May 22, 2021
Shoes of Peace
I don’t know about you, but I have several people in my life who are always trying to steal my peace. They are constantly trying to stir things up and create conflict or a point of tension because that’s where they are comfortable. Like a magnet, they draw confusion to themselves. Like a super-powered vacuum, they try to suck everyone around them into their melodrama, eliminating peace.
You’re probably picturing someone in your mind that continually seems to be trying to involve you in their latest drama or conflict. You might even be wondering, “How can I keep myself from constantly being sucked in, losing my peace, and having their drama control my life?”
You put on the sandals of peace.
In his book, “Victory in Spiritual Warfare,” Dr. Tony Evans describes the ancient soldier’s shoes of peace. He shares that Roman sandals were sandals that had nails sticking out of the bottom to give them traction and help them keep their footing. This traction kept the soldier from slipping and sliding, much like cleats help a football player today. It gave him sure footing, making mobility in battle easier while also making it more difficult to be knocked down.
So when Paul instructs you to have your feet “shod,” he is talking about getting firm footing so that the enemy, Satan, can’t knock you off your feet. You can “stand firm” because the cleats coming out of your sneakers have dug deep into the solid ground beneath you.
How do you stand your ground when someone tries to steal your peace, draw you into a conflict, or fill a situation with drama and confusion?
You recognize that you’re fighting a spiritual battle and choose to put on your shoes of peace that are armed with super-strong cleats to help you stand firm as you say, “No, I’m not being sucked in---I’m going to stand in peace and walk in peace.”
When you start using peace as a defensive weapon, you’ll find that you won’t be caught up in every wind of chaos and confusion that comes along. Instead, your shoes of peace will help you stand firm and victorious in any battle, unable to be defeated or shaken.
Memory Verse: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God (Matthew 5:9, NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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