The Importance of the Shield of Faith

Jessica Smith Art notebook drawing

Ephesians 6:16 “Above all else, taking the Shield of Faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the Wicked One!”

Several years ago, during a time of being beaten down by the devil, I cried out to the LORD in prayer for help. I was drowning in despair. I simply couldn’t win the battles of life. I was stressed, tired, and in anguish. I wanted to die. Then God showed up as He always does.

I had a dream. In the dream, the Holy Spirit came to show me my error. He stood at my right side. His presence was soothing, strengthening, and forever desirable.

Then suddenly Satan also showed up. He took a very close stance just a few yards in front of me and began to shoot me continually with arrows. These sharp darts were piercing through my chest and plunging deep into my soul. The Holy Spirit spoke into my ear, “Do you see?” He drew my attention to the arrows inside of my soul. I understood now why I was in so much pain. 

I looked inside of my inner being and saw these “fiery darts.” They were dangerous and causing damage. These sharp arrows pierced through my chest and entered deep inside and immediately began to dissolve into deadly poison until the arrow disappeared. 

Any arrow that was not immediately removed dissolved into a poison that began to travel through my entire body, soul, and mind. The poison was making me sick, even unto death… and the arrows never stopped coming. I was being bombarded constantly with more and more arrows from the wicked one.

The Holy Spirit had been gently explaining and showing all this to me, but then He suddenly exclaimed, “Look at the ground in front of you! Look what is at your feet!” I looked down at my feet. There it was… just laying there… my shield of faith. 

The Holy Spirit exclaimed loudly, “Pick it up, and take hold of it!” I bent down and took it up and held it in front of my body. The devil did not stop shooting the arrows at me, but now they were hitting my shield of faith and falling to the ground instead of piercing through my chest. No more arrows. No more poison. So now I had to keep my shield up and work on getting the poison of the old arrows out through forgiveness, prayer, and repentance.

God was faithful. He heard my prayer for help, and He came to my rescue. The devil was attacking me viciously, and I did nothing to stop him because I didn’t know how to. God showed me what I was doing wrong and how to change it. The Lord says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). Let’s take up our shield of faith and renew our minds.

Ephesians 6:10-18 (NKJV) THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD –  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints….

by Jessica Smith

Good Pain (Hosea 6:1)

Eyes of Mercy by Meghan Williams of Dyed4you Art

Recently, God has been talking to a couple of us on the Dyed4you Team about His mercy. And as He did, He began talking about His refining fire. Initially I was confused because I would not have thought of trials and refining as being connected to the mercy of God. But as Papa began to give the revelation, He brought to mind Misty Edwards’ song “Servant of All.” In the song, she makes reference to the fact that the Kingdom of God is an “upside down kingdom,” where we die to live and lose to gain. This seemed to parallel what we found with trials and the mercy of God. If we can embrace this upside-down nature, we can truly begin to flourish. Continue reading “Good Pain (Hosea 6:1)”

Barren No More

I am awakened by the sound of the wind. How I got to the wilderness I don’t know, but I am keenly aware of the ground beneath me. It’s dry and cracked with no life at all. I lift my eyes to look around and all I see is dry, barren, cracked ground. The wind sends the dust from the ground to and fro. I shield my eyes from the bright sun and the dust of this harsh landscape.  Continue reading “Barren No More”

Face the Flames

Hosea 6:1 (VOICE) Come on, let’s renew our loyalty to the Eternal One! He tore us like a lion, but He’ll heal us; He wounded us, but He’ll bandage us.

Beloved, My love for you never changes – no matter what you do or say. And I AM never cruel or unfeeling towards you. I will, however, allow hardships into your life to shape and mold you, and to build your character. 

I do not do this to be unkind, though in the moment it may feel that way. The contrast of “bad” gives “good” a greater fullness. Just as the contrast of sorrow brings joy more depth. If a child is given everything they want and they experience no hardship, they will be spoiled and self-focused. I will not do that to My children, for My love for them is too great. 

