One of the bible studies I'm currently doing is on The Armor of God by Pricilla Shirer. The insight that God has given her has been blessing so many of us women. Yesterday she taught on the Shield of Faith and so many things became clear to me about how I handle being overwhelmed. She explained that in ancient times the warriors had wooden shields that they would raise above their head when the enemy was shooting flaming arrows at them. I always thought about it from the perspective of protecting themselves but never really expanded the reasoning of why the opponents set the arrows on fire. The reasoning was that the flaming arrows would set the wooden shields on fire thus making the warriors that were being attacked have to break their turtle shell formation rendering them vulnerable and distracted by having to put out the flames!
Pricilla went on to explain that that is exactly what satan's demons do to us daily and that the Shield of Faith that God calls us to take up will extinguish those fires instantly. The fires are not to kill us but they are intended to distract us, discombobulate us, overwhelm us and to get our focus off God and onto our problems! This hit me so profoundly and I could see clearly for the first time how satan's army did this to me repeatedly throughout my life! I spent most of my energy focused on all the situations and the feelings that they evoked rather than seeing this offensive strategy.
I have been applying the truths that I've been learning throughout this study along with the teachings of my other study which is on Joy. The empowerment and insight are like a covering of peace that I've never fully experienced before. I just want to encourage you to draw near to God (James 4:8) because He promises that if we do that He will draw near to us! You wouldn't bake without a recipe or try to fix something without tools so why would you try to live your life apart from the ONE who loves you most. He has the tools and the recipe for living a life filled with wisdom, discernment, joy, soundness of mind, ...
If I didn't join bible studies throughout the years then I would not have all this information that is changing my life from one of ineffectiveness to one of power. All through these studies God used me in my sister's life to help her get through some horrible times. If I wasn't armed with these learned truths then I would have been ineffective in that mission but God knew what I needed. I committed to drawing near to Him through study and He equipped me with knowledge and wisdom that not only changed me but encouraged and changed my sister! God wants to make your life remarkable! He wants it to be a life saturated and flowing over with His power, His love and the soundness of mind that only He can give (2 Timothy 1:7). It only takes a simply step of faith toward Him, then, abundance in Him can be yours and yours to share!
Ephesians 3:17-19, I pray that Christ may live in your hearts by faith. I pray that you will be filled with love. I pray that you will be able to understand how wide and how long and how deep His love is. I pray that you will know the love of Christ. His love goes beyond anything that we can understand. I pray that you will be filled with God himself.
Child of God, A brick of red hot coal soon goes out when it is removed from the source of fire.
Pricilla went on to explain that that is exactly what satan's demons do to us daily and that the Shield of Faith that God calls us to take up will extinguish those fires instantly. The fires are not to kill us but they are intended to distract us, discombobulate us, overwhelm us and to get our focus off God and onto our problems! This hit me so profoundly and I could see clearly for the first time how satan's army did this to me repeatedly throughout my life! I spent most of my energy focused on all the situations and the feelings that they evoked rather than seeing this offensive strategy.
I have been applying the truths that I've been learning throughout this study along with the teachings of my other study which is on Joy. The empowerment and insight are like a covering of peace that I've never fully experienced before. I just want to encourage you to draw near to God (James 4:8) because He promises that if we do that He will draw near to us! You wouldn't bake without a recipe or try to fix something without tools so why would you try to live your life apart from the ONE who loves you most. He has the tools and the recipe for living a life filled with wisdom, discernment, joy, soundness of mind, ...
If I didn't join bible studies throughout the years then I would not have all this information that is changing my life from one of ineffectiveness to one of power. All through these studies God used me in my sister's life to help her get through some horrible times. If I wasn't armed with these learned truths then I would have been ineffective in that mission but God knew what I needed. I committed to drawing near to Him through study and He equipped me with knowledge and wisdom that not only changed me but encouraged and changed my sister! God wants to make your life remarkable! He wants it to be a life saturated and flowing over with His power, His love and the soundness of mind that only He can give (2 Timothy 1:7). It only takes a simply step of faith toward Him, then, abundance in Him can be yours and yours to share!
Ephesians 3:17-19, I pray that Christ may live in your hearts by faith. I pray that you will be filled with love. I pray that you will be able to understand how wide and how long and how deep His love is. I pray that you will know the love of Christ. His love goes beyond anything that we can understand. I pray that you will be filled with God himself.
Child of God, A brick of red hot coal soon goes out when it is removed from the source of fire.
