The Shoes to Put on

A friend of mine, who’s a U.S. Army chaplain, talks about the challenges of ministering to young soldiers. Many of these fledgling “green suits” are sent to him for counsel, after they get in trouble for not abiding by Army values.

Regularly the conversation goes something like this:

I know it looks bad for me, and the Army, when I get drunk and start bar fights, but I just can’t help it.

Almost Adolescent GI

These young, mostly men, recognize they’re on the wrong track, yet believe they have no real power to change.

For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.

The Apostle Paul -Romans 7:18b

At this point my Chaplain friend gets their attention by turning a familiar adage around:

“If the shoe fits…kick it off!”

In other words, when conviction hits home, we have a choice—continue in error or mend our ways. And kicking off a bad shoe, means we can put on a better one.  Like this:

Bad Shoe—to kick off:

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

Good Shoe—to put on:

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:31 (NIV)

Kind reader, my rambling point is this: You and I have the power to change, at any point, by choosing a higher (godlier) perspective. It’s a matter of focus.

My Favorite Pair of Spiritual Shoes:

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 (NIV)

Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil

1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 (NIV)

It works because it’s God’s will.

Thank you for reading. 🙏❤️ prayers and love.


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Comments

13 responses to “The Shoes to Put on”

  1. Caleb Cheruiyot Avatar

    Wonderful ♥️

    Liked by 1 person

  2. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thanks, Matt. I can imagine you joking with your students, like I do with the kids at school.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. jesusluvsall Avatar

    I asked my students this morning if my shoes are big or small. They said big 🙂
    I like the analogy- kick off the bad ones

    Liked by 2 people

  4. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Amen! The power of the shoes comes from God and not us. ❤️

    Liked by 3 people

  5. Pure Glory Avatar

    David, you make good points, we have a choice how we behave. It goes much better when we rely on the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us into all truth. Will power fails but when we stay away from the places we fall down in we do better as we ask for help and renew our minds with the Word of God, walking with Him, the behavior changes due to not relying on ourselves, but our new shoes.

    Liked by 3 people

  6. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thank you, Bridget. I love your “shoes” verse. Birds of a feather flock together, so it’s always helpful to look who we are roosting with.

    Liked by 2 people

  7. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thank you, Peggy. Being spiritually responsible can be hard work, but it’s better than living beneath our destiny in the Lord. Thank you for stopping by! God Bless.

    Liked by 2 people

  8. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Amen! It’s encouraging to know we have the help of heaven, both to have faith in God and to follow His ways. 🙏His best to you.

    Liked by 2 people

  9. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Amen, brother. Thank you for sharing your “shoes” verse. Blessings! 🙏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇺🇸

    Liked by 2 people

  10. Bridget Avatar

    Such a great analogy – kicking off the bad shoes and putting on the spiritual shoes. I’m grateful the Lord is there to help us change, when we sincerely seek Him. And as I was thinking about the young men who joined the service, I was thinking it might be especially difficult for them to get on a better path, if all their friends are going out and drinking. So I will add this verse as a spiritual shoe – Proverbs 12:26 says, “The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray.”

    Liked by 3 people

  11. peggywritesblog Avatar

    Great post, David! We can choose to change “shoes” with our focus on the Lord.

    Liked by 2 people

  12. Don't Lose Hope Avatar

    We DO have the power to change. The Holy Spirit will always work in us and help us, if we ask and are committed.

    Liked by 2 people

  13. Alan Kearns Avatar

    Excellent David – as believers we need to pursue a Godly focus. You reminded me of another “spiritual shoe” verse in, “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,” (Colossians 3:23). God bless you today brother 🙏

    Liked by 3 people

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