How the Shield of Faith Quenches Disruptive Thoughts

By Michael Christian

Disruptive and tormenting thoughts of fear, anger, jealousy, depression, worldly thinking, etc., are shot into your mind by the evil one. These fall like flaming arrows that ignite personal worry, doubt, concern, and stress. Your faith functions like a shield when you hold the words of God's promises between you and the incoming thoughts. You use the Word of promise to repel and contradict the incoming thought and the "water of the Word" to extinguish its "fire." (Ephesians 5:26)

The Shield of Faith Scripture

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.

Ephesians 6:16 (ESV)

At all times carry faith as a shield; for with it you will be able to put out all the burning arrows shot by the Evil One.

Ephesians 6:16 (GNB)

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 (NIV)

In every battle, take faith as your wrap-around shield, for it is able to extinguish the blazing arrows coming at you from the Evil One!

Ephesians 6:16 (TPT)

The Active Element in the Shield of Faith

Faith that believes God's Word more than the incoming thoughts.

The Shield of Faith Protects Against

The flaming arrows of the evil one: troubling, disruptive, and inflammatory thoughts and concerns. These negative, dark thoughts stir your emotions and try to take over your mind with worry and stress.

Why You Need the Shield of Faith

Good soldiers of Jesus Christ know the truth (belt), are convinced of their right standing with God (breastplate), are surrendered to God’s will, and are advancing according to His plan (shoes). The enemy doesn't want this to continue, so he sends resistance in the form of troubling thoughts. He hopes to paralyze us with fear and concern so we do not move forward serving God.

Flaming Arrows?

Flaming arrows in this day and age? What is Paul talking about? I’m sure you have noticed that disruptive thoughts sometimes pop into your mind without invitation. The Bible calls them flaming arrows because they kindle an emotional fire in you.

These thoughts cause you to worry about your relationships, children, finances, health, job, or ministry. They stir up emotions like frustration, anger, and lust, and induce worry, stress, and anxiety.

If you don’t know how to calm and extinguish these concerns, the emotional stress they cause can become overwhelming. These burning fires of anxiety make you want to retreat from serving the Lord. Of course, that’s the devil’s goal. If he can keep you from moving forward, he has removed one of God’s soldiers from the battlefield. He whispers that you will not face so much resistance if you no longer serve the Lord. He lies!

Faith Is Your Shield

God has given you the full measure of faith. (Romans 12:3, Mark 11:22, Galatians 2:20, Matthew 17:20) Faith works like a shield to protect you from these attacks. You extinguish these fiery arrows by trusting God’s Word more than the stressful thoughts.

While it may be challenging at first to calm your emotions by meditating on God’s promises, it gets easier the more skilled you become. As a Roman soldier trained diligently with sword and shield, you must discipline yourself to trust the Word. Whatever problem you face, the Lord will help you overcome it.

Under the New Covenant, Jesus has already made available every possible blessing by His perfect offering. Washed by His blood, we are eligible to receive God's best blessings. We don't have to earn them by religious works; we appropriate them by believing the good news.

2 Corinthians 1:20 (NKJV) For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

1 John 5:4 (NKJV) For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

Here’s How to Use Faith as a Shield

Immediately recognize the flaming thought arrows when they come. They are not your thoughts but from an evil source outside yourself. (John 13:2) Deal with them immediately. Please don’t ignore them. The longer they burn, the bigger the fire gets and the harder to put out.
Identify the area of concern: finances, health, children, marriage, parents, job, retirement, personal safety, relationships, etc. Determine the kind of fear you are experiencing at the deepest level. Fear of failure? Lack? Rejection? Death? Loneliness?
Find God’s promises that address this concern.
Believe God’s promises more than the concern or the circumstance. Stay calm. This, too, shall pass. God has helped you in the past and will help you with this problem, too.
Extinguish the fire with the water of the Word. (Ephesians 5:26) Jesus calls us to faith and peace. (John 14:27, 16:33, Philip. 4:6-9, Matt. 6:25-34)
Replace the troubling thought with God’s Word. Use the sword of the Spirit to contradict the flaming arrow aloud. Declare “It is written” and quote the promise.
Keep serving God and advancing in God’s plan for your life. Don’t pull back or retreat! Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)