Hello, y’all. Thanks for stopping by my blog.
The last few weeks, I’ve been blogging about spiritual warfare. I’ve written about the belt of truth and the breastplate of salvation from Ephesians 6. In this chapter, the Apostle Paul writes about the spiritual battles Christians face.
If you missed these posts you can go back and read them now.
Today, we’re discussing the shoes of the gospel of peace and the shield of faith.
Ephesians 6:15–16
“Shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” Ephesians 6:15
Roman soldiers wore special shoes for warfare – thick-soled sandals with leather straps. These shoes provided better traction and gave the soldier a firm foundation.
That’s what we all need – a firm foundation.
Let’s face it, this world has gone crazy. Without a solid foundation, a person doesn’t know which way to turn. It’s very easy to fall and hurt yourself!
Jesus is our firm foundation.
As we step into spiritual warfare we must trust Jesus.
Instead of worrying and questioning God’s plan we need to trust that God will do the right thing.
We don’t have to worry if we hand it over to Him.
This is not easy, especially not for an OCD control freak like me.
That’s why the shoes are called the gospel of peace.
I hand my problems to God and God gives me peace.
“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3
It’s a great exchange. I wonder why I have so much difficulty with this one.
In verse 6, Paul writes about the shield of faith.
“Above all, take the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.”
I don’t know about you but sometimes I think my shield has a hole in it.
Surely it catches a lot of those fiery darts but some always seem to slip past.
Crazy thoughts bombard my brain while fear, anxiety, and doubt cloud my emotions.
Obviously, I don’t always use my shield effectively.
Roman battle shields were about four feet tall and two feet wide. They were covered with thick leather and metal to deflect the fiery darts the enemy shot at them.
Christians need a shield too and our shield is FAITH.
That explains why darts slip through my shield. I’ve always struggled with “keeping up the faith.”
No problem for a while and then I sink.
It doesn’t help that the enemy knows my weaknesses and can see every crack and vulnerability in my shield. That’s where he sends the darts. At times I get hit . . .
BUT THE SHIELD NEVER FAILS.
That’s right. The shield may take a beating (like my faith) but it never fails.
I am still secure in my Father’s arms and nothing can touch me there.
“As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust Him.” Psalm 18:30
Next time, we’ll discuss the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit.
Please comment below and let me know what you think about the shoes of peace and the shield of faith.
Until next time – “keep up the faith.”
