Challenging thought for today:

And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Ephesian. 6:15

After snagging an opportunity that her colleague had been starving herself for months to have, Anne Hathaway’s character in the movie, The Devil Wears Prada, justified her decision to steal the trip of a lifetime from said colleague by claiming that she didn’t have a choice because her job depended on it.

Her colleague’s response (paraphrased here) went something like this. “Girl, please, you sold your soul the minute you put on your first pair of Jimmy Choo’s.  For those of you interested, you too can snag a pair of “plain” patent leather Jimmy Choo pumps for around $600 at Neiman Marcus, but I digress.

If there is one area in which most women can find common ground on, it’s shoes. Every fashionista knows that the perfect outfit is not complete without the perfect shoes.  Even a trip around the track or to the gym calls for “cute” shoes.  The old clunky “tennis” shoes or sneakers having long been replaced with sleek lightweight walking or running shoes in every color and price range.  Even a simple pair of rain or snow boots can be the height of fashion.

In today’s challenge verse however, the analogy was to Roman soldiers and the footwear they chose to fight in. Though they wore sandals instead of boots, the thick soles protected them against hot sand, rough terrain, rocks, thorns, etc.  This verse continued the apostle Paul’s discussion on the armor God has equipped us with to fight any spiritual battles we encounter.  It also reminded me of a simple song a lady we knew sang with conviction every time she was called upon.

Travelin’ shoes, Lord,

 got on my travelin’ shoes,

Travelin’ shoes, Lord,

 got on my travelin’ shoes.

 I can travel now,

got on my travelin’ shoes. 

I can travel now,

got on my travelin’ shoes.

Travelin’ shoes, Lord,

Got on my travelin’ shoes.

I hope you will let this simple example inspire you to allow the spiritual steps of your life’s journey to be ordered by the Lord (Psalm 37:23) and be content wherever it takes you.  If you do that, it won’t matter if you walk around all day in stilettos or flip flops, the Holy Spirit will keep you on the right path.

Take a moment and think about your own “travelin’ shoes”.  When you walk into a situation, do you bring peace or confusion? Do you buy every pair of shoes that calls your name and patiently wait until you find the right outfit to wear them?  Why not have the same attitude when God leads you to a path that may call for a rugged pair of work boots?

My prayer for you today is no matter which road you are traveling on your life’s path, that you will dust off those travelin’ shoes and hit the road.

Take the next step:

Stop walking in the footsteps of your past mistakes.  Follow the path that God has put before you.  Lace up those sneakers of faith and run this race with patience and endurance and find peace.