Day 44 - Thursday

Day 44

 

"What God has said isn't only alive and active! It is sharper than any double-edged sword. His word can cut through our spirits and souls and through our joints and marrow, until it discovers the desires and thoughts of our hearts."  Hebrews 4:12 (CEV)

So how do we use this sword?  We talked earlier of how Jesus quoted the scripture to the enemy when in the midst of temptation and attack.  It is how he countered the attacks.  He knew how to use the sword swiftly and easily.  It was a natural response for him.

 

Why was the sword easy to use?  Jesus had immersed himself in the Word.  In fact, one of the names of Christ is "the Word."  John called him the "Word made flesh."  You and I obviously do not hold this same position, but we can follow in Jesus' footsteps, as everything Jesus did in the flesh was done as an example for us to follow.

 

He lived in the Word of God and made the scripture his focus.  As a young Hebrew man, he had learned the words of God, studied them and especially memorized them.  So when he needed a "sword," a particular word from God that applied to the situation he faced, the sword was presented easily. 

 

You and I have our armor readily available to us.  God has granted them to us as gifts, but without our participation and belief they will do us no good.  The sword especially needs our commitment.  We must take the sword into our hearts and minds.  It is the preparation for the future. 

 

"I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you."  Psalm 119:11 (NLT)

 

When we study the scripture and commit its truth to memory, it creates a home in our hearts from which we can declare it in the times of our need.  We wield the sword by knowing the word of God and speaking it to ourselves and over our situations, against the plans and lies of the enemy.

 

Prayer:  "Lord, help me to store your words in my heart.  May my mouth be filled with your words when the lies of the enemy comes at me.  Allow your sword to fight on my behalf and give me victory.  In Jesus I pray, Amen."

 

Day 43 - Wednesday

Day 43

 

"In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance." Revelation 1:16 (NIV)

So now that we know the Word of God is like a sword, how do we handle this sword?  What do we do with it?  As we look at the life of Jesus, we see one famous example.

 

Jesus, having been baptized by John, affirmed by God that he truly was God's beloved Son, was led by the Holy Spirit to be tempted of the devil.  Earlier in this series we saw that it was this confirmation and determination of his identity that prepared Jesus for his encounter with Satan. 

 

But how Jesus responded to the devil is what we need to take notice of today.  He countered every lie and temptation of the enemy with the truth of God's word. 

 

"Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.'

Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'

Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" 

Luke 4:4, 8, 12 (NIV, emphasis mine)

 

He did not try to battle the lies and temptations with his own thoughts, his own opinions, but rather he leans back into history and decrees God's words to counter the enemy.

 

Some presume to be able to battle with the enemy on their own terms, but to follow the Lord's example is best.  God gives us his Word as a sword, which we can use as a weapon.  But it is only a weapon designed for the enemy.  We are not to manipulate the Word to get our own way or control others, but if we are to fight with it, let it be for the destruction of the enemy's lies that we use it. 

 

Prayer:  "God, teach me to use your Word not for my own gain or against another person, but instead teach me to handle your Word with strength and dignity befitting it.  Teach me how to use it against the lies and temptations of the enemy that come my way.  In Jesus I pray, Amen."

 

Day 42 - Tuesday

Day 42

 

"God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon's scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey." Hebrews 4:12 (TMSG)

We see here in this passage, that the sword, the Word of God is not meant simply as a sword to played with or to be carelessly used, but rather its primary job is to get to the heart of us who wield it.  Its goal is not to slay others, though the enemy is routed by it and we will see that later.  But its first directive is to open up our hearts.  It is to divide within us that which is spirit and that which is of our own devices.

 

Maybe this is why Paul calls upon the leaders of this new movement of "the Way" to rightly divide the word of truth.

 

"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)

 

That word "dividing" means to make a straight cut, to dissect or expound properly.  That sounds like a sword's job to me.  But notice in the Hebrews 4 scripture, this cutting is happening in us.  The word is a sword or knife that cuts through all that life has tried to force us into being, through the failures and the successes, the friends and the betrayers, the lies and the truths we've heard.  All these have shaping power in our lives. 

