Day 26 - Sunday

Day 26

 

"And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;" Ephesians 6:15

I can count a million times, People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me, Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You
Maybe since my life was changed, Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind, To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm, But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace, Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days, When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You, Jesus, bring the rain

(MercyMe's "Bring the Rain")

 

As we close our look at our shoes of peace, I wanted to share some of the lyrics of the above song, because I believe it speaks to one other part of peace.  Paul says our feet should be shod with the "preparation of the Gospel of peace."  In other words, our walk or journey in life should be constantly prepared by peace.  Does this mean we will never encounter fear or pain or trouble?  Of course not, but peace will guard us in these times, by preparing us.

 

Peace is an attribute of the Savior.  He is called the Prince of Peace.  It is also one of the fruit of the Spirit.  It grows in us the closer we grow to God.  And he desires to let this peace be preparation for our lives.  If we will allow the peace of God to replace worry and fear at the center of our lives, we will find that we can be prepared to walk through any storm and any surprise. 

 

The question will be: can we trust him?  Yes, I will choose to trust him and praise him even in the storms of life, because I choose to walk in his peace.

 

Prayer:  "Prince of Peace, I choose to follow you through every storm and trial of life.  I thank you that you prepare me for my journey and never leave me while on my walk in this world.  Thank you for my feet being covered in the preparation of peace that comes from the Gospel.  In Christ name, Amen."

Day 25 - Saturday

Day 25

"He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake."  Psalm 23:2-3 (NIV)

In this famous psalm, we hear King David declaring that God will lead us beside the quiet or "still" waters.  These still waters are indicative of peace.  God wants to lead us into and by his peace.

 

It is not God's intention for our lives to be fraught with worry and doubt and fear.  No, his intention is for us to let his peace be our "state of being." 

 

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control." 2 Timothy 1:7 (Amplified Bible)

 

He has made provision through Christ's sacrifice and the ever-present Holy Spirit to grant us peace.  This doesn't mean that we will be able to experience this perfectly every time, but the possibility is there.  We're human and struggle with human emotions, but all the same, our supernatural, superhuman God lives and dwells within us. 

 

The peace that the Psalmist talked about came after he made a declaration of who God was in his life:

 

"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want." Psalm 23:1 (NIV)

 

It is not an accident that it is this declaration of God being David's shepherd came first.  He had learned and received God as his shepherd, learning to listen to his voice and following his commands.  As he did this, David experienced the ability to find the still waters in his life.  And his life was nowhere near perfect. 

 

His peace was found in allowing God to shepherd him.  How well are we at being shepherded by God?  Do we push against fence?  Are we straining against his boundaries in our lives?  Or have submitted to his guidance and leading?  We will know by the waters we find ourselves beside.

 

Prayer:  "Jesus, I want to be led by those streams of still and quiet waters.  I want to have my soul restored in your peace.  Grant me the ability to hear your voice and be quick to obey.  I believe in you, my Shepherd.  In You I pray, Amen."

Day 24 - Friday

Day 24

 

"God's kingdom isn't about eating and drinking. It is about pleasing God, about living in peace, and about true happiness. All this comes from the Holy Spirit." Romans 14:17 (CEV)

 

Paul tells us that the Kingdom of God is about righteousness, peace and joy…in the Holy Ghost.  All of these things come not by our efforts, or our wisdom.  Rather, these things come through a relationship with the Holy Spirit.

 

We all have the opportunity or the ability to "put on Christ" or wear the armor of God.  It is a gift of God for us.  These are natural outgrowths (or fruit) of our relationship with the Holy Spirit.

 

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)

 

Jesus said that the Comforter he was sending would be our helper, reminding us of the things he said, and be with us always.  The name "Comforter" comes from the word, "paraclete" which means "one who consoles, one who intercedes on our behalf, a comforter or an advocate." 

 

The Holy Spirit will clothe us with God's truth, his righteousness, his peace, his salvation and even his faith.  But we need to cultivate this friendship.  Spend time with the Holy Spirit, as we would any friend who we love and care about.  The more we do, the more like him we become. 

 

It is in these times that we will discover that life in the kingdom of God is more fulfilling than anything we can work up on our own.  It is in the kingdom, through our relationship with God, that we will experience the righteousness, peace and joy that fill the holes of our hearts.

 

Prayer:  "Holy Spirit, teach me how to draw close to you, to know you and to allow you to shape me into the image of Christ.  Work in me these pieces of the armor that protects me and gives me victory in life.  Fulfill me with your righteousness, peace and joy.  In Christ I pray, Amen."

Day 23 - Thursday

Day 23

 

"Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy…" Hebrews 12:14 (NIV)

 

Paul exhorts us to do all that we can to live in peace with other people around us. This can be easier said than done sometimes, but the law of love that is found wrapped up in the message of the Gospel calls out to us to fulfill it.  What is this law of love?

 

"Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"  Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV)

 

It's our responsibility as people of the light, dressed in Christ, dressed in the armor of God, to live in peace with others.  Conflicts come and problems will arise within relationships, but this is why Paul said, while it's within our power to do so.  It is up to us to do our best, to give what we can give to make things work out.  Then it is up to the other people/person to either accept the process needed to bring peace between us or not.  

