What It Means:

When Paul wrote this passage, Roman soldiers carried shields that were covered with heavy animal hide. Before a battle, they would dip their shields into the water so that when fiery darts hit them, the wet hide would extinguish the darts.

Similarly, a Christian’s shield of faith needs to be regularly dipped in the water of God’s word to be replenished and fully functional – because “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).

How to Apply It:

• If your faith feels less confident than you wish it did, ask the Lord to increase your faith (Mark 9:24).
• Find verses that feed your faith and fill your world with them.
• Set your faith in God’s righteousness, not in a circumstance.