Standing: Peace Is Your Footing: Shoes for an Unstable World
Connie Morris continues her "Armor of God" series, exploring Ephesians 6 and the idea that peace—rooted in the gospel—is the foundation for standing strong amid spiritual battles.
This episode explains how peace gives stability, guards the heart and mind, prevents panic, and prepares believers to move with God’s timing. Connie ties biblical passages (Ephesians, John 15, Romans, Exodus) to practical steps: stay connected to Christ, study to be approved, and refuse to panic while trusting God’s plan.
Listeners are encouraged to plant their feet in the gospel, pray, and carry peace into uncertain places as they prepare for the next spiritual challenges.
Faith on the Go
The Word of God in your ear. Faith in your walk. Faith in your talk. And hope for the journey ahead.
Like Jabez, many of us have carried pain, labels, and stories that try to define who we are. But pain does not get the final word. Jabez prayed, and God answered. He asked God to bless him, enlarge his territory, keep His hand upon him, and protect him from evil.
And Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that God still has good plans for our lives — plans of peace, hope, and a future.
Stay connected with Diary of a Black Woman Podcast with your host, Connie Morris.
Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays at 5:00 pm Central Time
Listen. Follow. Subscribe. Share.
Email: Diaryofablackwomanpodcast@gmail.com
Podcast Page: https://www.podpage.com/the-diary-of-a-black-woman-podcast/
00:13 - Perspective and Purpose
02:10 - Armor of Peace
06:40 - Fruit on the Vine
10:06 - Approved and Unashamed
12:12 - Feet for Stability
15:26 - Peace Beyond Trouble
17:40 - Stand Still and Trust
21:08 - Beautiful Feet, Good News
23:28 - Where Peace Is Tied
26:38 - Prayer for Firm Footing
00:00:08.695 --> 00:00:12.117
Welcome to the Morris Perspective Podcast. I'm your host, Connie Morris,
00:00:12.117 --> 00:00:13.768
and I am so glad that you're here.
00:00:14.233 --> 00:00:19.440
You know, I bring more to this space than just a microphone. I bring my story.
00:00:19.678 --> 00:00:24.097
I bring the perspective of a retired police officer who stood inside the justice
00:00:24.097 --> 00:00:28.466
system and seen how decisions are made, how people are labeled,
00:00:28.652 --> 00:00:33.357
and how perception can follow a person before the facts are fully heard.
00:00:33.357 --> 00:00:37.357
I bring the perspective of a criminal justice instructor and trainer who has
00:00:37.357 --> 00:00:39.113
helped students and professionals
00:00:39.391 --> 00:00:44.697
look beyond textbook definitions and think about justice, accountability,
00:00:44.947 --> 00:00:49.237
bias, power, and the real people behind the policies.
00:00:49.707 --> 00:00:54.554
I bring the perspective of an author, a researcher who studies race,
00:00:54.699 --> 00:00:59.320
language, systems, and the narratives that shape how people are seen,
00:00:59.616 --> 00:01:01.938
treated, judged, and remembered.
00:01:02.106 --> 00:01:05.057
These are not just topics for me. I have worked on them.
00:01:05.457 --> 00:01:10.000
I have taught them. I have lived them. I have studied them.
00:01:10.232 --> 00:01:14.783
And most important, I have written about them. And I see how one word,
00:01:15.062 --> 00:01:22.417
one label, one assumption, one system, one mistruth, one lie can change the
00:01:22.417 --> 00:01:24.953
person story before it's told.
00:01:25.894 --> 00:01:29.747
That is why I create the Morris Perspective Podcast. This is a space where we
00:01:29.747 --> 00:01:32.727
do not just accept the story as is.
00:01:32.901 --> 00:01:35.287
We look again. We listen closer.
00:01:35.618 --> 00:01:40.577
We challenge what needs to be challenged. And we search for the truth that has
00:01:40.577 --> 00:01:43.337
been hidden, ignored, or twisted.
00:01:43.677 --> 00:01:47.627
So settle in, listen, and take a deeper look at the stories,
00:01:47.627 --> 00:01:53.707
the systems, and the truth that have been hidden through the lens of your host,
00:01:53.707 --> 00:01:57.816
Connie Morris, on the Morris Perspective Podcast.
00:02:10.998 --> 00:02:14.551
Hello, welcome back to the Diary of a Black Woman podcast. I'm your host,
00:02:14.551 --> 00:02:19.427
Connie Morris, and we're continuing the armor of God, learning how to stand.
