The Whole Armor of God · Part 3 of 7
How To Put Onthe Gospel of Peace
“and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace”Ephesians 6:15
The gospel of peace plants your feet when fear tells you to run, and it gets you moving when God tells you to go.
This is the third of seven articles in our Whole Armor of God series. In Ephesians 6:10–18, Paul tells believers how to stand firm in a spiritual battle. Each article looks at one piece of that armor: how a soldier used it, how Satan attacks in that area of your life, and how you can put it on each day. The first two articles covered the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness.
Ephesians 6:10–18 (NIV)
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore 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. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
What Did a Soldier’s Boots Do?
A soldier’s feet carried him into every fight. If they failed, nothing else he wore could save him. Paul’s readers would have pictured caligae, heavy Roman military sandals that were part boot and part sandal.1 Each one was cut from a single piece of hide, laced up the center of the foot, and studded with hobnails for grip and support.2 A single boot could hold 40 to 150 nails.3 The Roman military writer Vegetius said soldiers should be able to march twenty miles in five summer hours.4 These boots carried a soldier a long way, and then they helped him plant his feet and hold his ground. They had limits, though. Josephus tells of a Roman centurion at the siege of Jerusalem whose shoes were “all full of thick and sharp nails.” He slipped on the smooth stone pavement of the Temple and fell.3 Good boots mattered, and so did the ground beneath them.
Paul’s picture echoes Isaiah: “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace” (Isaiah 52:7). Commentators debate his word for readiness. It can mean being prepared to go or having a firm footing.5 Both fit the Christian life. The gospel gives you solid ground, because “we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). Your war with God is over. That peace with God brings the peace of God, which “will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). It doesn’t remove trouble. Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). As the David Jeremiah blog puts it, “Just as the right boots protect our soles, the peace of the Gospel protects our souls.”6 And peace gives you courage to be sent by God. Peter uses a related Greek word when he says, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15).7
“Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
Mark 4:38
How Satan Steals Your Peace
Satan tries to silence us with doubts about our influence and eloquence. If he can steal your peace, he can slow your feet. He uses events. A family conflict, a lost job, a diagnosis, or troubling news can make God seem absent, just as a storm led the disciples to ask, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” (Mark 4:38). He uses doubts. When God sent Moses to Pharaoh, Moses answered, “I have never been eloquent” (Exodus 4:10), and God promised, “I will help you speak” (Exodus 4:12). He uses sin. Unforgiveness can become a bitter root that will “cause trouble and defile many” (Hebrews 12:15), and fear can shame a believer into silence, as it did when Peter denied Jesus (Luke 22:54–60). Satan wants a believer who is too anxious to pray, too divided to serve, and too afraid to speak. But Jesus restored Peter, and Peter stood up to preach at Pentecost (Acts 2:14). But through prayer, God strengthens us to share our stories and praise boldly.
My story
I could have been a combatant.
When I asked Jesus to be the Lord of my life, it set my life on a different trajectory than my family’s. Our family was brought up in a church that believes salvation came from works and sacraments. They believed studying Scripture and living for Christ was mainly for ordained priests. I believed the Bible’s message of salvation through faith and that good works were part of a life lived through faith in Christ. This caused conflicts with my family. I could have been a combatant. Instead, I chose to be at peace with our differences, yet stand my ground and try to love my family as Christ would. Eventually, several of my family members came to believe in the Bible’s message of salvation through faith. They credited my example of a changed life as part of the reason they came to believe.
Many other examples in my life show how God’s promises in Scripture have given me peace. Satan tried to steal my peace through job loss, health challenges, and my commitment to serving God through big life goals. But a close relationship with God and intimate knowledge of His promises in Scripture assured me that He was directing the outcome. He is in control, not Satan.
How To Put It On
- Ask God each morning for one opportunity to encourage someone or share what He has done in your life.
- Be ready to share your faith journey with others. Share your life before Jesus, how you met Him, and how He is changing you.
- Walk into every conversation and situation at peace, trusting the Holy Spirit to give you what you need.
- Take each worry to God as soon as it surfaces, with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6), and trust Him for the outcome.
- When something steals your peace, find it in the table below and read the verse aloud and believe what God’s Word says about it.
- In a conflict, choose peace before you try to win. “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18).
