Your Shield of Faith is Made of Knowing, Believing, Speaking

Discovering the Power of the Shield of Faith in Everyday Life

(Audio narration from my virtual assistant - plus something extra that’s not in the text.)

Today we continue our study of the “Whole Armor of God” by exploring the shield of faith that Paul has told us will protect us from “all the flaming arrows of the evil one." (Ephesians 6:16)

This may seem off the wall, but I want to start today’s reflection on the “Shield of Faith” with a comparison to something most Americans love. Faith is like the perfect pot of chili. Just as an awesome pot of chili is made by combining the perfect blend of spices, beans, and meat in a rich sauce - the strength of our faith is the result of a combination of knowing, believing, and speaking God’s truth. Let’s cook up a pot of that chili today using a recipe full of Bible based ingredients.

What’s in the Pot?

Imagine knowledge as the hearty fiber of the mix, the beans in our chili pot. The beans form the foundation, providing substance and nourishment. Without knowledge—understanding God's word and His promises—our faith lacks the necessary foundation. The Bible speaks of this in Hosea 4:6, where it states, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." Like beans soaking up the juices and spices in the pot, our minds must absorb and understand the truths of God's word.

Stirring it up a bit, we start to smell the rich spices that make chili so satisfying to a hungry soul. Belief brings knowledge to a point of faith a lot the same way. It infuses our faith with honesty and authenticity that sustains hope within us and approaches others with hope, like an irresistible aroma from a grandmother’s kitchen. Like a scent moves in the air, belief lifts our faith to God. Mark 11:24 reminds us, "Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Belief transforms our knowledge into a living, dynamic trust in God's promises.

Now let’s consider the meat of our faith. Meat is the heartiness that makes chili so filling and satisfying, especially when we shiver on a cold, gray day. Speaking our faith seals it warmly in our hearts and completes the purpose that God intends when he gifts it to us. Romans 10:9 declares, "Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Speaking makes things happen. Our words give power to our faith, and honor to God. Speaking is the first fruit of faith, the evidence of faith that James describes in his letter to early Christians. (James 2:18).

Together, these three ingredients—knowing, believing, and speaking—create a robust and dynamic faith. Like a perfect pot of chili, our faith nourishes and sustains us, providing warmth and strength in our spiritual journey. Now let’s dig a bit deeper into how these elements intertwine to form a shield of faith that will always guard against the spiritual attacks of the world, the devil and our fallen human nature.