My meditation from today’s Bible reading is from 

Proverbs 19:21 KJV, which says, 

“There are many devices in a man’s heart; Nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand”(Proverbs 19:21 KJV).

What are Devices:

Devices in a person’s heart refers to plans, plots, thoughts, and intents in the heart. 

Devices can be in a bad, insidious way, or they can be good.

We are cautioned not to be ignorant of the devices of the devil, who goes about like a roaring lion looking for prey. (I Peter 5:8) 

And we are to resist him by being steadfast in faith.(1 Peter 5:9)

Again, we are to take our shield of faith in order to disable or quench all fiery darts of the devil.(See Ephesians 6:16)

Faith is the armor of choice when you have to go against evil plans, predictions, false prophecies, diagnoses and prognoses. 

How To Use the Shield of Faith:

Recently, someone contacted me about some perceived bad medical issues, which required further tests.

He was scared because the initial test results were scary because they pointed to terminal sickness. 

Establish your desire:

I simply asked him, ‘do you want to die now?  He said, ‘of course not, I desire to live a long, healthy and prosperous life’

Then I told him to hold that thought in his heart based on God’s Word from Psalm 91:16, which states :

“That with long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation”.  

And declare from his heart that,  “ I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD”(Psalm 118:17).

Clarify what you believe:

Next, I asked him if He believes in his heart that Christ “took our sicknesses and removed our diseases” (Matthew 8:17, NLT)

He answered in the affirmative. 

The question to settle in your mind is whether God means what He says by His Word.

If it is written that Jesus took your sicknesses and removed your diseases,  how can you have what has been taken away?

Always settle what you believe in your mind before you receive any bad or good news so that nothing will destabilize your equilibrium.

Apply this same principle to whatever you are dealing with: believe what the Word says and claim it for you. 

Guard your heart diligently:

I further explained to him the importance of guarding  the heart by making the decision to not accept any diagnoses that contradicts God’s Word that he believes. 

No matter who is presenting the negativity, never accept it.

It is not  denial, or escaping from reality, but guarding your heart from receiving, meditating on, and functioning with the negative information. 

Reinforce your beliefs system:

You have to also shield the framework for your thinking with those Words of God that you believe, by personalizing, and repeatedly declaring them, until they become part of your subconscious responses to everything, especially  illnesses or diseases, no matter what the professionals say.

As the Bible states the name of Jesus is exalted above all names (Philippians 2:9-11)

Never fear anything  that comes against you, just confront it with your shield of faith.

Speak to your body:

Next, I told him  to speak to his body by telling his body what Christ accomplished. For example, ‘the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, has made us free from the law of sin and death, is at work in his body.  Therefore,  incipient death has no further liberties in his body. (Romans 8:2)

Whatever your situation is, speak to it. Jesus set us the precedent when he spoke directly to the raging storm, the mute spirit, etc . And also told us greater things than those we would do. ( See Mark 11:23, Mark 4:39, Mark 9:25)

Since we have been cautioned not to ignore the devices of satan, we  know from the scriptures that satan devices take advantage of those who do not forgive quickly. (Read 2 Corinthians 2:11) 

It is your responsibility to forgive quickly and easily, so that satan will not frustrate your faith by victimizing you legally.

In order to effectively use the shield of faith, it is important that you read your Bible and know what it says. 

Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Only the Word of God can reinforce your shield of faith.

Be Careful how you hear or receive bad news, so that satan’s devices will not prosper against you.

#SpiritualWarfarePrayers:

1)Thank God for the shield of faith and for the grace to destroy all the fiery arrows of satan against you and yours.

2)Admit all your doubts, and reinstate your faith in God.

3)Read Psalm 21:11 KJV

 “For they intended evil against thee: They imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform”

4) Thank God for saving you from all the evils projected against you this past year.  And affirm that going forward all evil imaginations against you are yours are nullified.

5)Read Job 5:12 which says, 

Job 5:12 KJV

“He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, So that their hands cannot perform their enterprise”

6)Affirm that no crafty devices shall succeed against you and yours, and all satanic enterprises programmed against you and yours are bankrupt in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.

7)Thank God that in Him you live, move and have your being, in the matchless name of Jesus Christ.

Tomorrow is Provetbs chapter 20.

Shalom from Hephzibah Christly, Ph.D., #TheSpiritualWarrior, December 19th 2024.