 

But the Word, when we allow it access into our lives, it becomes a knife to cut away all those things that are detrimental to us and leaves us open and receptive to the voice of the Spirit of God.  Surgery can be scary.  A knife to the heart of our being is not something we would look forward to.  But our Father is a master at bringing us to him. 

 

I am reminded of a movie quote from the Kevin Costner movie, Robin Hood.  The scene is this:  the villain, the Sheriff of Nottingham, and Robin are fighting.  The Sheriff had killed Robin's father with the father's own sword and was now taunting Robin that he would kill him with the same sword.  Robin Hood makes this statement that has stuck with me since I heard it:

 

"I shall never fear my father's sword."

 

Today, as we allow the Word, our Father's sword, cut away those things that stand between us, let us not be afraid, but trust that He who created us does all things well.

 

Prayer:  "Father, once again I come to you in trust and faith, believing you have my best in mind.  I believe your Word will work in me and remove those things that are not beneficial to my walk with you.  It will heal as it removes sins and falsehood and it will draw me ever closer to you.  In Christ's name, Amen."

 

Day 41 - Monday

Day 41

 

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."  Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)

The word of God is living and active.  Did you realize that the word, this beautiful, life changing word that we study everyday and listen to is a force to be reckoned with?  This word is not simply words on a page, but something birthed from the heart of God.

 

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness," 2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV)

 

When God is speaking to us through his word and it stirs us, and we respond to his prompting, it becomes alive, living and operational in our lives.  Someone said once that we don't read the Bible, but that the Bible reads us.  We then get changed in the process. 

 

It is this activity that God's word takes on in our lives which Paul says is our sword.  Some people think that the Word of God is a weapon to be used on others, something to control others into doing what they want.  But we know that the Word of God is something living and breathing and makes a home on the inside of us.

 

It is this operation of the word, alive in the power of the Holy Spirit on the inside of us that becomes dangerous.  It will cut through all the pretense that we set up around our lives which we "think" protects us.  We might put our hope and trust in our economic status in life or where we were born, who our family is or what we look like.  But these things will not cover us.  Even our religiosity will not protect our hearts.  These are false armors.

 

The Word of God alone can strike the fatal blow to the enemy's plan in our lives.  But it will not be enough merely to read or study the Word, but we must allow it access to our hearts.  Allow it to change us from the inside out, and then it can remove those footholds of the enemy in our thinking and in our souls.

 

Prayer:  "Holy Spirit, make the Word of God come alive in me this day.  I trust that it can and will defeat the enemy in my life as I entrust my life into it's wisdom and truth.  Lead me by your Word this day.  In Jesus I pray, Amen."

Day 40 - Sunday

Day 40

"Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:17 (NIV)

The sword of the Spirit is the last accessory of the armor. We've been looking at God's defensive protection for the believer up to this point: truth, righteousness, faith, peace, salvation. No other piece is an offensive weapon, only this, the sword, is a weapon.

It is interesting that God does not give us an arsenal of weapons to fight with in the wars of our life. No, simply protects us and hands us a sword.

The word, sword, comes from a Greek word, "machaira" which means knife. It's a term used by modern scholars to describe a type of ancient bladed weapon, generally a large knife with a slight backwards curve. In some ancient texts, it can even refer to a surgeon's scalpel.

But this sword/knife is not just any sword. Paul tells us that the Word of God is our weapon. This weapon is a precise instrument. "Word" comes from the Greek "rhema." It refers to the utterance from God. This is the living word that comes from God to our heart. It is that moment we are reading the scripture and it comes alive to us. We know that we know it is true, and that it is speaking to our situation.

It is this that we use to fight against the enemy of our souls. When the word of God comes alive and we believe it, it becomes a power for us to defeat the lies and the attacks that come in life.

Prayer: "Father, thank you that you not only give me things to protect myself with, but also give me a weapon to fight with in the battles of life. I thank you that you speak through your word to me and my situations and as I stand in faith on these words, you give me victory. In Jesus I pray, Amen."

