Devotional

Ephesians 6:10-17 (NIV) ...Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 


The verse is written as follows in the NASB: and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace. What does 'having shod your feet' mean? Since the full armor of God is necessary for us to engage in spiritual battle or warfare, we must be prepared for all things by protecting our body. Our feet are no less significant and must be protected and not slow us down or make us lose our concentration. It would be difficult to maintain our focus on the Lord or the gospel of peace if we have an ill-fitting shoe or if we are grounded in the wrong foundation. Our shoes must fit correctly so we will not stumble at the feet of the enemy. We  must be able to stand firm in the foundation of the gospel of peace and go forward prepared and confident in the Lord, rather than afraid. 


What is 'the gospel of peace'? Gospel actually means good news in the Greek. So, we will head into battle with a foundation in the good news of the peace of God through Christ Jesus. If you turn to John 14:27 in your Bible, you will read: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (NIV) As witnesses of the gospel, we have the peace that only faith in God gives us. This is further illustrated in Romans 5:1. Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (NASB) We can rest assured that no matter what challenges we face in life, through Christ Jesus the battles have already been won. We can stand firm and go forward boldly with peace in our hearts to share the gospel with all we encounter. In the heat of battle, we can pray the gospel.


Dear Heavenly Father, We praise and glorify you for loving us and extending the opportunity to experience and express our faith in your Son. Please help us to always remember our beginning where we first knew your love and your peace. Help us to remain confident no matter what we face, as we shine the light of your Word where ever we may travel. Let us always be mindful of the fact that the enemy who engages us in spiritual battle is under our feet. Our feet are prepared and founded in and readied by our faith in you. We thank you and honor you for these precious gifts and for the authority you have afforded us over all that is dark and evil through your Holy Spirit's power and in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.