The arrows of our lives.

I, maybe you too, have been taught about the fiery darts and the shield of faith before. What I recently learned was about the fiery dart that amazed me so. 
First, the shield was large enough that a fiery dart could not touch you if you were behind it.
Second, the fiery dart was dipped into a tar like substance and lit. If this dart were to hit something past the shield, the fire would spread out.
The dart was a long arrow and was seen coming at you. It was not a short and up close and personal date, though they were used too in battle.
If the dart hits the shield, it dissipates, burns out, or quenches. 
Now in our daily lives we have unseen darts thrown at us. These darts are the devils schemes and tools he uses against us. The devil will use depression, money, adultery, people, drugs, alcohol, etc.
When the dart hits us in our lives, it will affect not just one person, but many. Think about it.
We are connected with family, friends, co-workers; someone. What we say or do affects many of whom we associate. It may cause us to lie or cheat in our relationships with others.

The fiery dart is long and it is meant for long distance shooting. It doesn't change. Isn't it just like the devil? He doesn't change his ways or his tools. If we look hard enough, we can see him coming from a mile away. We now have the capability to use our other pieces of armor. The belt of truth, speaking the words of truth into our lives. The shield of faith, believing in those words of truth we read. The shoes of peace, making peace with those we have broken relationships with, including ourselves.
I hope this encourages you to know that you have the option to fight back with some armor or you can allow these darts to overwhelm you.

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm in the evil day.
 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
What do you chose to do today, will affect you and those around you.

*Thank you Pastor Terry and Pastor Kirby for your teachings on the armor** to all our Pastors, "Thank you." You are teaching someone something somewhere.