Day 39 - Saturday

Day 39

 

"Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear."  Isaiah 59:1 (NIV)

"Savior

He can move the mountains
My God is Mighty to save
He is Mighty to save
Forever
Author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave"

- from Mighty to Save,

   by Reuben Morgan and Ben Fielding

 

That God is mighty to save is a theme we find in the scripture.  There is no length to which God will not go to save us.  King David said that he could go to the depths of hell and God would still be able to find him.  Why?  Because of God's love for his people, he is not willing to throw us away, when we fail and struggle with our faith, but rather he is actively working in our lives through prevenient grace, circumstances, divine appointments, and any host of avenues to help and protect us. 

 

We can trust that God is just as determined to protect our mind as he is to save our souls from hell.  This helmet of salvation that surrounds our minds is just another example of God's care and love for us.  He wants us to be free in our minds to believe and trust. 

 

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."  Matthew 6:33 (NIV)

 

Jesus is inviting us to cast all of our cares upon him.  Here he is telling us that when we displace worry and fear in our lives and replace with faith in him, he will cover us, meet our needs and fulfill our hearts and minds.  Let us allow the salvation, God's saving, keeping, protecting power, cover our minds.

 

Prayer:  "Jesus, thank you that you are mighty to save.  I believe that you are more than enough for me.  I believe you are covering me and strengthening me by your salvation.  Thank you.  In your name, Amen."

 

Day 38 - Friday

Day 38

 

"For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory."  Colossians 1:27 (NLT)

As we explore the idea of salvation and the hope that it secures for our mind, let us not forget that it is not something separate from Christ himself.  Just as he is truth, righteousness, author of our faith and the Prince of peace, so also is he our Savior.  He is the rescuer, the saving Messiah who comes to redeem us.  We can say like Job, "I know my Redeemer lives." 

 

Because he lives, and stands as our salvation, we can know that our salvation is secure.  There is much debate in the Body of Christ about whether or not there is "eternal security."  And on both sides of the debate, there are many scriptures to support both arguments.  But after reading the scripture for myself and studying it, I believe there is a better way of looking at it. 

 

I believe our salvation is more secure than we believe, yet within the confines of our free will.  Our human nature likes to put things into a category, who's in and who's out.  Religion continues to follow this theme, adding its own brand of spiritual labels.  Under the threat of losing our salvation and going to hell, religion seeks to control and make people "behave." 

 

But this fear-based, performance-based spirituality is not spirituality at all.  Jesus came to save us from all things that separate us from God.  Sin separates us, but also fear driven obedience to rules separate us too.  Jesus came to establish us in love, letting us for the first time get a glimpse of the love of God. 

 

Paul called it the riches and glory of Christ that was given to us.  And the best of all, this salvation allows Christ now to live within us by his Spirit.  We now can wear this assurance of his salvation covers us.  We now can live without fear of losing our salvation.  Perfect love casts out fear.

 

Prayer:  "Father, thank you that you have given me assurance of your salvation through Christ.  I entrust my life and my salvation to you and believe fear is cast away from me as I receive your love today.  In Christ's name, Amen."

 

Day 37 - Thursday

Day 37

 

"But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet."  1 Thessalonians 5:8 (NIV)

Here is Paul writing to another church, the Christians at Thessalonica, and once again, he imagines salvation as a helmet.  But here he specifies the "hope of salvation."  The hope of our salvation is set in the belief that God has and is saving us. 

 

Hope is powerful.  Men and women can survive many things, but without hope to sustain them, the stamina to stand in the face of adversity quickly dwindles.  So what is this hope of salvation?  It is the hope found in knowing we have a Savior that is delivering us from sin, from death, from hell, from ourselves.  He saves us from the effects of a sinful world that wears against our mind by telling us there is no God and no future for the Christian.  It is our hope in this salvation that guards our minds in Christ!

 

The word "hope" comes from the Greek word elpis and is translated as "confident expectation."  This is a far more descriptive and accurate definition of the helmet that safeguards our minds.  When we place our hope in God and his promises for us, we find that our worries and fears about the future, and about our present situations as well, are replaced by the assurance that God is with us.  This creates the peace of God inside of us.

