My Heavy Shield

Bugis warrior (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Joyce Meyer spoke about the shield of faith today.  She had a large shield on stage that was borrowed from the prop room.  As she talked about the “fiery darts” from the enemy she would lift that shield and hold it up over her body covering even her face and head.  She said it was very heavy.  At first when carried out by one of the men, she wondered if she would be able to lift it.  It actually made a great analogy for what we sometimes deal with exercising our own “shield of faith” in our own lives.  It is much easier to just leave it sit there on the side-lines – never pick it up and actually use it.   After all – it is kind of  – heavy.  It’s way easier to just to our own thing instead.

As she cited many scriptures on faith including the famous ones from the book of Hebrews, something swelled up in me.  Something made real sense to me.  Those people like Abraham, the woman with the bleeding issue, the man who asked Jesus to heal his daughter and many more were people just like us – but with one difference:  they spoke out their faith and believed even when it looked impossible.  

This is a great lesson.  It is one that I for one have heard my whole life.  I know those Bible stories by heart.  Went to Bible school and studied at great length and have been in ministry with my husband for 0ver 25 years.  And yet, I fall short.  I have let my personal situations bring me down.  I have allowed others to rob me of my joy.  I have failed many times.

And yet – I remember the times when I did believe for things that looked or seemed impossible.  I can remember a specific time when praying for and about my daughter.  I remember the times when I spoke out these words:  Lord, you know the future.  You already have the answer to this situation.  I don’t have to worry about it.  You are working behind the scenes for my benefit.  You are going to do what you promised.  I believe that things will happen just as you say it will – in your timing and not mine.

Things did not always change immediately.  But eventually I received an answer.  The problem is, I don’t always remember to pray that way.  When a storm comes – I forget.  When someone hurts me – I forget.  When a situation comes my way that I don’t understand – I forget again.  My first response comes from a severe lack of faith.  I pull into myself, or blame the other person.  Or worse than that – talk about it to a friend.  Ouch.  And I don’t have my shield of faith in place.  And that’s when I’m hit REALLY HARD in the head with those fiery darts.  And it feels like now I’m fighting for my life, while wounded!  When I could have just remembered to speak out those words of belief and faith.  All the while – raising that heavy shield – which gets lighter all the time I express my faith in God.

Are you going through something right now?  Most of us are.  It’s the unseen things that trip us all up.  Most people don’t look like they are in a battle, when they are.  There are things hidden deep in the heart, hurts that go way beyond understanding.  There are situations that bring us down like physical illness and loss.  It is hard to remain positive with long-term trouble of the heart, mind and body.  But just a little step of faith can make a HUGE difference.

God doesn’t promise to elevate us out of the trial – but He does promise to be with us.  And when He is with us, we CAN go through anything.  And I’d much rather have Him beside me than to face it without Him.

My own personal prayer today looks something like this:

Lord you know what I’m struggling with.  I know you have the answer.  You are working behind the scenes to bring healing and restoration.  I release my time-table to you.  I believe everything that happens is ultimately for my good and has a purpose.  Even when I can’t see it.  It is comforting to know that you see the final outcome for my situation.  I am convinced you are more concerned with my attitude and heart than anything else that might be immediate gratification.  I believe you will do what you have promised concerning my life.  Help me to be a blessing and help others even when I don’t yet have all the answers.  I trust you.  Amen

As I release this prayer – my shield doesn’t seem so heavy any more.  And I’m protected.  It doesn’t change the situation right away – but I am changed by saying it.  And as I believe – my shield holds.

 

What does your prayer of faith look like?

 

God Bless

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