Praying for your family - part five

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)

God has given me this prayer regarding the shield of faith:

On behalf of myself and all in my family, I now take up the shield of faith, oiled by your Holy Spirit, washed by the water of your Word, with which we can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one – his accusations, insinuations, distortions, and temptations launched against our minds have been snuffed out, and they lie fallen on the ground, unable to rise.

The shield of faith. I used to visualize this shield as a small round object worn on the left forearm.  Because it was small in size, it was easily maneuvered to “catch” the arrows sent my way regardless of where they had been aimed at my body.  You’ve probably seen movies where the soldiers were fighting with a sword in their right hand and a shield on their left arm.  They would move their shield as needed to deflect their opponent’s blows while at the same time attempting to drive their own sword through their opponent. They spent most of their time simply trading blows.

I don’t think that is what God had in mind. I believe He wants us to know that our shield is our faith in Him and the size of our shield has to do with the level of faith we have developed over time as we have chosen to trust Him with everything in our lives.  I’ve come to realize that the shield of faith being described here may begin small, but God intends that our faith grows through our consistent union with Him until it becomes a full-sized body shield. I would rather have the biggest, full-body shield I could have if I’m going into battle.  Wouldn’t you?

Oiled by your Holy Spirit. Oil is often a symbol of the Holy Spirit.  “Get up, you officers, oil the shields!” (Isaiah 21:5, NIV) Now you know where I got the idea to pray this way.  Back in Isaiah’s time, the shields were made of leather stretched over a wooden frame. The enemy would shoot arrows or throw javelins whose tips were soaked with a combustible at the shields.  If the leather of the shields was dry, the arrows would cause the shield to catch on fire and the soldier would be vulnerable to the next wave of arrows.  Another reason for keeping the shields oiled was that the soldiers could aim the shield in such a way that it would reflect the bright sunlight into the eyes of the oncoming enemy, blinding them and giving the soldier time to get his own arrows and spears launched. It was important to keep the shields oiled.  And it is important that we keep our shield of faith oiled through an ongoing (moment by moment) communion with the Holy Spirit.

All of this is a picture of the glory of God as our protection against the attacks of the enemy.  Years ago, while I was still living in San Antonio, I was driving home one day in a heavy thunderstorm.  I was stuck in traffic when all of a sudden, the storm clouds parted and a shaft of sunlight pierced the dark clouds, hitting the sheeting rain which acted like a prism and produced such a brilliant light that I was blinded for a few moments. That experience gave me a picture of another way to pray  – Father, I pray that the eyes of my enemy would be blinded (by the glory of the Lord – just as my eyes were blinded by the brilliance of the sun shining on the rain drops) so that he could not see to hit his mark.

Washed by the water of the Word. The Word of God cleanses us from our worldly thinking and prepares our hearts for victory over all the enemy’s attacks. Ephesians 5:26 “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” (NIV)

We live in a hostile world.  If our families are to thrive, we must be careful not to become like the world around us in thought, word or deed.  It is crucial that we daily renew our minds through reading the Word of God (Romans 12:1-2), allowing His Word to transform our thought life, which leads to a transformation in our behavior. God’s desire is that we be holy, as He is holy.  It is impossible to please God if we don’t know what His Word says, or if we don’t apply it to our everyday lives.  He’s given us the tools and He intends for us to practice with them and use them every time the enemy taunts us with his lies or lures us with his temptations.  The Word is a weapon we use against the enemy; and it is also the shield that protects us from his attacks.

All the flaming arrows.  I’ve already drawn a word picture of what the flaming arrows might look like.  But recently, I’ve come to understand more about what those flaming arrows actually are.  How many of you know that the battle with Satan is a battle that occurs in the mind?  Our minds are part of our souls – mind, will, and emotions.  The enemy wants to destroy our souls and he does that by attacking our thought life.  How many of you hear a voice or voices going on in your head all the time – that harass you all your waking hours and keep you up for long hours at night?  Did it ever occur to you that you have been given the authority in the Name of Jesus to SHUT THEM DOWN?

Let’s consider what kind of words those voices might be speaking into your mind: are they words that accuse you of something? Blame you for something? Suggest you are not good enough, smart enough, or not worthy of a real kind of love? Or maybe they are speaking lies about you, about other people, or even about God? Or do they remind you that some of the activities you used to engage in are still available for you; do they tempt you to throw off the righteousness you’ve received in Jesus and enjoy a little dip into satisfying your physical desires? 

Accusations. Insinuations. Distortions.Temptations. All of these can be shut down as you exercise your faith in the God who loves you just as you are.  Put up your shield (your personal relationship with Jesus Christ), exercise the authority you have in Christ, and bind those accusations, insinuations, distortions, and temptations with chains – because what you bind is bound, and send them to the pit of hell. Then loose the sevenfold Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and power, and the Spirit of the knowledge and reverential fear of the Lord to wash over you, cleansing and purifying your mind.  Then replace what you just got rid of by restocking your mind with the Truth of the Word of God.

Psalm 36:12 “There they lie in the dirt, these evil ones, thrown down to the ground, never to arise again!” (The Passion Translation)

What I have shared with you today is not just for you. It is also for your children.  Our children are literally being bombarded by the gates of hell every moment of every day.  It is important that we parents learn how to use these weapons so that we may teach our children how to deal with the enemy who wants to steal, kill and destroy them through their thought life. The government will not do that. The schools will not do that.  And sadly, many churches are not doing that. The result is that our children’s identities, dignity and destinies are being stolen.  And that is why so many of the younger generation are ending up on the streets, passed out in their own bodily secretions. 

Parents, it’s time for us to take our stand against all the enemy’s wicked schemes for the sake of our children, for the sake of all children, and for the glory of God.

Next time: The Sword of the Spirit

Blessings,
Linda
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© Linda Sue Harper 2018