Therefore, I allow hardships and trials, but I walk through them with you. I AM present – ready to give support and strength as you reach for Me. Then as you come out the other side, I bring healing and restoration. And just as a scar strengthens the area where there has been a wound, I will strengthen you in the areas you’ve been tried. 

So face the flames of testing unafraid, knowing I AM with you and will walk you through, knowing you will be stronger for doing so, and knowing challenges are simply part of life. And, beloved, life is worth embracing in all its fullness.  Continue reading “Face the Flames”

Changed by the Power of Love

Hosea 14:4 (NLT) The Lord says, “Then I will heal you of your faithlessness; my love will know no bounds, for my anger will be gone forever.

Beloved, I’m not angry with you nor have I turned My face away from you. There’s nothing you can say or do that will change My love for you. It is steadfast. It is unchanging. And it is pure. 

Let yourself be saturated by My love. Be healed by it. Watch Me and learn what true faithfulness looks like so that you might reflect it in kind. As My love for you knows no bounds, so reflect that unconditional love back on Me and on those around you that all might be changed by the power of love. 

El Elyon (God Most High)

Hosea 11:10 (AMP) They will walk after the Lord [in obedience and worship], Who will roar like a lion; He will roar [summoning them] And His sons will come trembling from the west.

Beloved, walk in obedience and utter devotion, for you know not the strength we operate in when we move together as one. Trust in Me and trust in My plans, for we are fearsome in unity of purpose as we watch My Word unfold.

See Me as I AM – high and lifted up, One worthy of reverence and praise. Hear My voice, beloved – roaring like the fiercest lion, and tremble in awe and the majesty of My presence. I AM Lord of all, El Elyon – God Most High. Continue reading “El Elyon (God Most High)”

Thrive in My Love

Hosea 2:20 (AMP) I will betroth you to Me in stability and in faithfulness. Then you will know (recognize, appreciate) the Lord [and respond with loving faithfulness].

Beloved, I AM unchanging and certain. I do not shift nor am I fickle. Those who have given themselves to Me are Mine, and I belong to them. I AM faithful and everlasting – true to the end. 

Respond to My love. Just as a flower blooms in the warmth of the sun, so shall you blossom in the warm glow of My gaze. With My Spirit to water and soften, and My Word to sustain and grow, My steadfast love will cause you to flourish. Receive, beloved, and thrive. 

Roadblocks and Inconveniences

Hosea 2:6 (CSB) Therefore, this is what I will do: I will block her way with thorns; I will enclose her with a wall, so that she cannot find her paths.

Beloved, I will not make it easy for you to walk away from Me, nor will I make the road to sin smooth. Like a good father putting up child gates and closing doors, I will block the way that takes you from My will. I will add roadblocks and inconveniences to block your way in an effort to make you pause and see what you’re doing.

Yes, you have free will, and I would never take that from you, but I love you too much to make the path to things that hurt you an easy one to choose. I will do all I can to encourage you to change your mind and choose wisely.

So if you find yourself hindered in every direction, beloved, give pause and look to Me. Don’t assume the enemy is blocking your path because sometimes it is Me. Continue reading “Roadblocks and Inconveniences”

I Will Guide You

Isaiah 30:21 (TLB) And if you leave God’s paths and go astray, you will hear a voice behind you say, “No, this is the way; walk here.”

Beloved, you will not “accidentally” walk away from Me. I will not force you to stay, but you can’t “lose” Me. My desire for you to walk uprightly is even greater than yours, so if your heart is to walk with Me and in My ways, I will help you along that path. I will guide you with My eye, hedge the way you should not go with thorns, and gently direct you along the way. Listen for My voice, beloved, for I AM speaking to you.

So walk with confidence and assurance, knowing the God of all creation is at your side, directing and guiding you. Do not turn to the left or the right or be distracted by the things vying for your attention, stay with Me. Stay righteous. Stay true. Walk in victory.

Psalm 32:8 (NKJV) I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.

Hosea 2:6 (AMP) “Therefore, behold, I [the Lord God] will hedge up her way with thorns; And I will build a wall against her [shutting off her way] so that she cannot find her paths.