We’re continuing our study through the book of Ephesians. At this point I’m going through the section known as the Armor of God. In today’s post, I’ll talk about the shoes.
…and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
Ephesians 6:15
It’s obvious that this piece of armor protects our feet. The question is; what are our spiritual feet?
Simply put, we walk with our feet. This includes three aspects. Direction…we point our feet where we want to go. Speed…this could be determined by a number of factors. Endurance…as a hiker I know that I can only walk as long as my feet are able.
So to answer my question I need to understand what it is that determines my direction, speed, and endurance in my spiritual walk. In life, it’s my will that brings all of these things into focus.
It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights.
Psalms 18:32-33
God perfects the way before me, but I still have to set my will to walk it out. My will determines my direction, speed, and endurance. This is important for us to know.
Knowing this, we’re told that something needs to be fitted on our spiritual feet. The word, fitted, in the verse from Ephesians literally means an under binding.
That’s because my will is where I come in contact with the world. It’s just like in the natural; my shoes protect my feet as they contact the earth. When I live for Christ, my will comes in direct opposition to that of the world.
It’s in this place of contact that your endurance can get worn down. If you don’t wear shoes, or don’t wear the right shoes, the earth determines how you walk. With the right shoes, you determine your walk.
Like I’ve said, I’m a hiker. I have a good set of hiking boots. I’ve gone out for day hikes with friends who only had a pair of flimsy sneakers. I laughed as they slowly picked their way so as not to step in mud or on a sharp rock. But I was able to move straight forward because my feet were properly protected.
As I look at the armor, I notice that there’s a specific order to put it on. It starts with the mind (The belt), then moves to the heart (The breastplate), and now we prepare our will.
That answers a question that many ask. How do I know God’s will for my life? Once you protect your mind and your heart, you’re ready to hear God’s will. There’s a divine order to it.
Having said all of this, I think the keyword is readiness, the preparedness to do God’s will. We must realize, even before we know God’s will for us, that it’s going to be the opposite of what the world desires. Unless we’re prepared to protect it, our day to day life will wear it down.
Any believer can start doing God’s will. Only those who can endure to the end can finish what they started. We need the preparation that can only come from the Gospel of Peace.
We sometimes get the idea that everything’s okay. “When something comes up, I’ll do the right thing.” NO! You won’t unless you’ve prepared yourself for that evil day.
The fact is that if you don’t prepare beforehand, you won’t choose God’s will when you’re under extreme pressure. The Lord has provided a way for us to walk in victory, but we have to put the armor on.
At one point in Paul’s ministry, he knew God’s will for him was to go to Jerusalem. All along the way, prophecies came forth warning that he would be arrested. The church people pleaded with him not to go.
Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Acts 21:13
We need that same preparation. No matter what comes our way, we’re ready to follow through and complete God’s will for our lives.
Question: What’s the next step in God’s plan for your life?
© 2023 Nick Zaccardi
The Spirit and the Word 