 

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)

 

In Christ, we find that peace, because of his salvation is our portion in this life and will protect our hearts and minds.  No wonder that King David, the Psalmist, wrote that his hope was found in his Savior:

 

"Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long."  Psalm 25:4-5 (NIV)

 

Prayer:  "Savior, thank you that you save me from my worries, my fears and my doubts.  Thank you that as I place my confident expectation in your care and love for me my mind and heart is set in peace.  In Christ's name, Amen."

Day 36 - Wednesday

Day 36

 

"Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me."  Psalm 138:7 (NIV)

We talked earlier about how we are saved, and yet being saved at the same time.  Our salvation is a one time event, but also an on-going process.  What areas in your life is God "saving" you still?

 

Our helmet of salvation, this rescue from God, operates as we walk through life.  It will guard and keep our minds as we journey on the path of faith.  So many times we think of salvation as the "day we got saved."  We chose to follow Christ and believe that we went from death to life in that decision.  But really our translation from being lost to found was just the beginning of our salvation.

 

God is at work redeeming and rescuing us from before we chose to follow him.  There is a phrase called "prevenient grace," which simply means that God was working in your life even before you knew him to bring you to a place of understanding and receiving his salvation.  He loves us so much he begins to work on us before we even know him, preparing us to be a part of his family.

 

Then after we connect with Christ and make him our Lord, his Spirit goes to work in us to make us more like Christ.  Much of this process will take place in our mind, as what we think and believe affect how we live and act.  This is "sanctification," a work of on-going salvation as we learn to surrender the things that are not like Christ and be formed into his image.

 

We must partner with his Spirit in allowing him access to our thought life, permitting the conviction of the Holy Spirit to alert us when our thinking is not aligned with the will of God.  As we study and learn the Word of God, our mind is renewed and we change as the things that break the heart of God also break our own heart. 

 

We are saved, yet being saved everyday.

 

Prayer:  "Spirit of God, teach me to hear your voice, learn your will for my life, and act upon your moving in my heart.  Thank you that you are constantly making me into Christ's image.  In Jesus I pray, Amen."

Day 35 - Tuesday

Day 35

 

"So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you."  Romans 12:1-2 (TMSG)

This is one of my favorite verses found in the Message version of the Bible.  It helps us to see that this helmet of salvation, this renewing of our mind takes place in our day to day lives.  God uses the context of our lives to work out his image in us.  Our armor is designed for not only the attacks the enemy sends our way, but so that we can live like Christ.  Christlikeness is the goal of the Christian.

 

The Message tells us that the best thing we can do for God is to embrace what He has done for us.  When we try to give someone a wonderful gift that means much to us, the greatest blessing to us is for them to receive it with gratefulness.  The same is true with God.  We honor him and his gift of salvation when we embrace what he has done for us. 

 

As we allow his salvation, the grace that he has poured in our lives, lead us in our day-to-day routines, we will find that he will change us from the inside out.  As we respond to the stirring in our hearts to do what we feel God desires, we'll find that we hear and understand his voice sooner and more often. 

 

Our daily routines performed with our hearts tuned to the Spirit's promptings train us for battle in those bad days.  It is this working out our salvation that produces spiritual maturity in us.

 

Prayer:  "Jesus, teach me how to hear your Spirit in the day-to-day routines, so that I can follow you and grow in spiritual maturity.  Thank you that you train me to walk with you in the good times so that I will know how to walk with you in the bad times too.  In your name I pray, Amen."

Day 34 - Monday

Day 34

 

"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God"  Ephesians 6:17 (KJV)

The word "take" that Paul uses here in the original Greek means "accept, receive, or take."  In other words, Paul is telling us once again that our salvation, this helmet that will cover our minds, is a gift from God.

 

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God"  Ephesians 2:8 (NIV)

 

Our salvation is a gift of God.  It is not something that have to work up and produce on our own but rather the grace of God is freely offered to us. It is this freely offered salvation that Christ gives to us that will guard our minds. 

 

But will we choose to take it up.  Will we choose to receive the transformation that comes to our mind when salvation takes it's place in our lives?  Even though salvation is a free gift from God, we still have a part to play.  We are invited to partner with God and fulfill his will in our lives. 

