We face spiritual battles daily but are you entering them unprepared? Kerryn shares.
“After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: ‘Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward'” (Genesis 15:1).
Are you scared, lonely, hurting, worried about the future? We all experience this, but there’s something we can do!
Have you ever thought about how tough it was in battles in the Bible? Men were fighting, literally to the death. Their shield was their protection from wounds, pain and death.
There were a couple of types of shields:
– One could be held on your arm and maneuvered for close combat to protect from a sword’s painful blow.
– The bigger shield was about 4 feet high by 2½ feet wide made of wood, covered in leather and bound with iron. A protective wall was made by soldiers standing shield to shield to protect them from flaming arrows.
Imagine not bothering to use a shield in combat! Yet that’s what I often choose and you do too! Crazy!
God tells us at the beginning of the Bible that He is our shield and our “very great reward.” It was a message to Abram, who was worried that the four kings that he and his men fought to rescue his nephew Lot, may retaliate.
“Do not be afraid, (your name). I am your shield, your very great reward.”
In the New Testament Paul tells us to “take up the shield of faith.” This is active and something we can do.
“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).
The shield of faith is enacted through prayer, worship, reading the Bible, and trusting God.
If you’re in a huge battle you need other Christians to place their shields next to yours in prayer.
Do you need someone to pray with you? Ask at the end of this devotional.
Prayer: Lord, the battle is raging in my body and around me. Help me to choose to faithfully “take up” the shield of faith and to ask others to pray for me when I’m in tough battles. Thank You for being a “great reward” for me daily. Amen.
About the Author:
Kerryn Wright was living with her family among the gum trees in South Australia. Currently she’s living with a friend while they sell their family home. She was a special education teacher prior to chronic illnesses. Her husband is carer for three of their family, who have chronic illnesses and disabilities. God has always guided them through life’s challenges, often in surprising ways.
In what ways are you choosing to go into the normal battles of the day without God’s shield of protection? What could you choose to do to cope better with the daily battles?
Chronic Illness Pain Daily Devotionals 
Lisa, thanks for your continual efforts in publishing our devotionals for us writers. God bless. LOTSoluv Kerryn
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, it really helped and encouraged me today. I’ve not been feeling well, and am struggling with deciding whether or not to decrease my work hours, and lose my full time benefits. I’m encouraged to not fear, but to act in faith. I’d appreciate prayer as I struggle forward!
Thanks “thenofs” 🙂
Praise God that you were helped & encouraged today through this message for me from God to share.
WOW! That’s a tough call about “deciding whether or not to decrease my work hours, and lose my full time benefits.” I’ve been there…. in having to give up my teaching career in 2011, yet God has carried me through in amazing ways! My dear Christian friend just reduced her teaching time for health reasons too & has been blessed in amazing ways financially that have surprised her. I pray that just hearing that will encourage you in your own journey.
Good for you being “encouraged to not fear, but to act in faith.” If it’s what you’re meant to do then God will not only make it clear, but will guide you through the decision & long after it. He will also give you His peace that passes understanding once you’ve made a decision in His will. Praying for you now. May God give you His wisdom in this. God bless you abundantly. Lotsoluv Kerryn
Thank you SO much! It does encourage me to hear those testimonies of God’s faithfulness. And I SO appreciate the prayer! I talked with my husband, and he suggested cutting my hours for a “trial period”, something I hadn’t thought of before. I’m so thankful that my employer is very flexible with my hours. I put a lot of the pressure on myself, and have been pushing myself beyond my limits for a while. I just always want to be “normal”, but it never happens! Anyway, thanks again for the support and encouragement!
You’re soooo welcome “thenofs” 🙂
What a WONDERFUL suggestion from your husband! I had a sense that some wisdom was required in your situation, so I’m delighted to hear of a clever solution from your hubby! Praise God! My friend is also trialling reduced hours until the middle of the year. I think that’s wisdom for her…. & you!
I think that everyone I know (who is ill) pressures themselves & sooooo want to be “normal” like you say. Giving ourselves grace is important. Though it’s a lesson I’m slow in learning! 😉
It was my joy to support & encourage you. God bless. Lotsoluv Kerryn