing a song of praise because He is worthy. He will renew my mind and refresh my soul. He will encourage my weary heart and rejuvenate my body. He will help me to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
And I know He can do the same for you!
Psalm 91:1-4 | He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
My God, in whom I trust!”
3 For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper
And from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with His pinions,
And under His wings you may seek refuge;
His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.
Sips From the Saucer 
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