00:02:19.717 --> 00:02:25.899
This is episode four, Peace is Your Footing, Shoes for an Unstable World.
00:02:26.300 --> 00:02:28.895
And so we're going to go back to our foundational scripture,
00:02:29.272 --> 00:02:32.946
which is found in Ephesians chapter 6, 10 through 18.
00:02:33.202 --> 00:02:38.212
I found a new translation I want to read. It's titled the CEV Translation.
00:02:38.345 --> 00:02:42.651
Finally, it says the fight against evil. Finally, let the mighty strength of
00:02:42.651 --> 00:02:44.255
the Lord make you strong.
00:02:44.539 --> 00:02:50.994
Put on all the armor that God gives so you can defend yourself against the devil tricks.
00:02:51.261 --> 00:02:53.037
We are not fighting against humans.
00:02:53.351 --> 00:02:58.001
We are fighting against forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness
00:02:58.001 --> 00:03:00.300
and powers in the spiritual world.
00:03:00.590 --> 00:03:05.901
So put on all the armor that God gives. Then when the evil day comes,
00:03:05.901 --> 00:03:07.910
you will be able to defend yourself.
00:03:08.189 --> 00:03:12.367
And when the battle is over, you will still be standing firm.
00:03:12.553 --> 00:03:16.250
Be ready. Let the truth be like a belt around your waist.
00:03:16.616 --> 00:03:20.163
Let God's justice protect you like armor.
00:03:20.488 --> 00:03:25.817
Your desire to tell the good news about peace should be like shoes on your feet.
00:03:26.160 --> 00:03:30.891
Let your faith be like a shield and you will be able to stop all the fiery darts
00:03:30.891 --> 00:03:34.838
of the evil ones. Let God's saving power be like a helmet, and for a sword,
00:03:35.140 --> 00:03:38.199
use God's message that comes from the Spirit.
00:03:38.704 --> 00:03:41.572
Never stop praying, especially for others.
00:03:42.083 --> 00:03:48.404
Always pray in the power of the Spirit. Stay alert and keep praying for God's people.
00:03:48.671 --> 00:03:54.674
So as we are getting dressed in our armor in the morning or in the evening, whatever you prefer.
00:03:55.414 --> 00:03:58.264
There's two things we have to remember. We have to remember to put it on,
00:03:58.583 --> 00:04:01.381
but we close it out with prayer for others.
00:04:01.619 --> 00:04:03.599
We pray for ourself. We're protected.
00:04:03.906 --> 00:04:10.111
We need to pray that same protection for others and for those who may be battling what you're battling.
00:04:10.378 --> 00:04:14.339
And you know, a lot of times when we get into our sicknesses and some illness
00:04:14.339 --> 00:04:19.059
or pains and gains and traumas and dramas in our lives, we keep thinking that
00:04:19.059 --> 00:04:20.670
we're the only one going through this.
00:04:20.914 --> 00:04:25.479
We have to begin to, as we're suffering, as we're going through whatever issue
00:04:25.479 --> 00:04:30.358
that may be coming up for that particular day, that we should, as we put on our armor,
00:04:30.939 --> 00:04:36.639
after we get fully protected on our armor, like when we're taking a plane ride
00:04:37.011 --> 00:04:41.649
and they said, first you put on your oxygen mask and then you put on the other
00:04:41.649 --> 00:04:45.898
person's oxygen mask, that's the same way you do when you put on your armor.
00:04:46.183 --> 00:04:51.019
You put on your armor, and then you pray for others who may have forgotten theirs.
00:04:51.019 --> 00:04:54.170
And maybe that triggers something, and maybe that saves their lives.
00:04:54.455 --> 00:04:57.682
But then you won't know until you get to heaven that this is happening.
00:04:57.955 --> 00:04:59.552
You know, isn't that powerful?
00:04:59.871 --> 00:05:04.669
So let's not be selfish in this game. We're going to learn how to stand,
00:05:04.669 --> 00:05:08.699
but we're going to pray for those who may not be struggling or may be going
00:05:08.699 --> 00:05:11.265
through the same thing that we're going through today.
00:05:11.677 --> 00:05:14.459
Like we're still on our water break. I know some people don't like the water
00:05:14.459 --> 00:05:18.055
breaks. Maybe it's too long, but going to do what God told me to do.
