A soldier has certain pieces of armor that he wears, but he also has armor that he holds out against attack, to keep the danger from reaching his body. The Roman soldier’s shield was one such defense, and it was actually able to protect the entire body when crouched behind it (often about 4-feet tall and 2.5-feet wide). It was covered in such a way that when fiery arrows hit it, the flame was extinguished and the soldier protected. This piece of armor was essential!
God urgently calls upon His soldiers to (notice the first two words), “above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one” (Eph. 6:16). The shield that protects our entire self when we put it out in front of us is our FAITH. Our faith is a formidable, defensive weapon that protects us from the devil and is ABLE (has the power!) to extinguish (did you see this next word?) ALL of his fiery attacks upon us!
May God help us to increase our faith and hold fast to it, that we may “overcome” ALL assaults of the evil one (1 John 5:4)!