 

"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." Philippians 2:12-13 (NIV)

 

As partners with God, and as we choose to allow the change in our thinking to take place, we will "work out" our salvation.  Think of it as "fleshing" out what God has done for us.  Our mind is renewed as we grow to understand and believe that which God has said about us.  Truth replaces the lies of the enemy in our lives and our minds, which is a battlefield the enemy likes to use against us, is protected by this wonderful gift of God.

 

Prayer:  "Lord, thank you for your grace and salvation that has been so freely offered to me.  Help me to believe that salvation is covering my mind and heart, transforming who I am as I trust you.  Renew my mind, in your name I pray, Amen."

Day 33 - Sunday

Day 33

 

"Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:17 (TSMG)

Paul now is rounding out his metaphor of the spiritual clothes that God has given us with the "helmet of salvation."  Here he tells us that salvation will be as a helmet to protect our head, which in turn will protect our minds. 

 

I believe it is very interesting that it's salvation that will be part of our mind's protection.  For it is in our minds that the battle most often rages.  We definitely deal with attacks physically in sickness or in other battles with people and personalities.  But the biggest struggle that you and I will face in our lives will be within our own minds.

 

How we think about God, about our lives, about who we are in the grand scheme of it all will potentially win or lose the battle for us.  It is in our mind, what we believe, that will determine who the victor is.  This is why Paul calls us to renew our minds:

 

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."  Romans 12:2 (NIV)

 

Notice that the transforming of our life will not take place in simply changing how we live, what patterns of life we will conform to.  No, it will take place when our mind is renewed to that which is God's will, his purpose and desires for us.  When we simply try to "be good" or change our behavior simply because we think that's what God would want from us, it will only last a short time, because behavior modification does not work.  It must be a transformation that comes from changing how we think or feel or believe…which starts in the mind.

 

Salvation is the beginning.  Too many times the church believes that salvation is the end point.  It is "closing the deal" with someone who doesn't know Christ.  It is the goal, but that is not how Paul or the other writers of the Bible saw it.  Salvation is an event…and a process.  We are saved and being saved at the same time.  And our helmet will help us in that process!

 

Prayer:  "Father, thank you that you believe in me and have given to me the helmet of salvation.  I believe that you are working in me to do your will and good pleasure.  Renew my mind that I may be transformed into the image of Jesus.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen."

Day 32 - Saturday

Day 32

 

"He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?"  Romans 8:32 (NIV)

As we close this look the shield of faith, let's discuss one more thing about faith.  In most recent years in the church, the teaching about faith has become almost a fad.  It has become thought of as a currency through which we get things from God. 

 

The picture that comes to mind is a mafia godfather who demands loyalty and if we offer just the right words, remain in his good graces and believe just the right things, our life will be "protected."  We will be covered by the protection of the godfather.  But if we falter in faith, worry or doubt, we will lose all standing with him and now all evil is able to touch us. 

 

This is not what we see Paul saying throughout his epistles.  Rather he invites us into a relationship with God…a loving Father, not a manipulative godfather who demands complete allegiance or suffer the consequences.  No, Paul's God has laid the consequences of our bad behavior and our sin nature on Jesus and through his sacrifice, God now looks with favor on his people. 

 

We are freely given the gift of grace.  Grace alone is a beautiful word that invites the hearer to breathe deeply, freely, knowing that God is on our side.  He gave us a high priest, Jesus, who understands and is intimately acquainted with what it means to be human and struggle with life and all it presents us.  Because of this, because of Jesus, we can trust (believe and have faith in) God's unconditional love for us. 

 

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)

 

It is this that when we believe and trust in, his love for us, we can heft the shield of faith and quench those fiery darts.  Why?  Because of God's great and unconditional love for us and our faith in it will vanquish the lies of the enemy and the attacks that come our way.

 

Prayer:  "Jesus, thank you for your love and for your sacrifice for me.  Help me to believe your unconditional love for me and let me have faith that withstands the fiery attacks that come from life and the enemy.  I believe in you and trust you. In your name I pray, Amen."

Day 31 - Friday

Day 31

 

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."  2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)

I'm wondering something today.  I'm wondering if you are like me.  Do you ever get an odd thought come to you, a fearful thing that comes to mind unbidden, but instead of getting rid of the thought, you dwell on it a little too long?  Maybe it's a worry about the future or a fear of losing a loved one. 