00:05:18.606 --> 00:05:23.192
Because as we continue to go in deeper into our Bible history on mass,
00:05:23.506 --> 00:05:26.913
some things might come, might affect your heart. Some things might come,
00:05:27.134 --> 00:05:28.986
might affect what you believe, your truth.
00:05:29.253 --> 00:05:31.935
Maybe your gospel, maybe it messes with your peace.
00:05:32.219 --> 00:05:35.911
Maybe it starts messing with your mind, you know, or your faith.
00:05:36.225 --> 00:05:42.471
Maybe the sword of the Spirit might be not sharp enough to handle what's next. I don't know.
00:05:42.918 --> 00:05:47.033
I don't know. But we have to be prepared for what God has for us, right?
00:05:47.312 --> 00:05:51.068
And so, just like we always do, I give you this water break moment.
00:05:51.445 --> 00:05:55.131
This is a moment to pause, to reset, to take a spiritual water break,
00:05:55.428 --> 00:06:00.669
and to receive a little encouragement to help you keep going and finishing strong.
00:06:00.942 --> 00:06:05.967
So far in our series, we have learned that Paul is not simply teaching us how to get dressed.
00:06:06.188 --> 00:06:11.017
He is teaching us how to stand. First comes truth and righteousness,
00:06:11.255 --> 00:06:14.413
and now Paul moves to the feet in Ephesians 6.15.
00:06:14.605 --> 00:06:18.401
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.
00:06:18.616 --> 00:06:23.527
This is a powerful choice because Paul is talking about spiritual warfare,
00:06:23.852 --> 00:06:29.019
conflict, opposition, and the evil day, the wiles of the devil, fiery darts.
00:06:29.135 --> 00:06:33.535
In the middle of it all, he puts on the peace on your feet.
00:06:33.790 --> 00:06:40.222
Why? Because before you can stand in a battle, you need to know what you are standing on.
00:06:40.565 --> 00:06:43.708
So I want to take a pause on this because this morning in prayer,
00:06:43.708 --> 00:06:47.588
The Lord showed me something, you know, and it was, it's found.
00:06:47.588 --> 00:06:52.368
And I just want to just take a little, little side trick because a little side
00:06:52.368 --> 00:06:55.018
trip and go to me with John 15.
00:06:55.018 --> 00:06:58.334
I want to use the SCV version. We'll see Matthew, Mark, Luke,
00:06:58.578 --> 00:07:03.818
John, and go to 15. Just a side note. And it says here.
00:07:04.357 --> 00:07:07.867
And remember, we're getting dressed for armor. We're getting dressed for war
00:07:07.867 --> 00:07:11.037
because we're in a spiritual world, whether you seem like it or not.
00:07:11.037 --> 00:07:17.059
But what God said to me, he says, I don't want my fruit to rot on the vine.
00:07:17.314 --> 00:07:22.283
And so many of us wonder why we're going through the ups and downs and all around,
00:07:22.579 --> 00:07:26.265
because God is purging you for something bigger.
00:07:26.608 --> 00:07:31.263
And some of the things that he is cutting off from you, you won't need anymore.
00:07:31.513 --> 00:07:35.698
And what he said was, don't let your fruit rot on the vine.
00:07:36.082 --> 00:07:41.056
We see here in John 15, it says, Jesus is a true vine. Jesus said to his disciples,
00:07:41.347 --> 00:07:44.400
I am a true vine and my father is a gardener.
00:07:44.772 --> 00:07:48.249
He cuts away every branch of mine that doesn't produce fruit,
00:07:48.452 --> 00:07:54.983
but he trims clean every branch that does produce fruit so that it will produce even more fruit.
00:07:55.267 --> 00:08:00.699
You are already clean because of what I have said to you. Stay joined to me.
00:08:01.400 --> 00:08:03.054
And I will stay joined to you.
00:08:03.339 --> 00:08:07.454
Just as a branch cannot produce fruit unless it stays joined to the vine,
00:08:07.617 --> 00:08:10.879
you cannot produce fruit unless you stay joined to me.
00:08:11.199 --> 00:08:13.817
I am the vine, and you are the branches.
00:08:14.217 --> 00:08:19.691
You stay joined to me, I will stay joined to you. Then you will produce a loss of fruit.
00:08:20.016 --> 00:08:26.861
But you cannot do anything without me. If you don't stay joined to me, you will be thrown away.
00:08:27.203 --> 00:08:29.955
You'll be like dry branches that are gathered up,
00:08:30.489 --> 00:08:36.294
and burned in fire. Stay joined to me and let my teachings become part of you.
