Improperly-fitted Shoes

I learned this week that improperly-fitted shoes can be a source of painful backaches--even good shoes. In preparation for vacation two years ago, I purchased expensive walking shoes from a catalog . . . in the wrong size. Who knew? They felt great! I wore them everywhere.

Over time, however, my back began to give out. I didn't pinpoint the source of the pain until I went, in person, to a specialty shoe store and was fitted properly. The shoes I'd been wearing were a size too big.

This caused me to consider a verse about "shoes" in the Bible.

" Stand firm then with. . . your feet fitted

with the readiness that comes

from the gospel of peace."

~Ephesians 6:14-15

Like Jesus, when we go out "about our Father's business," we should have our feet fitted with the gospel of peace. We should be full of God's wisdom, the wisdom which comes from heaven, i.e., pure, peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 

Sounds like a tall order, right? Yet this kind of wisdom is freely available to all who ask for it (James 1:5). And it is available to us on a moment by moment basis.

Consider what happens when we go into the world "about our Father's business" without properly-fitted "shoes." We will rub others the wrong way, we will cause pain--both to ourselves and others--and we will end up on the sidelines, unable to get out of bed in the morning, unable to move.

So check your "shoe" size. Are you properly fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace?