We often hear of the importance of being prepared: for emergencies, rainy days, and many other difficult and unexpected situations – “like the ants preparing for winter” I often heard as a child. And while preparedness is not a bad idea, there’s more we need to prepare than our pantries and our retirement funds.

Recently, I have been reading through Ephesians chapter six verses ten through twenty. In this passage the Apostle Paul reminds us that our battle is not physical, but spiritual in nature, and as such implores us to put on the full armor of God.

This week while reading over these verses again I was struck by the word preparation in verse fifteen; “and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace” (NASB). Until this most recent reading, I have simply considered this verse in the light of “walking in peace”A and while this application is not untrue, I see now as grossly incomplete.

Consider the soldier. If he is fit with the most effective armor and weapons of the day, this alone will not give him the peace he needs to engage in battle. The peace required to fight effectively is found in the training. Without training, or preparing, in the gospel of peace we enter the battle distracted, anxious, and more prone to be overtaken by all the ensuing chaos. However, when we train our hearts and minds to walk in the peace of our calling we can advance knowing that while the battle may be ours to fight, the victory belongs to the Lord. (Proverbs 21:31)

Life is always uncertain. This reality has not increased through all the chaos of 2020 – it has simply been more greatly revealed as truth. As such, as we move into the days and years ahead, let us use this new found sense of awareness to prepare our hearts and minds to walk confidently in the peace of our calling as followers of Jesus!