The Shield

 

“The Lord doesn’t take us to another or new place if we’re not ready…”

Those words were spoken clearly in a soft hush to my mind and heart as the more tolerable heat from my morning coffee touched my mouth. I haven’t blogged in a very long time. The season of drought came to my life for the past months and years. No! I didn’t stray away from my Savior!

The ever bold, daring manifestations of all kinds of evil swept over all the nations. It destroyed livelihoods, death stole many lives not prepared to depart from this world, and the broom of lies kept sweeping all truths under the rug of darkness. History was being changed to conform to what would fit to the evildoers’ narratives, as idols of many kinds were formed and created while the One, true God was being deleted.

My energy was sapped as my family and I also transitioned to a life of being done with school and retirement from work. We wanted to downsize but all of a sudden had confusion where to go. What to do. Constant darts of misunderstanding, worries of differing degrees, anxieties and issues that threatened our stable union were thrown daily to weaken the strong bond we shared as a family.

I learned so much though since that day I died and surrendered to Christ. He gave me life. In my spiritual battles, He taught me His weapons one by one over the span of years. He made me feel His protection that surrounded me wherever I was. He never failed supplementing for our needs even during hopeless cases that He proved time in time again that He would always be the Greatest Provider of all things. I knew that I wouldn’t need anything else because He was my All in all.

Despite the hurt we all experienced and arguments we never had before, we knew by the end of the day that we couldn’t and shouldn’t give up in folding our hands and letting out our petitions in unison to reach the ever, always merciful throne of God. Healing and restoration always came through flood of tears that often washed away the pain in our broken and battered hearts. His love was always the healing balm that soothed our wounded hearts. He always came to lift up and lighten up the unseen weight on our shoulders. He wiped away every drop of tears that hours before were blinding our visions all the more. We were facing battles daily and often, our choices were the first to be attacked. Clear at the breaking of dawn, only to end up in confusion once more by the end of the day. But we all knew as a family, losing everything even with our plans wouldn’t matter compared to losing Christ if we chose to not listen or replace Him with something else in our midst. 

 

I know we were going through such testing for the dross in our lives to be removed.

“Polish and maintain your Shield…” was another reminder that ensued. 

 

 

Shield of faith…

The very part of His Armor that guards us against all unseen darts that will always try its best to penetrate and corrupt believers in Christ, along with the other target which is the breastplate of righteousness. We need to guard it with all we got especially at these trying times. How can one go to another place or take a new task if one isn’t ready and weak even before starting? How can one emerge as a victor in every trial if one easily drowns in worries, anxieties or confusion? Those darts that will always attempt to destroy His gift of faith.

Let us be careful in how we live our daily lives. For believers today, if not careful and reliant on the Lord could become the unbelievers tomorrow...Some already are in that state today! Let us stay strong in the Lord’s mighty power!