I am still here...

Just wanted to check in and let everyone know I am still here...

I have been so busy I feel as if I am chasing myself. A lot of road trips back to back as of late along with everything else. Not much computer time to be sure...

Anyway if I can not get back here anytime soon I want to ask a New Year's blessing for everyone...

You all have been such a blessing to me.... you have no idea how much. Every time I feel as if I can not make one more step, someone out there encourages me and pushes me on. I know that without all of you praying I would never be able to walk this walk at all.

So with saying all of that I shall leave you with this wonderful message...

Love & prayers,

Judy

Reading: Ephesians 6:16



SHIELD OF FAITH



We cannot get to heaven without faith. We know we cannot please God without this active virtue. It is clear that faith is what enables us to walk forward in our life in Christ. Therefore, it is important to note that faith is associated with the shield. The Bible tells us that the Lord is our shield. In fact, a buckler was a shield. King David made this statement: “As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him” (2 Samuel 22:31 ).

According to the information I read about some of the shields in Jesus’ day, there was one particular shield a soldier could actually hide his whole body behind in battle. Therefore, he had complete protection. This reminds us that to hide in Jesus, we must truly trust Him with what is going on around us. We must hide behind Him because He is truth. We must not move until we know we can walk in righteousness. In this way we know we can be completely surrounded by His incredible protection.

This is why the writer of Hebrews stated that Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. Our faith begins with Jesus where we put our trust in Him for salvation. As we learn to hide in Him by faith, we learn to trust Him for the life and type of protection that has been promised to us.

The shield of faith protects us from the fiery darts of the wicked. These darts can be lies, false accusations and doubts. They are attempts of Satan to make inroads into our life so that he can rob us of confidence towards God, kill our trust in His commitment towards us, and destroy our abiding foundation we have established in Him as our Rock of Ages.

By standing behind our shield of God, we will quench the fire and impact of these darts as they try to penetrate our lives in Christ. Make sure you hold your shield up against such attempts. If you do, the influences and attempts of the wicked one will fall to the wayside.



Prayer: Lord, we praise Your name. You have become our shield in which we can quench all the darts that come from the enemy. Amen.

©2008 Rayola Kelley, Gentle Shepherd Ministries. Permission is granted for
non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.

www.gentleshepherd.com

Questions or comments welcome. Email: ministry@gentleshepherd.com