October 5

Shield of Faith by SGLY Ministry

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Ephesians 6:16.

The “fiery darts of the wicked”, what are those? And how does Faith “quench” them?
In order to answer these questions we need to look at the Shield of Faith as a Roman soldier would. The shield was often made of wood covered with hide, which was then kept wet in battle. When the enemy attacked with flaming arrows the wet shield would extinguish them. Therefore, Paul is saying that is what our Faith is, it is a shield of protection against any wicked attacks by the enemy. If we are standing firm in our faith we can immediately recognize a fiery dart of the wicked and thus put up our shield of faith to protect ourselves from harm.

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

Prayer: Dear God, thank You so much for the Shield of Faith that is my protection against the fiery darts of the wicked. For You have told me in Ephesians 6:12 that 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. Therefore I need to be spiritually armed and ready for any attacks from the wicked, so I can stand strong and firm daily. I am so thankful You have provided those in Christ with just what we need to live and be an overcomers in this world. Now I pray that Your Holy Spirit will remind me daily to suit up in Your full armor and stay alert so I can always live in the victory Christ has provided for those who believe.

Today:
Think about any activities and/or thoughts that might be harmful to your faith and avoid them whenever you can.
Think about any activities and/or thoughts in your life that increase your faith, and include those in your life as much as possible.

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"Is God Showing Through Your Life?" (Author Unknown)

A little girl, on the way home from church, turned to her mother and said, "Mommy, the preacher's sermon this morning confused me."

The mother said, "Oh! Why is that?"

The girl replied, "Well, he said that God is bigger than we are. Is that true?"

"Yes, that's true," the mother replied.

"He also said that God lives within us. Is that true, too?"

Again the mother replied, "Yes."

"Well," said the girl. "if God is bigger than us and He lives in us, wouldn't He show through?"

I like that little girl's way of putting it. If God lives in us, then there's no way of keeping Him from "showing through." That's the essence of Christian living - living in such a way that people around will see God in our lives.

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16).

Is God showing through in YOUR life?

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Today’s Scripture: "For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun!" (Isaiah 43:19, NLT)

A Brand New Thing

Can you see the “brand-new thing” God is doing in your life? Sometimes it’s easy to see the hand of God moving, and sometimes the storms of life can cloud our vision. But no matter where you are in life today, meditate on this truth that God is working even when you can’t see Him. Like a seed buried deep in the ground, it may seem dark and lonely and there may be dirt all around, but that is the place where life springs forth. Trust that God is doing a new thing! You can trust Him because He is faithful! His plan for you today is blessing. His plan is to give you a future and a hope. His plan is to do a new thing in your life. Let go of the thoughts of the past and open your heart to what God is doing today. Ask Him to show you what He’s doing. Ask Him to reveal it to your heart. Seek Him and you will find Him and see the brand new thing He’s doing in you!

A Prayer for Today: "Heavenly Father, thank You for doing a work in me, even when I don’t see it. Thank You for the brand-new thing You have. I open my heart and put my faith and trust in You in Jesus’ name! Amen."

Joel Osteen

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Facing Your Worries

Thought for the Day

"Have you ever really worried about something to the point where you refused to face what it was that you were worried about - only to find that when you finally faced it, it turned out to be nothing to have spent so much energy worrying about? Don't let things snowball and don't let them overwhelm you. Try to face and resolve one problem at a time. With each one handled, you will soon start to feel the burden lifting."

Today's Word

"Look at the birds in the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" (Matthew 6:26-27 NIV)

Today's Prayer

Lord, let me see any problems that I face clearly. Let me handle them in a way that causes my sense of worry to be relieved. With You by my side, I know I can take on anything and be successful in resolving any concerns that I may have. Amen

The Whisper Of God

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Bible Verses

Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests. Luke 2:14

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Psalm 34:4 – I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.

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2 Chronicles 15:2b – The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you.

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Psalm 73:26 'My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever.'

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Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. — Psalm 1:1

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Prayers

prayer for morning (e. e. cummings)

i thank God for most this
amazing
day; for the leaping greenly
spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky;
and for everything
which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes
Amen.

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Now all glory to you, great God, who is able to keep us from falling away and will bring us with great joy into your glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to you who alone are God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are yours before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.

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Father, I thank you for giving me more and more grace. Today and everyday I humble myself before you, and submit myself to you. In the name of Jesus, I resist the devil, and he will flee from me. Father, I come near to you, and you come near to me. I wash my hands, and purify my heart. I would not be double-minded, but humble myself before you, my Lord, and you will lift me up. Amen.

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Dear Lord, help me to accept life as a series of shocks - floods, tornadoes, sickness, death - interspersed with moments of shining joy, gentle love, quiet peace, indomitable hope. All this is the fabric of my life. Help me to cling to these moments, sustained by Your strength, secure in Your love. ... Let me remember that Your despair became victory, Your sorrow, joy. Let this be so in my life. Keep me on an even keel, Lord. I need You.

Thank You, Lord.

Amen.

© 2000 by D. L. Hammond, Permission to copy granted for noncommercial use.

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Almighty God, I would ask thee that my days be filled with aspiration, and that my heart may know no envy. Help me to love humanity. May I be so glad of the success of others that I may never know what it is to be envious. Amen.

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“A Prayer For Those Dealing With Violent Death”

Father, You love us and work in our lives to accomplish Your eternally good purpose. We can have full confidence in You especially in times of suffering and senseless loss, but only as we learn to trust You. Like a master weaver, You weave the dark strands as well as the threads of gold and silver and intertwine them to accomplish Your eternally good purpose in our lives. Keep us steady, trusting, and looking to Your promise to work good in our lives in the midst of the bad that life throws our way. We’ll be better for it and can use that good to funnel Your love to others in similar pain. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

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He says: "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth." Isaiah 49:6, NIV

Mighty God, we thank you for sending your light into all the world to reveal that you are the Father of all men, to show us that you are leading them to yourself, the good and the bad, those who are near to you and those who are far away. We thank you that through all this your name may be acknowledged and honored. We thank you that we may live from your hand and that all men may see your work on earth and be filled with praise. May the light which you have sent to earth in Jesus Christ shine brightly for us and penetrate our hearts so that we open ourselves to it with joy, and worship the Savior. Bless us and give us your Spirit; without your Spirit we can do nothing. May we receive help from you every day. Amen.

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Father, We are most definitely in Your hands. Prepare us to accept Your will, which is ultimately for our good. Remind us that it may take some uncomfortable refining; nevertheless we have the power of the Holy Spirit to guide us through; the proven words of Your truth. May our faith in You be even greater as we pray.

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Dear heavenly Father, thank you for the wisdom that is found in Your Word. Lord, I desire to take heed to the things that You have written in the Bible. Give me the grace to speak righteous and good things and to avoid listening to those who would "bad mouth" others. Lord, help me not to be one who would yield to nagging nor belittling others. Lord, guide me in my choice of friends and let me be a faithful and loyal friend at all times. I give You my heart and mouth and may they both agree with Your Word and be pleasing to You. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen