The Armor of God is a famous passage of Scripture. But today, I’ve internalized it differently.
Here it is:
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6:10-17 (nasb)
Readied Footwear
And with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. – Ephesians 6:15 (niv versison)
In Ephesians 6, the Apostle Paul gives us what, for me, has been difficult imagery of spiritual warfare, describing the armor of God believers are to wear to stand firm against the schemes of the enemy. If you’ve been reading my blogs or listening to my podcasts, you’ll know I love the truth that God created the female as a rescue agent—an ezer warrior made from the man for the man as equal in worth and an ally in purpose. But the heavy armor Paul describes never spoke directly to my heart. Maybe that’s because our gracious Lord once gave me a vision of a myriad of women mounted on white horses about to take a hill. In the vision, we warrior women knew the enemy had claimed what was on the other side of this hill as his territory. We women wore white flowing robes but had swords at their sides. I may be theologically off here, but in my limited brain, I see these women as prayer warriors battling against enemy ground or maybe my vision was of our post rapture return with Christ for that final battle. Either way, the clunky armor worn by men in foot battle that Paul describes never related to my sense of female warrior fashion. Until now.
At a recent conference covering the state of the Great Commission, speakers peppered their presentations with Paul’s images of the divine armor found in Ephesians 6. While the thought of donning that big, heavy armor is still hard for me, I was able to finally transcend the physical act of wearing it and see the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the fitting of our feet, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit as practical spiritual promises that will, when initiated by faith, protect, equip, and prepare us in and for these days of great deceit.
Of the six pieces of armor Paul describes, the fitting of our feet, or the command to shod our feet in preparation stood out to me in new ways. This, along with the sword of the Spirit, metaphorically speaks of an offensive maneuver rather than defensive armor. I’ve thought about this for several days. I pictured those women, robes flowing, faces determined, and feet wrapped in leather straps planted firmly in silver stirrups ready to kick horses’ flanks. Ready to charge unafraid.
Only today, we’d be in fashionable tennis shoes.
Just before Paul gives us the image of a warrior covered in spiritual defense, he writes that we do not struggle against flesh and blood, “but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
So when he added to the armor to shod our feet with the feet of peace, he wrote of feet that move forward with the Gospel–feet that run offense in the game. The Gospel is a mighty weapon against chaos like the chaos we see around us today. Taking a hill of the enemy means taking the Gospel into enemy territory which requires action on our part. Our feet, whether on steed or dirt path, must be ready to go or do something.
This will take brave faith.
Oh, I know in the US we’ve been granted a four-year reprieve but make no mistake, Christ’s inheritance spreads further and wider than our US borders. We’re told his inheritance will be the nations and that we are the ones to be prepping this inheritance for Him. Psalm 2:6-8 affirms this.
“But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.
I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord:
He said to Me, “You are My Son
Today I have begotten You.
“Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
What better way to shod our feet and kick the those horses’ flanks than to support the work of warriors on the battlefields of truth.
Are we not told to seek the kingdom of God first in Matthew 6:33?
Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
With Christ’s call to go into every nation (Matthew 28:19), I don’t think the above verse is solely about preparing yourself for kingdom righteous living. We are to also be seeking the kingdom yet to come by adding valuable human inheritances to our numbers. Seeking righteousness and the kingdom first means putting our personal, material needs second … or third … or fourth. Then we are promised God will supply all those material must haves.
That is a phenomenal promise—one I’ve experienced since sowing first into kingdom building and polishing. My family’s needs have always been met, albeit sometimes with a dose of faith-building patience.
Because I’ve been challenged to include practical application with my calls to action, I’m including a list of ways you can wrap those straps around your ankles or tie on those tennis shoes of peace and mount your spiritual white steed, and rush, like the warrior you are, to carry Christ into your sphere of influence, your nations, and your world—a world on the verge of one-world, anti-Christ rule.
Here’s the action plan:
1. Prepare:
The word “preparation” in Ephesians 6:15 implies that we are to be always prepared, not caught off guard or passive in our walk with God. The Gospel of peace isn’t just a message we receive; it’s a message we are to take with us wherever we go. This readiness comes from a life that is grounded in the truth of the gospel and eager to share that truth with others.
2. Use Peace as a Foundation:
When Paul speaks of the “gospel of peace,” he reminds us that the foundation of our life and mission is peace. Not peace as the world defines it—a fleeting calm or absence of conflict—but the deep, abiding peace that comes from knowing Christ. This peace guards our hearts and minds and strengthens us to face opposition, knowing that no matter the circumstance, we are secure in Him.
3. Spread the Gospel:
Our feet are made ready to go. Just as soldiers must be ready to march into battle or onto the front lines, Christians must be ready to carry the good news of Christ offering hope in a broken world. The Word of God—the gospel of peace is a message of reconciliation—of bringing people into right relationship with God. When supporting Bible translation efforts worldwide, you share the Word in the languages of the people which God created at the tower of Babel. The culmination of every language group receiving the Word through the footwork of soldiers will be the redemption of the nations’ separation at the tower of Babel. Here’s a recommended place to sow into kingdom expansion: The Word for the World
4. Overcome Fear with Peace:
The enemy attempts to keep us from sharing the gospel because of fear. But when our feet are “fitted with preparation,” we are no longer held back by fear of rejection or failure. The peace of Christ calms our hearts, enabling us to step forward with courage and confidence in His power, not our own.
Suggested Prayer:
Father, thank You for the Gospel of peace that has transformed my life. Help me to be ready to share this peace with others, to walk with confidence and courage, knowing that I carry Your message of reconciliation. May my life be a living testimony to the peace that comes only through Christ, and may my feet always be ready to move wherever You lead me through a brave voice here and generous heart towards those who work in foreign fields. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
In the journey of faith, the Gospel is not meant to stay within us; it’s meant to go out. Let your feet be ready to take peace wherever; however you are called.
If I perish, I perish,
Laurie
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