The shield of faith a part of the whole armor of God. It's interesting to note that God uses the word "taking." According to Webster's New World Dictionary (1965 edition), the word "take" means "to get possession of by force or skill; to capture, to get hold of; grasp, obtain, acquire, to get into one's hand." The word "taking" is "the act of one who takes." So, God tells us, in this verse, that we are to take action and: get hold of, grasp, or obtain the shield of faith. We are to never be without faith. We should always be protected by the "shield."

A shield is "a piece of armor carried in the hand or worn on the forearm to ward off blows or missiles." It makes sense that the shield of faith is to be taken into the hand. A hand has lots of mobility with the help of the arm. With the shield in hand, one can ward off (or block) blows coming in from almost any direction. By taking the shield of faith, we are able to protect ourselves from attack.

I John 5:4-5 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

Faith is "unquestioning belief, complete trust, or confidence, and loyalty." We are to continually be taking the shield of faith, which is to completely trust in God and be loyal to Him. For it is only with the shield of faith that we "shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked."

A dart is a sudden, quick movement, but also means to throw or shoot suddenly and fast. Fiery, according to the dictionary, means "containing or consisting of fire, easily stirred up, excitable." The wicked will come against you suddenly, when you least expect it. The enemy will try to get you stirred up and angry, or hurt. The wicked will fire at you with everything they can come up with, quickly and without warning. If you don't have your shield of faith, then you are in danger of falling victim to these "fiery darts of the wicked." But, God says that with the shield of faith you can quench these fiery darts. You can stand against any and all attacks that come against you.

To quench means to extinguish, put out, to cool suddenly. The shield of faith puts out or quenches the fiery darts and they can't harm us. They can NOT penetrate the shield of faith. Did you get that? The fiery darts of the wicked can NOT penetrate the shield of faith. We are to grab hold of the shield and never doubt. Remember that faith is complete trust and loyalty. There is no room for doubt and no turning back in spiritual warfare.

Matthew 21: 21-22 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Mark 11:22-26 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Romans 14:22-23 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

When things come against you in this world, when people say corrupt things about you, when it seems like all is lost, when everyone else is telling that God won't answer your prayer, you take your shield of faith and "quench the fiery darts of the wicked." Those darts can't harm you. Even though it may look like they can, from the world's point of view, their wicked, evil acts will come to nothing.

You must believe and never doubt. The verses that come to mind here are Job 13:15-16 "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him." Even if God were to kill him, Job would continue to trust (have faith) in God.

Never doubt God. Never say, "Yes, I believe, but....." Instead say, "Yes, I believe and I know that God is more powerful than anything that can or will come against me. No matter what happens, I know that I am an overcomer. I know and I believe that I have already won the victory through my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and through the blood that He shed for me. I am a victor and NOT a victim because Jesus arose from the dead! Jesus is alive forevermore! I am a winner through Jesus Christ!"

Child of God, shout it, don't whisper. Stand proud, taking your shield of faith, and proclaim that you are a victor with Jesus!

Ephesians 6