00:08:36.596 --> 00:08:40.456
Then you can pray for whatever you want and your prayers will be answered.
00:08:40.822 --> 00:08:45.384
When you become fruitful disciples of mine, my father will be honored.
00:08:45.657 --> 00:08:48.461
I have loved you just as my father has loved me.
00:08:48.815 --> 00:08:53.639
So remain faithful in my love for you. If you obey me, I will keep loving you
00:08:53.929 --> 00:08:57.968
just as my father keeps loving me because I have obeyed him.
00:08:58.183 --> 00:09:01.911
One word that keeps coming up in this is the word stay joined,
00:09:01.911 --> 00:09:03.367
stay joined, stay joined.
00:09:03.680 --> 00:09:08.301
And I want you that once you stay joined with God, your matter.
00:09:08.899 --> 00:09:14.791
Your fruit grows, but also your armor has more shine, more sparkle in the spirit realm.
00:09:15.070 --> 00:09:22.101
You cannot do the armor of God without God. So don't let the fruit rot on the vine.
00:09:22.501 --> 00:09:26.961
Don't be perpetrating. Don't act like you're doing it Because when the real
00:09:26.961 --> 00:09:30.772
fights come, you understand that it's a protection.
00:09:31.022 --> 00:09:35.831
I don't know about you, before we get into the feet, is that when things,
00:09:35.831 --> 00:09:39.441
like every week is something different, challenging, and I don't share on my business.
00:09:39.441 --> 00:09:42.527
But you come up with something, you think you've mastered something,
00:09:42.823 --> 00:09:46.219
and then something gets kicked back. You know how we work in a business.
00:09:46.556 --> 00:09:50.260
It gets kicked back. You got to redo it. And you wonder, like, why I redo it?
00:09:50.701 --> 00:09:55.401
But there's so many times that offense can come where you think that you are
00:09:55.401 --> 00:09:58.321
already in this, you already mastered something.
00:09:59.378 --> 00:10:03.801
But God said, you haven't mastered it yet because you've heard the arm of God
00:10:03.801 --> 00:10:05.971
a million times, but you ain't using it.
00:10:06.292 --> 00:10:10.281
That's why God brought it up. You're not using it. And so God wants you to be,
00:10:10.761 --> 00:10:13.502
ready, prepared, and don't let your fruit,
00:10:14.291 --> 00:10:21.117
rot on the vine. Another thing he mentioned to me, let's go to 2 Timothy 2.15.
00:10:21.240 --> 00:10:22.522
I think it's 2.15.
00:10:22.736 --> 00:10:26.104
It says, approved worker, don't let anyone forget these things.
00:10:26.406 --> 00:10:30.818
And with God as your witness, you must be warned them not to argue about words.
00:10:31.160 --> 00:10:36.337
That's not the translation I want to use. It's about study to show yourself approved.
00:10:36.605 --> 00:10:41.574
You want to study to show yourself approved unto God.
00:10:41.847 --> 00:10:45.916
But he was showing me that as you stay to show yourself approved,
00:10:46.300 --> 00:10:51.883
you're not just showing yourself approved unto God, but also it does something inside of you.
00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:56.297
When you're not offended by everything, when you take everything as a training
00:10:56.297 --> 00:10:59.991
ground, we are on training ground. As long as we're still alive and breathing,
00:11:00.293 --> 00:11:02.575
there's still more to learn.
00:11:02.940 --> 00:11:06.528
I want to read this and we'll get back to the topic. An approved worker, worker.
00:11:07.278 --> 00:11:12.027
It says, work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval.
00:11:12.340 --> 00:11:17.045
Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed, and one who correctly
00:11:17.045 --> 00:11:19.515
explains the word of truth.
00:11:19.659 --> 00:11:26.098
Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior.
00:11:26.376 --> 00:11:30.925
So as we're talking about that, I took a side note, but I want you to know,
00:11:30.925 --> 00:11:33.540
don't let your fruit rot on the vine.
00:11:33.964 --> 00:11:38.135
I mean, don't let that vest just become so routine that you forget to put it
00:11:38.135 --> 00:11:42.085
on or you just assume it's on because you're saying it's spiritual, it stays on.
00:11:42.085 --> 00:11:45.605
The point of putting it on, it reminds you that you're standing not in your
00:11:45.605 --> 00:11:50.792
own will, but you're standing in God's will. You're protected by God.
