The Shoes of Peace

It’s audio devo day!

What amazingly good news it is, that you and I get to walk in Jesus’ own peace! We can have peace at all times, in every way. This peace is protection for us, and it is an indispensable part of the armor of light. May the Lord minister His peace deeply to your heart as you listen here:

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Some months ago, my friend shared a dream of hers with me. In the dream, she had a huge collection of shoes. She was searching frantically through them. However, she was having great difficulty finding an appropriate pair for the occasion on hand, which was a grand one.

Not long afterwards, my husband told me about a dream he’d had. In it, a buddy had given him a wonderful, brand-new pair of tennis shoes. We pondered on this message from the Lord together. When we looked it up, we found that friend’s last name means “gift of God.”

Through both of these dreams, Holy Spirit was speaking. Very specifically, He was speaking about one of His most precious gifts to us: His peace. When I heard them, a lightbulb went on. I immediately understood that He was drawing on this verse for His choice of imagery: “And, as shoes for your feet… put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace” (Eph. 6:15, ESV). Holy Spirit wanted to impart something new about this heavenly footwear that is an essential part of the armor of God: the peace that passes all understanding.

As we continue our journey through our Ephesians 6 description of His armor, the shoes of peace are the third piece in the biblical list. How exceedingly precious is this provision for our battles!

My friend’s dream portrays a truth that applies to all of us. In her dream scenario, she had a considerable collection of shoes. Just like her, you and I have all sorts of choices when it comes to shoeing our feet. What are we going to put on in the morning? We can choose to step into worry… or irritation… or self-reliance… or indifference… or… what about peace?

A marvelous choice! We can choose to step into His peace, and walk in it all day long. The reason Holy Spirit associates peace with our feet is that He is bringing our attention to the way that we walk… the way that we move forward through our daily routines. Will we avail ourselves of the peace He purchased for our journey?

Interestingly, Ephesians 6 is not the only place in Scripture that makes a connection between feet and peace. We read this in the book of Isaiah: “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace…” (Isa. 52:7, NLT). “The good news of peace”… this phrase is synonymous with “the gospel of peace.” The gospel, euangelion in Greek, literally means good news.

It’s really, really good news that we now get to live our lives in Jesus’ own peace. His Word even says that we can have peace “at all times and in every way” (2 Thess. 3:16, NIV). That’s amazing! “The good news of peace” – this word choice reveals to us that at the very core of the gospel is the gift of God’s peace. No wonder the Christmas angels exclaimed at the Savior’s birth, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests!” (Luke 2:14, NIV).

So yes, peace is an essential part of the armor of light. Peace protects us. Peace is protection. Peace is armor. When we put on this provision as shoes for our feet, we discover that “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard [our] hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:7, NKJV). As we step into this glorious footwear, our thought life and our emotions are wrapped up in His safety.

Not only is peace protection, but it is also preparation. Notice once again the wording in our verse from Ephesians: “And, as shoes for your feet… put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.” Readiness. When you learn to walk in your inheritance of peace, it makes you ready. You are ready for the day. You are ready for any and every challenge you may face up ahead. You are unafraid. You are protected by peace. The good news of His peace has prepared you for whatever may come. You know, deep in your heart, that no matter what battle awaits, Jesus died to give you peace. Peace at all times and in every way. Peace that goes beyond anything you can understand. You are ready.

You are ready to win! You are ready for this: “And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly” (Rom. 16:20, NKJV). You see that? Yet another biblical connection between peace and feet. We learn here that it’s God’s peace that crushes the enemy under our feet. When you walk further and further into His peace, you walk further and further into His victory. What Jesus won at Calvary manifests through you. How mighty are those peace-shoes of yours! They annihilate the enemy’s schemes.

And the victory doesn’t stop with you. It’s also for those around you. When you truly step into God’s provision of peace, you also become a messenger of peace. You become one of those that Isaiah described, “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace…” (Isa. 52:7, NLT). These peace-shoes make your feet attractive. Remember, feet are symbolic of the way we walk. So when you are walking in His supernatural peace, how beautiful your walk becomes! How appealing! People desperately need peace. They will want to get around you. The peace in and on you will get on them when they are in your company. Your very life becomes a testimony of the good news of peace.

I can testify to this. I have a dear friend who invited me to be her bridesmaid a number of years ago. She explained to me that she wanted me to be an intimate part of the day because of my innate peacefulness. She was sure that my presence would emit peace into the atmosphere around her. To this day, I treasure that compliment!

Although I have had people for many years now telling me that they feel very soothed and peaceful around me, I have needed to grow in peace. I still do. We all do. Isn’t it a relief to know that you have permission to be in process? We all have vulnerable spots where we lose our peace and need major help to regain it. How, then, do we grow in this area? How do we get better at putting on our peace-shoes?

Here’s the answer:

“God’s Sunrise will break in upon us, shining on those in the darkness, those sitting in the shadow of death, then showing us the way, one foot at a time, down the path of peace.”

(Luke 1:78-79, MSG)

He will show us the way down the path of peace. One foot at a time. One day at a time. One hour at a time. One baby step at a time. His Sunrise will break in on us, shining on the inside of us. As we press in to know Him more intimately, His revelation light will illuminate the eyes of our hearts. The revelation of His peace will become more and more and more a part of who we are.

Remember, when we put on the armor of light, we are putting on Jesus Himself, the Light of the World. Jesus is our Light, and He is also our Peace. He is our Prince of Peace. As we spoke of the last two weeks, we get to wear Him as our Truth. We get to wear Him as our Righteousness. And now we get to wear Him as our Peace. He Himself is our Peace.

Are you ready, mighty warrior? Ready to slip your feet right into His shoes of resplendent light? Ready to follow Him, a foot at a time, deeper into His very own peace?

“His name will be called… Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His peace there will be no end…” (Isa. 9:6-7, NKJV).

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For you personally, what has been the biggest key for growing in peace?