In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Ephesians 6:16

What is it about flaming arrows? They are small; they can’t smash through walls like cannonballs. But what happens when a little arrow gets over the wall and lands in a pile of straw? It starts smoldering. If ignored, and if there’s enough fuel around, the castle could soon be destroyed from the inside out.

Have you ever experienced the flaming arrows of the evil one? I have. I first noticed them years ago. Sometimes when I was angry, I would feel little stabs of hatred. The anger may have been a legitimate response to the circumstances, but the hatred was almost like it came from outside of me. It may have been tempting to let that smolder, but thankfully, thanks to Ephesians 6:16, I was able to recognize them. Soon, I could almost visualize pesky little arrows bouncing off my shield of faith as I refused to entertain the hatred that would flash into my mind. Over the years, I have grown better able to recognize and rebuke those thoughts with which Satan would like to inflame my heart, not allowing that foothold in my life. Now those particular arrows are rarely even launched at me anymore. I’m also learning to recognize the latest version in the arsenal when new flaming-arrow thoughts come shooting my way and to hoist the shield of faith to protect my heart.

In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Ephesians 4:26-27