BATTLE READY: WITH THE SHOES OF PEACE & SHIELD OF FAITH
Peace - the word brings visions of idyllic landscapes, not a battlefield, but as Ephesians 6:15 teaches us, the shoes of peace that God supplies as the third piece of our armour are meant to help us stand tall and stand firm when the enemy comes against us. True peace from God is not simply the absence of conflict but calm in the midst of it. If we expect to live lives absent of conflict, we will be disappointed and disillusioned. God does promise His children peace, but His peace comes from the assurance that He is in control.
Therefore, no matter what storms we may face, or how rocky and rough the road is ahead of us, we look to the promises of God and claim them. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
The shield of faith is the fourth piece of armour and relates to how we react when the enemy advances against us. Do we waste time planning how to outwit him? Well, we can’t do that. His intelligence is far superior to ours. Do we entertain the idea of becoming a defector? There’s nowhere to run, hide and be safe. That’s why the Lord has given us the shield of faith to protect us. It is our faith in the Lord that allows us to extinguish all those fiery darts heading towards us. As Isaiah 7:9 reminds us “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.”
Taking up the shield of faith does not mean God will always get us out of our storms and trials. What it does mean is that our faith in Him will help us rise above the difficulties. For “we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” 2 Corinthians 4:18.
Love and blessings,
Pastor Sabrina
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