 

These thoughts come and tempt our mind to take detours away from what we know is true.  They are like a seed that is planted and if we allow it to stay, it will grow until we've allowed our imaginations to run away with us and take us down paths mentally and emotionally that keep us from living in a life of faith. 

 

Part of the job of the shield of our faith is to protect us from these attacks of doubt and fear.  But we must take action against them; we must choose to use our shield.  Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians that we must take captive the thoughts that prop themselves up as more important and against the truth that God has given us. 

 

When we choose to believe the truth of God, it is our faith in this knowledge that will protect us and "shield" us from these lies and fears that come to our minds.  This is a defense to our souls.  We counteract the attacks of the enemy when we choose to reject these fleeting thoughts that try to take root in our hearts and replace them with the affirmations of God's promises. 

 

His word, the Bible, is filled with promises of his grace and support and love for his children.  And this is that good news we talked of before.  It is the gospel message that we don't have to live in fear or worry, but rather place our trust and faith in God who loves us and will never leave us or forsake us.

 

"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7 (NIV)

 

Prayer:  "Jesus, I trust you and believe you have my best in mind for me.  Give me grace when the attacks of the enemy come to my mind and teach me how to trust you and cast my cares upon you rather than listen to the lies of the enemy.  Thank you for the shield of my faith in you.  In you I pray, Amen."

Day 30 - Thursday

Day 30

 

"How wonderful, how beautiful, when brothers and sisters get along! It's like costly anointing oil flowing down head and beard, Flowing down Aaron's beard…"  Psalm 133:1-2 (TMSG)

The anointing is a metaphor of the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  The name "the Anointed" is also a name for Jesus, as the word "Christ" means "anointed one."  If we are truly learning to lean into the Lord and let our trust and belief in him be our "anointed shield," we are taking up the shield of faith and Jesus will quench these fiery darts in our lives. 

 

The oil actually plays a role with our shield.  The Hebrews had a tradition with their shields.  They would use leather shields, and would rub oil into the leather to make it supple and fit for war.  They would say that they are "anointing the shield."  To anoint meant to pour oil on or to rub oil into.

 

King David talked about how when we work together in unity (together in step and support) that it is like the anointing oil that God used to anoint the high priest.  This anointing was a sign of being set apart for a special purpose or ministry.

 

You and I have been set apart for a special purpose and plan that God has ordained.  His anointing rests on our lives as we seek to serve him.  This anointing is activated in our lives as we place our trust in him and step out of our comfort zones to follow him. 

 

As we work together, it will build our strength and protection.  Our shields become linked together and are empowered by the presence of the Holy Spirit.

 

Prayer:  "Father, anoint us as we use our faith each day to follow you.  Help me to find ways to spread my shield over others and help us to walk in step with you and each other.  In you I pray, Amen."

Day 29 - Wednesday

Day 29

 

"In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil." Ephesians 6:16 (NLT)

Today I want to focus our attention to the formation they would make with their shields.  Being a Roman citizen, Paul was well-acquainted with the Roman soldiers and their warfare tactics.  One of these was to bring their shields together to the point they were almost linked, not allowing room for an arrow to get through. 

 

Imagine what the enemy of these armies thought when they advanced on these Romans, only to find a moving, living shield of protection guarding against the fiery arrows they had launched at them.  It must have struck terror in their hearts.

 

We need one another's shields.  My shield alone will not protect me completely, but I need to link up with my brothers and sisters not only for my own help, but to help them as well.

 

There is a great story from the history of Israel about Jonathan, the son of King Saul, who was moved by God to fight against the Philistine army and looking to the young man who helped carry his armor, he said:

 

"Jonathan said to his armor bearer, "Come on now, let's go across to these uncircumcised pagans. Maybe God will work for us. There's no rule that says God can only deliver by using a big army. No one can stop God from saving when he sets his mind to it." His armor bearer said, "Go ahead. Do what you think best. I'm with you all the way." 1 Samuel 14:6-7 (TMSG)

 

They defeated this garrison of the enemy, just the two of them.  But they were in step, in unity with each other.  Jonathan spread his faith over him and his armorbearer, the faith that God was with them and would deliver.  It is this linking of each other's heart, as well as mind, that brought them protection and the ability to fight for each other.