 

"This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God." Matthew 22:23-24 (TMSG)

 

Our ability to walk in these shoes of peace with God is dependant on how well we walk in peace with other people.  So many people do not realize that our relationship with God is not only vertical up to God and down to us, but also horizontal, as how we relate to others reflects our relationship with God.

 

"If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen." 1 John 4:20 (NIV)

 

Peace comes between people when we own our part of the problem.  Can we admit our failure, sin, wrong in the situation?  This is our responsibility.  Own it and apologize.  Forgive their failure, sin, wrong, even if they don't ask for it.  Then leave it in their hands.  Can they forgive?

 

It's not our responsibility to make them forgive, but our part is to stand in the place of forgiveness ourselves.  Do all we can to live in peace with others.  And if they choose not to reciprocate, so be it, then we can move on in peace, knowing we've done our part and releasing them to God.

 

Prayer:  "Jesus, forgive me of my sins, and the times I've made a mess of things.  Help me be able to forgive those who make a mess in my life.  Let me release them, be brave enough to apologize and seek their forgiveness, but then release them and situation to you.  Thank you for your peace today. In your name, Amen."

Day 22 - Wednesday

Day 22

 

"For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace…" Isaiah 55:12 (KJV)

 

"So you'll go out in joy, you'll be led into a whole and complete life..." Isaiah 55:12 (TMSG)

 

Whenever we think of our feet, our mind naturally moves toward walking, moving, running or traveling.  Our lives are often compared to a journey.  We are sojourners in this life. 

 

How many times in our journey do we find it hard to walk down the roads that present themselves before us?  It is part of the human experience that we share in suffering and healing, joy and pain.  There are the "good and bad days." 

 

God never promised us that life would be perfect.  In fact, he told us that life wouldn't be easy, but left us with the promise of his participation in our lives:

 

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."  John 16:33 (NIV)

 

"I give you peace, the kind of peace that only I can give. It isn't like the peace that this world can give. So don't be worried or afraid." John 14:27 (NIV)

 

We are never alone.  Jesus, who has overcome the world, walks with us.  Not only can we cover our feet and walk in peace, but Jesus, the Prince of Peace, is walking with us.  This is found in relationship with God, a trust we have in the giver of peace.

 

These shoes wrapped in peace and wholeness will give us the ability to walk through the rough terrain of our lives.  This "piece" of the armor, working with the righteousness and truth of God we already are wearing, will propel us to scale higher heights than we could believe.  As we face the trials of the rough days, let us lean into and trust our "trail guide," the Prince of Peace, who will lead us forth in peace and joy.

 

Prayer:  "Prince of Peace, I pray that you will walk with me down the roads of life that lay before me.  I thank you for leading me in your peace and never leaving my side.  In Your name, Amen."

 

Day 21 - Tuesday

Day 21

 

"Your desire to tell the good news about peace should be like shoes on your feet." Ephesians 6:15 (CEV)

 

Why is the gospel called "good news?"  Is it good news to you?

 

The good news of the gospel is this:  God has done everything that needs to be done to make reconciliation possible between man and himself.  Jesus came and was the bridge back to God for us.  Now the question is, will we receive it?  There is nothing left to do.  No sacrifice, no works can make us acceptable to God.  He has made us acceptable through Christ.

 

This is the meaning of the angel's song at Jesus' birth:

 

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." Luke 2:14 (KJV)

 

Who is the good will from?  God.  To who is the good will extended?  Us!  We no longer have to be afraid of God, for he wants to welcome us into his family.  This is great news!

 

Notice what Isaiah said centuries before Jesus came: 

 

"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'"  Isaiah 52:7 (NIV)

 

Seeing that Isaiah praises the feet of those who go forward into the world sharing the peace of God, I don't believe it is a coincidence that Paul says our feet will be covered in the good news of peace!  There should always be a readiness in us to share with others that God is not angry with them, but rather loves them and seeks to have them in his family!  What a message that so many are missing today!  Are you ready?  Do you have your shoes on?

 

Prayer:  "Lord Jesus, help me to be always ready to share your love and grace with others in my life.  Let them experience your peace as I have in my life.  Thank you that you are not angry with us, but rather you desire to have us in your family.  Amen."

Day 20 - Monday

Day 20

 

"…and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace." Ephesians 6:15 (NIV)

Covering our feet is a very important part of being armored.  How easily or how quickly a soldier gets over terrain will depend on the quality of the shoes/sandals he wears. 

The same goes for us.  Life presents us with many different challenges, but how we deal with these situations will determine our success.  When we are clothed in Christ, with the armor of God covering us, we will walk in peace in spite of whatever we face.  The more peace we walk in, the better our journey will be.

Peace is not about never being in conflict, but rather holding your faith in God through whatever situation you face, allowing the truth that he loves you in your heart.  This is what Paul says about peace guarding our lives:

"Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life."  Philippians 4:6-7 (TMSG)

This is another explanation of peace: when the broken pieces of life come together in Christ and making us whole.  Christ wants to make up the difference in our lives.

The question for us is this:  will we choose to hold on to our anxiety and worry, or will we place our faith in Christ rather, knowing that he will work all things together for good for us?  Can you let your feet be covered with the peace of God?

Prayer:  "God, I choose to trust you in every situation of my life.  I believe that you will make all things work together for my good and make me whole in your peace.  In Jesus name, Amen."