Shield of Faith

"In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one." -- Ephesians 6:16

Last night my phone rang. Caller ID let me know that it was a friend. I answered my phone in anticipation but was stopped in my tracks by the exhaustion in her voice.

"Do you have a minute? I have had a really hard day and need to talk to someone."

I listened as she briefly recounted the difficulty of the day's events. The Lord had placed her in a position to speak to many fearful people in a short period of time. In conversation after conversation, she was called to remind others to take their eyes off of overwhelming circumstances and to focus on God's goodness and sovereignty.

As she spoke to me I envisioned my friend on the battlefield, in full battle gear, holding up her shield of faith. One by one she shielded herself and those she spoke to from all the flaming arrows of the evil one. She stood firm and each fiery dart was extinguished as it landed. But there was no time to remove any of the arrows from her shield. They were coming too fast and furious.

By the end of the day, the added weight of the arrows had taken their toll. Her knees were buckling and her arm was unable to support the now heavy shield. That is when she called me.

I prayed for my friend using words supplied by the Holy Spirit. I praised our God; who gives and takes away. I lifted high the name of the Lord who has authority over all things. I bound the work of the enemy and loosed the blessings of God - all in the name of Jesus Christ.

I prayed words of promise to stand over my friend with my shield of faith as she rested on the battlefield. I agreed to cover her until she could remove the accumulated arrows and, once again, pick up her shield for herself.

There was power released in that prayer. It was tangible on both sides of the phone. It was evident in the immediate relief in my friend's voice. Almost 24 hours later, I am still amazed at the way God moved in that moment.

I confess that this thing called prayer remains a mystery to me. I do not ever expect to understand how it works. I only know that it does. Praise God that this is so!

Abba,
You are so good. Thank you for the armor of God: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, feet fitted with readiness from the gospel of peace, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit and the shield of faith (Ephesians 6:14-17). Lord, I lift up my brothers and sisters in faith who are weary from fighting the good fight. Strengthen them, Lord. And show me when I am to offer my own shield of faith so they may have time to catch their breath, remove old arrows, and stand firm, once again. In the mighty name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.