As Christians, we are taught to put on the full armor of God daily, especially the shield of faith, to defend ourselves against the enemy’s deception. Like many, I thought I fully understood what it meant to put on this armor.
However, God often places obstacles in our lives to help us grow in understanding—and for me, this lesson came through my relationship with my nephew, whom I helped raise from a toddler.
The Foundation of Love and Trust
I’ve been there for him through thick and thin: from bathing him as a child to providing financially for his education. I supported him when he and his stepfather could not get along, offering him a safe place in my home. I loved him deeply.
But something changed when he turned 19. Over the past two years, he began smoking marijuana, which made him violent and destructive. He burned a beautiful dress I had bought for my birthday, cut up a few of my books, and wreaked havoc in my home. I was furious. I even considered taking drastic steps, including reporting him to the police. Every time he acted out, I was consumed by anger. The devil had found a way to use him to torment me, and I was struggling to keep my composure.
When God Reveals the Enemy’s Work
Then God spoke to me. He revealed that this was the enemy at work, using my nephew’s rebellion to provoke me. The devil knows how to exploit the weaknesses in people’s hearts. For me, it was the pain of losing my husband shortly after we married. Even though I’ve accepted that this was a test from God, my nephew's cruel words—accusing me of being the cause of my husband’s death and saying no one would ever love me—struck deeply. This is when I truly learned the power of the shield of faith.
The Power of the Shield of Faith
I came across a post that explained some characteristics of the shield of faith. One of them was that “faith in God and His promises causes Satan’s ‘flaming arrows’ to bounce off, unable to penetrate our minds and souls.” This hit home for me.
We all face moments when we’re bombarded by negative thoughts and words—those fiery arrows Satan sends our way. I felt the sting of those words more than once, especially when I couldn’t understand how someone I loved so much could turn against me in such an ungrateful way. But I learned that the key to holding up the shield of faith is to resist those lies.
Resisting the Enemy with God’s Word
When I started focusing on God’s word instead of my emotions, I began to see the situation differently. I realized that when we resist the devil, he has to flee. Instead of reacting with anger, I began using practical ways to deflect his attempts to disturb my peace. When my nephew blared his music, I’d put on headphones and pretend not to notice. When he smoked, I’d clean the house with disinfectant, but I refused to give him or the enemy any satisfaction by reacting with harsh words.
Loving Through the Battle
There were moments when he said the most vile things to me, things designed to break my spirit. But now, instead of feeling hurt, angry, or offended, I found myself laughing. His words didn’t have power over me anymore.
What we often miss is that when the devil uses someone to fight against us, it’s not just us he’s trying to destroy—it’s also the one he’s using. That's why God calls us to pray for those who persecute us. As much as I once thought I didn’t care about what happened to my nephew, I began praying for his deliverance, asking God to fill me with love for him. And in that process, I began to feel compassion instead of anger.
Standing Firm in Faith
I know that no weapon formed against me shall prosper, and this struggle, though painful, was allowed by God to help me grow. Now, when people speak ill of me or try to provoke me, I don’t react with hatred or bitterness. I’ve learned to wield the shield of faith, and the lessons from this battle have made me stronger.
If you’re struggling with this, I encourage you to do the same: keep God’s word in your heart and mind. Focus on what the Bible says about your situation, speak those truths aloud, and let them keep your faith alive.
Don’t Entertain the Lies
When the devil whispers lies to you, don’t entertain them. Rebuke them immediately! Don’t let those thoughts take root in your heart and mind, for if you do, they will become strongholds that are difficult to break free from.
The Shield of Faith in Action
In The Path of the Chosen Warriors, one of the main characters, Meg, faces a terrifying moment when she’s being strangled by a demonic high priest. But even as she gazes into the black eyes of the demon, she holds up her shield of faith and told him to fight for his soul and renounce the demon-god. The shield of faith allows us to act in the spirit, even when our flesh wants to give in to anger or fear, and in doing so we can save a life that would have otherwise being lost. Building a relationship with God and the Holy Spirit is crucial to our spiritual growth and survival.
By staying grounded in His Word, we too can raise our shields against the enemy’s attacks, knowing that our faith in God will see us through.
✨ If you want to dive deeper into the power of spiritual warfare and the Shield of Faith, check out The Path of the Chosen Warriors. It's a powerful story that will not only entertain but also equip you for your own battles in faith. You'll find powerful lessons on using God's armor to stand firm against the enemy, just like Meg did when she faced a terrifying demonic attack. ✨
Check out this video snippet from the book as well and see how we can prepare for spiritual battles.
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