Text: Matthew 14:29-32
Memory verse:
“above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.“
Eph‬esians 6‬:‭16 NKJV

According to our memory text, the shield of faith is the fourth in the list of the spiritual armours.
The shield was used by the ancient Roman soldier as the first barrier against the enemy’s attack. It acted as a blanket of protection to the soldier in battle.
The shield was worn strapped to one’s arm all the time and raised up to turn away the enemy’s arrows and attacks. It was also used as an offensive weapon to knock enemies over with force.
Much larger shields were also used by a group of soldiers, positioning their shields to form an enclosure around themselves. It helped to protect against arrows launched from the walls of cities they were attacking.
Sometimes, while fighting, the enemies launch out arrows or spears filled with combustible or flammable liquid, aimed at hitting and burning the soldier. Shields, often made of wood and then covered in hide, when wet, could extinguish these flaming arrows. When the soldiers lift the shields up and in the right position, they are protected.
The shield of faith serves as a spiritual weapon specifically designed to quench all the attacks of the devil. The hosts of hell always target the faithful believer, shooting fiery arrows and spears to stop him. They fire the arrows of persecution, sickness and disease, fear, doubt, anxiety, discouragement, trouble, frustration, opposition, and so forth. In all these, the believer stands firm and unmovable when he raises up the shield of his faith. By faith, he deflects the arrows and quenches its fire. 1 John 5:4 (GNT) says, “because every child of God is able to defeat the world. And we win the victory over the world by means of our faith.” Faith is taking God at His word. It is the assurance that God will do what He has promised; the guarantee that His word won’t fail. Faith is speaking according to the word and persisting in it, against the contrary conditions. As the shield is worn by the soldier all the time, the believer must always live and walk in faith. Faith will keep you afloat in the storms of life. None of the other weapons can function without faith, for all must work by faith.
Friends, with your shield of faith, always lifted up in addition to other armours, your victory is guaranteed all the time. Glory!

Prayer points
1. Father, help me to always carry faith as my shield in the battles of life, in Jesus’ name.
2. I quench every fiery arrows of the enemy fired at me, and I declare my victory over the enemies, in Jesus’ name.

Today’s declarations
1. I take my shield of faith along in the battles of life and the devil bows.
2. By faith, I quench every fiery arrows of the enemies, and I escape unharmed.