Putting On the Shoes of the Gospel of Peace

Welcome back to our series on the armor of God, where we’re giving you practical tips on how to put on or take up each piece of God’s armor! Today we will be discussing the shoes of the gospel of peace.

If you haven’t already, start by reading at least our introduction into the topic of the armor of God, which talks about and why we need it and what it is comprised of. Then in case you want to go in order, here’s part 1 about the belt of truth, and here’s a link to part 2, which covers the breastplate of righteousness (although going in order isn’t really important in this series).

And here’s the scripture on putting on the armor of God that we’ve been unpacking:

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the Gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Ephesians 6:14-17

The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace

The shoes of the Gospel of peace are perhaps the least exciting part of the armor of God. Shoes are definitely less romantic than other parts of an outfit. After all, they walk in the dirt, they wear out the quickest, heck, they even occasionally step in dog poop.

Even though it’s easy to take shoes for granted, they are a very important part of any outfit, including the armor of God. They give us secure footing on insecure terrain. They help keep us steady when something unexpected hits. They ground us.

In Roman times, when Paul was writing this word picture, he would have been looking at the Roman soldier to whom he was chained. A soldier’s shoes were similar to today’s cleats. Well, they were leather sandals, which is not like cleats; but, like cleats, they had studs on the bottom to create traction and they laced up the ankle to secure them firmly to the foot. In this way, the shoes protected their feet and allowed them to stand firm when under attack or have secure footing on unstable terrain.

Now that we’ve explored the literal side of the metaphor, let’s continue by breaking things down a little to better understand the metaphorical side.

What is the Gospel?

Speaking in broad terms, the Gospel is the Word of God in its entirety. More specifically, the Gospel is the message that salvation only comes through a redeeming relationship with Jesus, the Savior. The word “gospel” comes from a Greek word that literally means “good news.” So God’s Word and the message of Christ are “good news!” The books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John have been lumped together into what is known as the Gospels, primarily because their main theme is the spreading of the news of Jesus – His life, His ministry, and His death on the cross for our sins.

What is Peace?

Peace, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is “a state of tranquility or quiet” or “freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions.”

Not surprisingly, the Bible says a lot about peace. But the main point we need to cover for this post is that true peace can only come from God, as you can see from the verses below. What’s more, the peace He gives protects our minds and hearts from trouble. Remember that second point, especially.

“I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27

“Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Phillipians 4:7

“And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts.” Colossians 3:15a

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” Galatians 5:23

Putting On the Armor of God – the Shoes of the Gospel of Peace

What Does “The Gospel of Peace” Mean?

So we’ve talked about the Gospel, and we’ve talked about peace. Now it’s time to start putting things together.

The NLT version says it this way, “the peace that comes from the Good News.” I think this makes the meaning a little more obvious. When we believe the Gospel, we can be at peace. We don’t have to worry about anything because we know He’s already won every victory for us and that He is for us, not against us. So for us, in fact, that He was willing to die for us.

What is the “Readiness Given by the Gospel of Peace?”

Now let’s take it a step further. Remember earlier when we talked about the purposes of shoes? They give us secure footing on insecure terrain. They help keep us steady when something unexpected hits. They ground us. For example, you wouldn’t wear flip-flops to play a soccer game or heels to climb a mountain, would you? If you did, you wouldn’t be prepared for the agility required to play soccer well or the rocky, unstable terrain of a mountain hike. Without the right shoes, we can’t be prepared.

“Readiness” is just another way of saying “prepared.” So in the same way that literal shoes prepare us for whatever activity or terrain we come upon, the shoes of the Gospel of peace prepare us to hold our ground in the spiritual battles we may face.

The Power of the Mind

What it all comes down to is our state of mind. Remember those Bible verses above that said God’s peace will guard our minds? When we are wearing the shoes of the Gospel of peace, our state of mind is peaceful. We aren’t worried and our minds aren’t clouded by doubt or fear. We can think more clearly, and nothing can throw us off balance. This allows us to move more efficiently and be more effective without hesitating or stumbling.

On the other hand, if we’re not at peace, we are easily caught off-guard, caught up in feelings of fear, anxiety, and obsessed with self-preservation. When this is the case, we will doubt everything, even the very Word of God. We will hesitate before acting and find ourselves frozen in fear, unable to move forward with God’s plans for us.

Or we will run around frantically, like chickens with our heads cut off, with no direction, looking like idiots to the world that needs us to show them the love and strength of a savior. This is the way Satan wants it, so he uses his lies to plant seeds of doubt and anxiety in our minds and hearts.

For example, in John 13:36-38, when Jesus is about to be arrested, Peter is beside himself. He has just heard Jesus say that He must go away, and he wants to go with now, not later, as Jesus tells him he will. Then Jesus informs him that despite how much Peter says he loves Him, Peter will, in fact, deny that he knows Jesus 3 times in the very near future.

