The Shield 1: Salvation - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) June 2, 2025

In warfare, a shield is part of a soldier's arsenal for protecting their body during battle. Once well-positioned, their opponent's sword could not get through to flesh. As the weapons of war advanced and warriors went from clashing in close quarters to fighting across long distances, traditional personal shields, constructed from wood, metal, or leather, fell out of favor.

While human warcraft changed with technological advancements, that never happened with spiritual warfare. Such battles have been fought the same way since the beginning - obedience, prayer, fasting, praise, thanksgiving, and intercession. Hence, the 'shield' remains integral to the Christian's arsenal. As Apostle Paul taught in 2 Corinthians 10:4 - The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds (NIV). And all believers must learn which shield is appropriate for which battle and how to wield it successfully so that the accuser of their soul, satan, is put to shame.

One such shield is the shield of salvation mentioned by King David in Psalm 18:35 - You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, And Your right hand upholds and sustains me; Your gentleness [Your gracious response when I pray] makes me great (AMP). In David's case, he'd watched the Lord repeatedly rescue him from his enemies and detractors. He understood that such salvation - the preservation and protection of his physical body and interests - were solely because of the Lord. 

Christians received salvation for free, and it refers to the deliverance and redemption obtained through the uneven exchange that occurred on the cross. When an individual chooses Jesus Christ and lets the Holy Spirit help them, they experience continuous preservation and protection of their physical bodies and all that concerns them. Like David, they watch their enemy - satan - fall, while they grow in faith, godly wisdom, and more.

Deliverance from satan and sin through Jesus Christ is the primary shield every Christian needs. This goes for the newcomer to the faith and those born as Christians. For the latter group, many often don't realize that they only become a child of God through an active choice. The choice to put Jesus first, receive God's Spirit, and allow Him to lead them in righteousness in everything they do, think, and say. When this happens, the believer's steps are blessed, and the devil has fewer opportunities to interfere with what God is building in them. Salvation, therefore, stands as a defense against the enemy's schemes and transforms them from their Before Christ (BC) ways into an After Christ (AC) lifestyle.

That shield is a layer of protection that every believer needs. Obtaining it requires their active participation to declare Jesus as Lord and Savior and apply His teachings. His blood then washes them clean, making the believer a brand new creature covered by the God of Salvation. This shall be our portion, IJMN, Amen. See you at Noon EST for fellowship. God bless you.

To learn more, please read:

1. The Shield 1: Salvation

2. The Shield 2: Favor

3. The Shield 3: Faith

4. We Do Not War Alone

5. God's Salvation Is Free

6. Onward Christian Soldier

7. Grace & Salvation

8. Give Your Life To Christ

9. Dear Peppers: The Uneven Exchange