00:11:51.210 --> 00:11:55.925
It's a stand with God, right? Not stand on your own. So don't let that get so
00:11:55.925 --> 00:11:59.021
routine. And also study to show yourself approved.
00:11:59.352 --> 00:12:03.445
True. I gave you one form of revelation of what the vest means to me and the,
00:12:03.898 --> 00:12:05.546
truth and armor means to me.
00:12:05.802 --> 00:12:11.276
But there's probably much more that can fit into your vocabulary, into what you need.
00:12:11.566 --> 00:12:16.165
As a police officer, all this stuff is just so fresh to me because you put on
00:12:16.165 --> 00:12:19.954
your belt. You've got your duty belt. You got on your bulletproof vest.
00:12:20.245 --> 00:12:24.985
You have to wear different shoes to work in policing because you're always on
00:12:24.985 --> 00:12:26.514
different types of surfaces.
00:12:26.711 --> 00:12:32.679
So a good, solid, comfortable, leather, waterproof boot is good for you.
00:12:33.084 --> 00:12:37.534
A nice one where you keep it, it's able to hold it shine, but also you're not
00:12:37.534 --> 00:12:42.477
going to slip and fall on different surfaces when you walk into different houses and everything.
00:12:42.819 --> 00:12:46.894
And so today the feet matter because the feet is what keeps you stable.
00:12:47.219 --> 00:12:50.254
And you know, ladies, you got your heels on and it's icy out.
00:12:50.504 --> 00:12:54.644
That's not a good time to put on those pumps. Am I right? Or any type of shoe
00:12:54.644 --> 00:12:58.555
that's going to have a slippery bottom, you're going to fall and you're going to hurt yourself.
00:12:58.851 --> 00:13:02.754
And so when God tells us that we have to put on peace, because why?
00:13:02.754 --> 00:13:07.065
We want to be able to stand and therefore stand and then stand some more.
00:13:07.234 --> 00:13:09.939
So our feet is our stability.
00:13:10.252 --> 00:13:15.814
Why the feet matter? Because it's our stability. You can have strength in your
00:13:15.814 --> 00:13:17.973
arms and armor on your chest.
00:13:18.257 --> 00:13:23.174
You got protection on your head, but if your footing's unstable, you can still fall.
00:13:23.528 --> 00:13:27.754
That's why peace belongs on the feet. Peace gives you stability.
00:13:28.097 --> 00:13:33.670
Peace gives you balance. Peace helps keep you from reacting to every attack. Come on now, people.
00:13:34.035 --> 00:13:37.944
You don't have to respond when things don't look well. You have to say,
00:13:37.944 --> 00:13:40.757
I don't like doing this. You don't have to say anything.
00:13:41.036 --> 00:13:45.599
You just let peace do the work. Peace keeps you from reacting to every attack.
00:13:45.901 --> 00:13:49.168
Peace keeps you from being pushed around by every emotion.
00:13:49.504 --> 00:13:52.529
Peace helps you stand when everything around you feel uncertain.
00:13:52.854 --> 00:13:55.524
And this is not just peace as a feeling.
00:13:55.878 --> 00:14:01.631
Paul says the preparation of the gospel of peace. So this peace comes from where?
00:14:01.892 --> 00:14:07.854
It begins with God. Before we can talk about peace and difficult circumstances.
00:14:08.220 --> 00:14:15.023
We must understand something deeper. The gospel first gives us peace with God.
00:14:15.151 --> 00:14:20.890
Romans 5.1 says, therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God
00:14:20.890 --> 00:14:22.453
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
00:14:22.610 --> 00:14:26.192
That means the deepest form of peace is not the absence of problems.
00:14:26.511 --> 00:14:28.514
It's the reconciliation with God.
00:14:28.874 --> 00:14:32.612
Before Christ, sin separated humanity from God.
00:14:32.960 --> 00:14:37.210
But through Jesus, that relationship can and it was restored.
00:14:37.430 --> 00:14:40.704
So Paul puts the gospel of peace on your feet.
00:14:40.948 --> 00:14:46.120
He's reminding us before you face what is against you, know where you stand with God.
00:14:46.369 --> 00:14:50.900
That is your footing. Not whether everybody likes you, not when everything's
00:14:50.900 --> 00:14:56.893
going your way, not whether you got the answer yet, not whether the situation makes sense.
00:14:57.102 --> 00:15:01.479
Your footing is this. I have peace with God through Jesus Christ.
00:15:01.595 --> 00:15:03.690
Peace is not the absence of trouble.
