I am not quite sure whenever I hear someone prays that he / she "rejects evil spirit or illness away from him / her etc".

I understand the concept of invoking the name of Jesus to drive away the evil spirit. Or to heal people from illness.

But "reject"? It is as if asking for a superpower cloak to bounce away every bad thing that is thrown at us. Or a shield to deflect arrows.

Was it borrowed from the "armour of God" concept in Ephesians 6.10-18? A bit different from the original, if I may say so. The armour of God is a full set of:

• Belt of truth
• Body armour of God's righteousness
• Shoes of peace from the Good News
• Shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil
• Helmet of salvation
• Sword of the Spirit which is the word of God

If we want to deflect those "fiery arrows" we need to pray for faith. And let us not forget the rest of the armoury too.

~

Related: Without borders