In these verses, it is clear that Peter is not at peace. His beloved teacher is leaving and he doesn’t understand. Not only that, even though he doesn’t realize it yet, he is torn between declaring his relationship with Jesus to the world and hiding it for his own safety. Not exactly a picture of peace.

But here’s the beautiful thing; after Jesus is gone, Peter becomes one of the strongest and most courageous of all of Jesus’ disciples! He decides to accept the facts as they are. Yes, Jesus is gone, but He can live on in the hearts of every single person Peter brings to Christ.

Moreover, Jesus has told him that He is preparing a place for him, where they can spend eternity together. Once Peter decides to trust Jesus’ words, he finds peace; peace that prepares his heart and mind to share the Good News with others. And share He does! You can read all about it in the book of Acts.

Putting on the Gospel of Peace Shoes

My goal with this series on the armor of God is to provide practical tips on how to wear each piece. So what are some practical ways to harness the readiness that comes with the Gospel of peace?

Choose to Trust God

As the verses above show us, we can be at peace when we trust only God. When we believe that His way is the best way and that He is for us and not against us, we have no reason to fear. The opposite of fear is peace! When you find yourself feeling unsteady, ask yourself if there is an area in which you might need to trust God more. Here is a post I wrote a while back about simple ways to trust God.

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.”

John14:1

Furthermore, Phillipians 4:6-7 says that if we pray with thanksgiving and bring our needs to God, His peace will protect our hearts and minds. Here’s the clincher, though – you have to really give it to God and trust Him with it. If you continue to hold on to it and worry about it, you won’t be able to claim the gift of peace He offers.

Get Your Mind Right

When thoughts of doubt and fear creep in stop them from taking root. In the Bible, this is called “taking every thought captive (2 Cor. 10:5b).” Try to recognize when the lies of the world and Satan pop up and send them packing by acknowledging, out loud if you can, that they are lies. For example, “I know that with God all things are possible, so it is a lie that my situation is hopeless.” Or, “God is for me, not against me, so it is a lie that my efforts are useless.”

Once you’ve denounced those pesky negative thoughts, use the Gospel to find peace. Here are some affirmations of peace, based on scripture, that you can use to bring yourself into a place of peace.

• “My thoughts are fixed on God, and so He will keep me in perfect peace.”
• “I am working for peace, and God will bless me for it.”
• “I don’t need to be troubled or afraid because God has given me a gift of peace of mind and heart.”
• “Because I trust in God, I am overflowing with confident hope.”
• “Jesus is for me, not against me, so I can live without fear of the future.”
• “Because God gave His one and only Son for me, I can trust Him.”

Print this FREE 4×6 printable so you can carry these affirmations with you or hang them somewhere handy to use them when you need them! Here‘s a black and white version.

Live Righteously

Living righteously simply means living in alignment with God’s commands and will. Righteousness brings peace, quietness, and confidence. It’s right there in Isaiah 32:17. When we know we are doing everything we can to please God and nothing that we need to feel ashamed about, we will naturally feel at peace. We can more easily “be still and know” that He is God (Psalms 46:10a). For more on living righteously, see Putting on the Armor of God, pt. 2.

Live at Peace With Everyone

There are a ton of scriptures about living at peace with people. This means it is something we should take seriously. As a mother of 4 kids ranging in age from 3 to 15, I am constantly “helping” them live at peace with one another and also trying to live at peace with them myself. LOL! When a group of people with distinct personalities get together there is bound to be conflict, whether it’s in a family, at work, or at church.

One verse that has helped us tremendously is Ephesians 4:2, which says “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” This means that we put up with each other’s annoying habits, noises, voices, and ways of simply existing because we love each other and aren’t perfect ourselves. When we step back and recognize our own faults, it is easier for us to be humble and accepting of others despite their faults.

The Armor of God, pt. 3 Wrap-up

So, there you have it. To put on your feet the readiness that comes from the Gospel of peace means that to prepare yourself for battle by:

• having the right mindset
• trusting God
• living righteously
• and striving for peace with all people in all circumstanecs.

By doing these things, we are more likely to be at peace and, therefore, less easily caught off-guard when something unexpected hits. Like the shoes of the Roman soldier Paul was chained to, the shoes of peace give us secure footing and allow us to stand firm during trials and sorrows, grounded, not likely to waver.

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

Choose today to prepare yourself by adopting a peace mindset! Comment below and tell us what you like to do to stay in a peaceful place in today’s chaotic world!

Catch ya’ later,

PS I know my posts are long (hehe). If you don’t want to read them all, you can still put on the armor of God right now by downloading this free cheat sheet!

This post/series is inspired/informed by the amazing pastors at Woodland Hills Family Church. Thanks, guys! Click here to hear the original sermons.

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