Of all the pieces of armour described in this letter, this for me has been the most personal, and the most elusive. Since a 6-week-long anxiety attack last year, keeping the peace has been front and centre in my mind.

Retraining my brain. Seeking counsel. Speaking truth over my mind, heart, life, habits. Learning to stop the mental hamster wheel has been a good work for me to do.

When I read this passage, the idea of having peace wherever I go is so enticing. I really connect with the idea of putting peace on like shoes. I’ve walked in shoes of striving. Exhaustion. I’ve walked in shoes of fear. Shrinking. I’ve walked in shoes of shame. Crippling. I’ve walked on raw bare feet. Wounding.

Too often I’ve assumed that the important this is to keep walking, no matter what my shoes.. I’ll surely stumble into peace, right? But peace is not somewhere I put myself, it’s something I put on me. The shoes I walk in matter.

I love the concept of peace protecting my steps. Better decisions are made on peace. Better words are spoken in relationships. Fears faced standing on the support of peace. Peace from the feet up, wherever I go.

And this is the beauty of what Paul is saying… If I choose to recognise the holistic peace with God, given to me by Jesus… If I choose peace as my preferred shoes to walk in… if peace is my foundation… then I’m ready to face my day, the world and even myself.

These are my thoughts from Ephesians 6… A series inspired by a moment where I asked God to protect my heart, my family and my loved ones. In that moment, I strongly felt Him challenge me: “I’ve given you all the armour you need, but it’s useless in a pile on the ground. Pick it up. Put it on.”