Simply Living Sample

Have you ever tried going for a run in the wrong footwear? The blisters between your toes might mean you have to go slower or finish your run early. I wonder if the apostle Paul was a runner. He certainly mentions running the race an awful lot, especially the need to run with the right equipment.

Ephesians 6:15 speaks of us putting on our feet “the readiness that comes by the gospel of peace.” How do we find peace? Philippians 4:4-9 suggests some practical ways of finding peace–namely rejoicing, presenting our worries to God with thanksgiving, thinking about what is pure and lovely and admirable, and putting into practice the things God has taught and revealed to us.

Just as a professional runner would get fitted with the right shoes physically, as Christians, we need to spiritually invest in what is needed to run the race of faith. This way, we are equipped to respond when God calls us to bring the gospel of peace into our relationships and conversations.

Response: Ask God to fit your feet with the readiness of the gospel of peace. Notice when you’re not bringing peace, and quickly offer your heart for God to change. Consider singing the hymn May the Mind of Christ My Savior as a morning prayer for a week.