I am not a warrior by profession, but I am a warrior in Christ.
“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
-1 Timothy 6:12
We may claim to be peace-loving and non-violent, but we do not have a choice. As followers of Christ, we are called to don the armor of God and go to battle every single day.
“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.”
-Ephesians 6:11-12
Like the average but crucial ground soldier, we do not know the full scope of the mission. We are told where to go by being placed in any given situation, and who to meet through encounters designed by our good Lord. We are expected to show up and behave in a Christ-like manner. Equipped with this, we are called to fight the evil that stands against truth and embrace the goodness that draws us closer to Christ.
This may sound like paranoia. But I speak from experience. When my guard is down, I am vulnerable. The fiery darts are constant. Suddenly, the guards on the mind, heart, and tongue fall off and I am drawn into the world. The walk back to peace and joy can take a while, depending on how quickly I bend my knees and bow my head.
Paul emphasizes the importance of the shield of faith. Above all else, he says. Mental note: never set the shield of faith down.
“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
Faith can take us through all kinds of situations. Having faith means trusting in God’s unwavering love, faithfulness, constancy, and omnipotence. With God for us, nothing and nobody can stand against us. But while we are in this world, we must hold up our shields and walk where He calls us to walk. The Roman army understood something powerful: soldiers who locked their shields together in the testudo (turtle) formation became nearly unstoppable. Surrounding ourselves with like-minded followers of Christ works the same way. Together, we form a formation that the enemy cannot easily penetrate.
“Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”
-Proverbs 13:20
Most importantly, Jesus leads us. He is our commanding officer, and the battle is already won. He fought it, finished it, and secured the victory for us before we ever set foot on the field. Do not let the father of lies steal the peace and joy that is our inheritance.
Go forth and conquer. God bless you!
Dear God,
This day may be a hard battle but I know that You are leading me. Every dart that pierces me, pierces You first and it is neutralized. Teach me to take comfort and find peace in Your victory and protection. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.