Paul discusses putting on the full Armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-17. These verses are so important because they hold God's promises for our protection and victory. We have the Helmet of Salvation which protects our minds. We have the Belt of Truth which allows us to walk in our true identity in Christ. We have the Breastplate of Righteousness which protects our hearts. We have the Gospel Shoes of Peace which allows us to walk in peace no matter the difficult circumstances or difficult people in our path. We also have the Sword of the Spirit which empowers us to take down the enemy with the promises found in God's Word, the Bible, and the promises the Holy Spirit gives us personally.
However, the Shield of Faith is a game changer in our lives if we know how to use it. Jesus wondered when He returned to earth if He would find faith (Luke 18.8). Faith must be extremely valuable and extraordinarily beneficial to us if Jesus highlighted it out of all the other pieces of armor He was looking for it in us. Jesus also said if we have faith as small as a mustard seed, we can tell a mountain to move and it will -- "nothing would be impossible" (Matthew 17.20-21).
But how do we gain this faith? Some people believe that we can grow this seed of faith, making one seed bigger; however, wouldn't it be better to sew a harvest of many small faith-seeds that have the power to move mountains? Then, each seed would become part of the beautiful mosaic decorating our Sheilds of Faith. Every moment we choose faith instead of fear, we deposit a seed into our shields and that in turn encourages another seed and another until our shields are expanding with faith and becoming a constant reminder of how our faith in God and Jesus' words have led a trail of victory in our lives. Nothing truly would be impossible when motivated by the moments that God did the impossible for us because of our faith!
We can take a seed of faith from one victory and plant it into a current difficult situation; thereby, creating a new seed of faith to add to our collection. Our shields become powerful and wider with our many seeds of faith protecting our souls and bodies. In fact, we can use our shields to push through the enemy lines and into our Promised Land, bringing other Christians with us. The enemy does not want us to collect seeds of faith because he knows that our destiny will be achieved, furthering God's Kingdom on Earth as it is in Heaven. Pushing back the enemy. Taking more ground. Reaching more people. Fulfilling more needs. Accomplishing God's Kingdom Plan. And spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ throughout the world. That is what our faith does!
When we have shields with no faith, we can get hit in the mind with a spiritual attack and struck in the heart by the enemy's lies, but what if our minds and hearts don't have to feel the attack? Our helmets and breastplates are supposed to be a secondary defense only when our shields fail. The attack can stop at our large, strong Shields of Faith. Yes, we may feel pushback on our shields. Our feet may even slide back a bit, but our minds (thoughts and imaginings), our hearts (emotions and feelings), our wills (decisions and actions) and, yes, even our bodies will be safe behind the protection of our shields.
That is why faith is so important! Not only does faith protect us, it gives us the authority and ability to push back the enemy as we swing our Swords of the Spirit, striking the enemy with the Word of God. So how do you gain faith? By believing. Believe in God's promises in the Bible. Write them down. Memorize them until they become part of your worldview. Believe the promises the Holy Spirit has whispered to you. (1) Believe that all things come together for good for those who love Him. (2) Believe that you have the victory in Christ. (3) Believe you have peace that surpasses all understanding. (4) Believe that greater is Christ in you than the enemies of this world. (5) Believe that God has hope and a future for you. (6) Believe that your joy has returned. (7) Believe that God can grow beauty out of your ashes.
If your situations seems to contradict God's promises, believe according to His thoughts and not your own (8). God's promises are all "Yes" and "Amen" in Christ, so believe (9). And when you feel that pushback from the enemy against your shield, remember that God is for you, not against you (10). He will not abandon you (11). And He sent His son to die for your sins in order to have a loving relationship with you (12).
- "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." - Romans 8.28 (NLT)
- "But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ." - 1 Corinthians 15.57 (NLT)
- "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4.7 (ESV)
- "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." - 1 John 4.4 (NIV)
- "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29.11 (NIV)
- "For his anger is but for a moment and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning." - Psalm 30.5 (ESV)
- "To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” - Isaiah 61.3 (NKJV)
- “'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.'" - Isaiah 55.8-9 (NIV)
- "For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us." - 2 Corinthians 1.20 (NKJV)
- What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?" - Romans 8.31 (NLT)
- "Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” - Deuteronomy 31.8 (NLT)
- "But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." - Romans 5.8 (NLT)
