Shields Up!

Devotion for the week...

I've said for years that my mind makes the oddest connections between things in my everyday life and the Bible. This week's devotion is the perfect example of that! To set the scene, you should know that I love reading fantasy books. They've been my favourite since I read The Sword of Shannara, by Terry Brooks, when I was in grade 7, and they make up probably 2/3 of what I read now. A lot of fantasy revolves around the battle between good and evil, often set in an era where the fighting is done with swords, daggers, and bows and arrows. Last week I read the Ember in the Ashes series, by Sabaa Tahir (highly recommend everything by her!).

Also last week, I read the section in Ephesians on the armor of God:

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:10-17).

I got as far as 'hold up the shield of faith' and in my mind I was instantly in a scene from my book, where Helene and her group of soldiers were about to be attacked by a force of enemy archers who appeared on a ridge above them, and Helene shouted out, "Shields up!" Sitting there in my kitchen, I could almost hear the flurry of movement as the soldiers raised their shields so the arrows would sink into the wood rather than into their bodies.

Then I looked more closely at the verse. Do you see what serves as our shield? It's not the Bible, or God's love, or even His strength. It is our faith that will stop the fiery arrows of the devil.

Why, I wondered? Why would our protection from the enemy's arrows hinge on our faith? As I thought about it, though, I realized it makes perfect sense.

Without faith, we don't believe that God loves us, so we believe the lie that we are unlovable. 

Without faith, we don't believe Jesus died for us, so we believe the lie that our sins are unforgiveable.

Without faith, we don't believe God has a purpose for us, so we believe the lie that we are useless.

Without faith, we are wide open to his lies and they sink into our minds just like a physical arrow can pierce a body. 

It is our belief in God, in His salvation, and in His love for us that is the shield we raise to stop the lies our enemy shoots at us. It is our faith that catches those fiery arrows before they can hurt us.

Do you feel like your faith is weak, like maybe it isn't thick enough to stop those arrows? That's okay. Mark records the story of a father who brought his demon-possessed son to Jesus. The father said to Jesus, "Have mercy on us and help us, if you can" (Mark 9:22). You can hear his doubt in that 'if you can,' can't you? He wanted to believe Jesus could save his son, but it felt unbelievable.

"What do you mean, 'If I can'?' Jesus asked. 'Anything is possible if a person believes'" (v. 23).

Confronted with the possibility that Jesus could help his son, but only if he believed, this desperate father didn't lie about his faith. Instead, he cried out for more faith. "I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!" (v. 24). When the enemy's arrows threaten to find their way past our shield, we, too, can cry out to God to strengthen our faith. 

And next time we feel tempted to believe a lie, we can remember, "Shields up!" and counter the lie with our faith in the truth.