When Going Through Tough Times We Need to Lift Up Our Shield of Faith.

 

There are times when we feel overwhelmed and discouraged in life. There are times when our hope can wane, and we question if we will be able to hold on. It is precisely during these times when we cannot give up our hope and need to take up the shield of faith.

Whether we are having to endure hardship, going through a trial, suffering unjustly, or are being attacked by the enemy, by choosing to draw near to God during these situations, we are actively taking up the shield of faith which will protect us and cause the battle to belong to the Lord (2 Chronicles 20:15). When we choose to draw near to God and trust Him, we place ourselves under His protection and will receive His help (Isaiah 46:4). So, we never have to fight our battles alone. Take a look at these promises from God’s Word to you:

Psalm 144:2 (NIV) - He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold, and my deliverer,
my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.

Psalm 119:114 – (NIV) You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.

God will sustain us as we draw near to Him because He loves us, and we are His. He will comfort us (2 Corinthians 1:4) as we surrender all our burdens to Him (Psalm 55:22). He promises to give us His peace (Philippians 4:7) and joy (Psalm 28:7), which sustains and strengthens us, as we trust in His lovingkindness (Psalm 69:16) and faithfulness toward us.

Raising up our shield of faith during times of spiritual warfare protects us from the attacks of the devil. Ephesians 6:10-17 provides a vivid illustration of how we are to be warriors standing in the full armor of God during such times. As we resist the devil, by standing with our faith shield, he will flee from us. All of this trains us to be strong and teaches us how to be strong in our faith and relationship with God.

As we grow in God, we must learn how to exercise our faith in order to grow. Doing so trains us to become victors, rather than victims, in life. It also proves our faith to be true, as well as allows us to experience the promises of God as a living reality in our lives. Exercising faith builds our relationship with the Lord which produces Godly character and fruit (Galatians 5:22-23) in our lives. This, in turn, allows God to live in, and through us, thereby fulfilling our destinies as His sons and daughters (Galatians 3:26 & 4:6), whom He loves with His whole heart (Jeremiah 31:3).

 

(Image by Momentmal from Pixabay)

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