1 Thessalonians 5:8: But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate.
Faith and love are breastplates that protect the vital organs of the soul. The breastplate of a Roman soldier protects the chest and stomach areas of the body. The heart, lungs and other vital organs are sheathed and shielded by the breastplate. Faith and love are the divine weaponry that protects our spirit/heart. Faith keeps us strong from failing and faltering and steadfast love of God keeps us from falling into sin.
Faith and love are like the ribcage of the body. The ribs are the body’s protection around the chest cavity to shield the heart and lungs. Likewise, faith forms our values and belief systems and love shapes our character and conduct. No demon can fool us that God doesn’t care about us or that we are too bad for the Lord God to love us when our breastplate of faith and love are intact. The poisonous arrows of doubt, disbelief and deceit cannot pierce through the breastplate of faith and love. Our unshakable faith in the nature of our God and trust in His steadfast love will quench the fiery darts of scorn and the scum of sin. The breastplate of faith and love is the defensive divine weaponry to overcome depression and brokenness of the heart.
Put on the breastplate of faith and love:
1. Heart Attack: A heart attack occurs when the flow of blood to the heart is severely reduced or blocked. Likewise personal issues, work pressure, false accusations, slander or relationship breakdowns can break the heart. Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none (Psalm 69:20). Constant stress, worry and anxiety can kill our faith and steal our joy if we don’t protect our heart with the breastplate. The negative comments, slur and mockery can destroy our faith and drain our love for the Lord. Let us put on the breastplate of faith and love and prevent the attacks of the evil one.
2. Hypertension: Chronic high blood pressure and unmanaged hypertension can cause heart disease. The breastplate of faith and love will train us to rest instead of stress. High blood pressure damages the delicate tissues inside the arteries. Similarly, constant worry, pressure and dread will weaken our faith. Hypertension will push us into imaginary fear and convince us that God is not fighting our battles.
3. Heart Failure: The divine breastplate will protect our heart from being hurt, stabbed and shattered by ruthless ill-spoken slander, lies and comments. But a wounded (broken) spirit who can bear? (Psalm 18:14). The love of God is our stamina and faith is our strength to retaliate and defeat the nagging discouragements of the enemy.
Put on the breastplate of faith and love.
Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
Prayer: Jesus my Saviour, I will put on the breastplate of faith and love every day to destroy every lie, deceit and deception that the demons try to inject into my heart. Amen
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