Benefits of Putting On This Armor
- Firm footing
- You stay steady when circumstances shift, because you know God is in control (Isaiah 26:3).
- A ready witness
- When someone asks about your hope, you have an answer to give (1 Peter 3:15).
- Peace in your relationships
- Conflict can give way to love, and your changed life can point others to Jesus. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9).
- Feet God can use
- The good news reaches more people through you. “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Romans 10:15).
Write Your Own Story
Your experiences are part of how God shapes your walk with Him. “Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story” (Psalm 107:2). Set aside 15 minutes, ask God to bring the right memory to mind, and work through these steps.
- Name what stole your peace.Write down one event, doubt, or sin that shook your peace.
- Remember how it shaped you.How did it change the way you prayed, served, or spoke about Jesus?
- Find the truth.Which promise from God steadied you? The table below may help.
- Write your story.Finish these sentences: “The thing that stole my peace the most was ____. The promise that steadied me was ____. Because of God’s peace, I was able to ____.”
- Share it.Thank God for what He has done, then tell one trusted person your story this week.
Memorize
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.1 Peter 3:15
When Something Steals Your Peace
Your peace can be thwarted in many ways. Here are some truths from God’s Word that might help you regain peace.8
| What Steals Your Peace | Truth From God’s Word |
|---|---|
| A family feud or conflict at home | As far as it depends on you, you can live at peace with everyone. (Romans 12:18) |
| Losing your job or running out of work | God will meet all your needs. (Philippians 4:19) |
| Betrayal by a friend or loved one | You can cast your cares on the Lord, and He will sustain you. (Psalm 55:22) |
| Difficulties at work | You are working for the Lord, and He will reward you. (Colossians 3:23–24) |
| Concern over our country and world | God changes times and seasons, and He raises up and removes rulers. (Daniel 2:21) |
| A serious illness or diagnosis | God is the strength of your heart, even when your body fails. (Psalm 73:26) |
| Money worries and debt | Seek God’s kingdom first, and He will provide what you need. (Matthew 6:31–33) |
| Fear of the future | You can leave tomorrow’s worries for tomorrow. (Matthew 6:34) |
| Anxiety that won’t let go | Pray about everything, and God’s peace will guard your heart and mind. (Philippians 4:6–7) |
| A troubled heart you can’t explain | Jesus gives you a peace the world can’t give. (John 14:27) |
| Grief over someone you love | The Lord is close to the brokenhearted. (Psalm 34:18) |
| Loneliness | God will never leave you or forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5) |
| Guilt over your sin | When you confess your sin, God forgives you and purifies you. (1 John 1:9) |
| Bitterness you can’t let go of | Forgive others just as God forgave you in Christ. (Ephesians 4:31–32) |
| Being mocked or opposed for your faith | You are blessed, and your reward in heaven is great. (Matthew 5:11–12) |
| A loved one far from God | The Lord is patient and doesn’t want anyone to perish. (2 Peter 3:9) |
| Tension in your marriage | Be humble, gentle, and patient, and keep unity through the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:2–3) |
| Conflict in your church | Make every effort to do what leads to peace and builds others up. (Romans 14:19) |
| A hard decision | Ask God for wisdom, and He will give it generously. (James 1:5) |
| Sleepless nights | You can lie down in peace, because God keeps you safe. (Psalm 4:8) |
| Feeling worn out and overwhelmed | Jesus gives rest to the weary. (Matthew 11:28–29) |
| Growing older and losing strength | God will sustain you into old age. (Isaiah 46:4) |
| Envy when others seem to get ahead | Be still before the Lord, and don’t fret over others’ success. (Psalm 37:7) |
| Racing thoughts and doubts | God’s comfort brings joy when your anxiety is great. (Psalm 94:19) |
| Disappointment and broken plans | God works in all things for the good of those who love Him. (Romans 8:28) |
| Waiting when God seems silent | The Lord is good to those who hope in Him and wait quietly. (Lamentations 3:25–26) |
| Fear of speaking about your faith | The Holy Spirit will teach you what to say. (Luke 12:11–12) |
| Being treated unfairly | Like Jesus, you can entrust yourself to God, who judges justly. (1 Peter 2:23) |
| Facing death | You need not fear, because God is with you. (Psalm 23:4) |
| No matches. Try another word. | |
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