 

And as we link arms with our brothers and sisters, we will help each other defeat the enemy in our lives.  We are in a battle and we cannot simply fight alone, but we need to realize that our shield is not just for us, but for our friends, family and neighbors too. 

 

Prayer:  "Jesus, help me lift my faith as a shield today, as I choose to link with others who find themselves in the battle of life. I cannot fight this war on my own, and neither can they.  Keep us we pray, as we fight for and defend one another. In you I pray, Amen."

Day 28 - Tuesday

Day 28

 

"Let your faith be like a shield, and you will be able to stop all the flaming arrows of the evil one." Ephesians 6:16 (CEV)

The word "arrows" in the above scripture comes from a Greek word, which is sometimes translated as "missiles."  You and I have been promised that if we will heft our faith as a shield, our trust in God will extinguish the attacks the enemy will throw our way. 

 

Psalm 91 talks to us about God's faithfulness to watch over his people.  Look at one of the promises:

 

"He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.  You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day…" Psalm 91:4-5 (NIV)

 

David is telling us that we will be protected by God's faithfulness like a shield, keeping us from attack.  It is our belief in God's faithfulness to us that will guard us against these fiery missiles. 

 

What is it that the enemy throws at us anyway?

 

Remember the only power the devil has is deception.  If he can get us to believe his lies about us or God or others, he has more power over us.  The enemy will especially make accusation against God.  He will try to tell us that we are not loved, or that Jesus is not with us, that we have to work more to get God's approval and grace. 

 

Our committed trust in God's faithfulness will surround us like a shield.  It will not only protect us, but it will counter the attacks of the enemy as we don't believe the lies.  They will not penetrate the shield.

 

Prayer:  "Holy Spirit, surround me with your faithfulness and teach me to trust you.  Let my faith in you shield me from the lies of the enemy.  I choose to believe your truth, and refuse the lies of the enemy.  In Jesus I pray, Amen."

 

Day 27 - Monday

Day 27

 

"In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one." Ephesians 6:16 (NIV)

In addition to all this, Paul writes.  The King James Version says: "above all else."  Pretty imperatively Paul wants us to know that our armor is not complete yet without faith.  Yes, we need all these others – righteousness, truth, peace – but without faith we will not be able to put out the attacks of the enemy. 

 

Paul compares faith to a shield.  Unfortunately in the church, and the world for that matter, faith is often used as a weapon, but notice that the apostle instead compares it to a shield.  We do not attack or force our faith on the situations and powers that battle us, but rather it is our trust and believe in God that will be our protection in the battle.

 

Wikipedia tells us that "the heavily armored Roman legionaries carried large shields that could provide much protection, but made swift movement a little more difficult...Famously, the Romans used their shields to create a tortoise-like formation called a testudo in which entire groups of soldiers would be enclosed in an armored box to provide protection against missiles."

 

This is what our faith can do for us as well.  Faith is defined as belief, confidence, trust.  When we have entered a relationship with God, we learn to believe what he says he will do.  He proves himself to us in his loving care for us.  Therefore, our "faith" in him provides us with confidence that whatever we face in life, we can stand strong, knowing he is with us.

 

Note that Paul tells us that we must "take up" the shield.  It is an act of our will that chooses to believe God and allow that belief to propel us forward in life and in battle.  It is the choices we make through the faith we have in him that will protect us and give us safety.

 

Prayer:  "God, I choose today to reaffirm my faith in you.  Thank you that you stand to my defense and protect me in the battles of life.  I believe you are with me and for me and will never leave me.  In Jesus I pray, Amen."

 

Day 26 - Sunday

Day 26

 

"And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;" Ephesians 6:15

I can count a million times, People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me, Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You
Maybe since my life was changed, Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind, To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm, But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace, Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days, When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You, Jesus, bring the rain

(MercyMe's "Bring the Rain")

 

As we close our look at our shoes of peace, I wanted to share some of the lyrics of the above song, because I believe it speaks to one other part of peace.  Paul says our feet should be shod with the "preparation of the Gospel of peace."  In other words, our walk or journey in life should be constantly prepared by peace.  Does this mean we will never encounter fear or pain or trouble?  Of course not, but peace will guard us in these times, by preparing us.

 

Peace is an attribute of the Savior.  He is called the Prince of Peace.  It is also one of the fruit of the Spirit.  It grows in us the closer we grow to God.  And he desires to let this peace be preparation for our lives.  If we will allow the peace of God to replace worry and fear at the center of our lives, we will find that we can be prepared to walk through any storm and any surprise. 

 

The question will be: can we trust him?  Yes, I will choose to trust him and praise him even in the storms of life, because I choose to walk in his peace.

 

Prayer:  "Prince of Peace, I choose to follow you through every storm and trial of life.  I thank you that you prepare me for my journey and never leave me while on my walk in this world.  Thank you for my feet being covered in the preparation of peace that comes from the Gospel.  In Christ name, Amen."

Day 25 - Saturday

Day 25

"He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake."  Psalm 23:2-3 (NIV)

In this famous psalm, we hear King David declaring that God will lead us beside the quiet or "still" waters.  These still waters are indicative of peace.  God wants to lead us into and by his peace.

 

It is not God's intention for our lives to be fraught with worry and doubt and fear.  No, his intention is for us to let his peace be our "state of being." 

 

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control." 2 Timothy 1:7 (Amplified Bible)

 

He has made provision through Christ's sacrifice and the ever-present Holy Spirit to grant us peace.  This doesn't mean that we will be able to experience this perfectly every time, but the possibility is there.  We're human and struggle with human emotions, but all the same, our supernatural, superhuman God lives and dwells within us. 

 

The peace that the Psalmist talked about came after he made a declaration of who God was in his life:

 

"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want." Psalm 23:1 (NIV)

 

It is not an accident that it is this declaration of God being David's shepherd came first.  He had learned and received God as his shepherd, learning to listen to his voice and following his commands.  As he did this, David experienced the ability to find the still waters in his life.  And his life was nowhere near perfect. 

 

His peace was found in allowing God to shepherd him.  How well are we at being shepherded by God?  Do we push against fence?  Are we straining against his boundaries in our lives?  Or have submitted to his guidance and leading?  We will know by the waters we find ourselves beside.

 

Prayer:  "Jesus, I want to be led by those streams of still and quiet waters.  I want to have my soul restored in your peace.  Grant me the ability to hear your voice and be quick to obey.  I believe in you, my Shepherd.  In You I pray, Amen."

Day 24 - Friday

Day 24

 

"God's kingdom isn't about eating and drinking. It is about pleasing God, about living in peace, and about true happiness. All this comes from the Holy Spirit." Romans 14:17 (CEV)

 

Paul tells us that the Kingdom of God is about righteousness, peace and joy…in the Holy Ghost.  All of these things come not by our efforts, or our wisdom.  Rather, these things come through a relationship with the Holy Spirit.

 

We all have the opportunity or the ability to "put on Christ" or wear the armor of God.  It is a gift of God for us.  These are natural outgrowths (or fruit) of our relationship with the Holy Spirit.

 

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)

 

Jesus said that the Comforter he was sending would be our helper, reminding us of the things he said, and be with us always.  The name "Comforter" comes from the word, "paraclete" which means "one who consoles, one who intercedes on our behalf, a comforter or an advocate." 

 

The Holy Spirit will clothe us with God's truth, his righteousness, his peace, his salvation and even his faith.  But we need to cultivate this friendship.  Spend time with the Holy Spirit, as we would any friend who we love and care about.  The more we do, the more like him we become. 

 

It is in these times that we will discover that life in the kingdom of God is more fulfilling than anything we can work up on our own.  It is in the kingdom, through our relationship with God, that we will experience the righteousness, peace and joy that fill the holes of our hearts.

 

Prayer:  "Holy Spirit, teach me how to draw close to you, to know you and to allow you to shape me into the image of Christ.  Work in me these pieces of the armor that protects me and gives me victory in life.  Fulfill me with your righteousness, peace and joy.  In Christ I pray, Amen."