00:15:04.010 --> 00:15:08.300
Sometimes we think peace means nothing is wrong. Everything is calm.
00:15:08.561 --> 00:15:13.600
Everybody's getting along. The bills are paid. The family is fine. The job is secure.
00:15:14.650 --> 00:15:18.621
The report came back good. The door is open. You got the job.
00:15:18.970 --> 00:15:24.978
The prayer was answered. But biblical peace is deeper than favorable circumstances.
00:15:25.297 --> 00:15:30.957
Because Jesus said in John 14, 27. He says this, peace I leave with you,
00:15:31.259 --> 00:15:36.536
my peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth, giveth I unto you.
00:15:36.791 --> 00:15:41.818
He says, let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
00:15:41.986 --> 00:15:47.320
We think it comes from our head, but it looks like it comes from the stability in what you believe.
00:15:47.882 --> 00:15:50.367
Is the gospel really what you believe?
00:15:50.964 --> 00:15:54.169
Jesus was not promising that his disciples would not have trouble.
00:15:54.407 --> 00:15:57.536
He was giving them peace that they could survive trouble.
00:15:57.797 --> 00:16:02.511
That is the difference. The world often gives us peace when everything is going well.
00:16:02.737 --> 00:16:06.763
Jesus gives us peace in the middle of what is not going well.
00:16:06.763 --> 00:16:09.802
Peace comes after righteousness. So we had our belt of truth.
00:16:10.196 --> 00:16:11.955
We have our righteousness above.
00:16:12.472 --> 00:16:19.659
Vest on, you know, our armor. And then we have peace. Once again, Paul orders matters.
00:16:19.937 --> 00:16:23.699
Truth came first, then righteousness, now peace. Why?
00:16:23.960 --> 00:16:27.060
Because peace built on a lie is not real peace.
00:16:27.211 --> 00:16:32.447
A peace while deliberately living against God's way is not spiritual stability.
00:16:32.784 --> 00:16:39.599
Truth establishes us. Righteousness aligns us. Then peace studies us. There is a progression.
00:16:39.877 --> 00:16:43.939
I know what God says. I believe my life. I bring my life into alignment with
00:16:43.939 --> 00:16:48.862
what God says. Now I can stand with peace because I know that I'm standing with him.
00:16:49.129 --> 00:16:53.657
Peace comes from, peace keeps you from fighting in panic. I love that.
00:16:53.924 --> 00:16:57.699
This may be one of the most practical parts of the spiritual warfare.
00:16:57.699 --> 00:17:00.745
Not every attack needs an immediate response.
00:17:01.088 --> 00:17:03.189
Not every accusation needs your answer.
00:17:03.555 --> 00:17:08.959
Not every misunderstanding needs you to be corrected today. Not every door needs to be forced open.
00:17:09.296 --> 00:17:13.586
Not every problem needs to be solved in the next five minutes. Hello, ladies.
00:17:14.004 --> 00:17:18.793
Sometimes the enemy cannot make you abandon God, but he tries to make you panic
00:17:19.118 --> 00:17:24.940
because panic can cause you to make decisions that you will not make in peace.
00:17:25.207 --> 00:17:27.222
Panic says, do something now.
00:17:27.500 --> 00:17:31.939
Say something now. Fix it now. Force it now. Run now. Quit now.
00:17:31.939 --> 00:17:36.434
Retaliate now. But peace says, I can wait long going to hear God.
00:17:36.614 --> 00:17:39.179
Now that's powerful. Israel and the Red Sea.
00:17:39.519 --> 00:17:44.219
So when we think about the panic, the Israelites were always in some type of
00:17:44.219 --> 00:17:49.848
form of panic, but especially when God was rescuing them. And let's look at this in Exodus 14.
00:17:50.847 --> 00:17:56.268
Israel had Pharaoh behind them and the Red Sea in front of them. They panicked. But God,
00:17:56.716 --> 00:18:03.717
Moses told them in Exodus 14, 13, fear ye not, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.
00:18:04.013 --> 00:18:09.145
Then verse 14 says, your Lord should fight for you and ye shall hold your peace.
00:18:09.389 --> 00:18:12.111
This is a connection between standing and peace.
00:18:12.390 --> 00:18:17.576
They do not need to panic. You don't need to panic on their way into deliverance.
00:18:17.576 --> 00:18:19.089
They need to walk in calmness.
00:18:19.356 --> 00:18:23.205
They need to trust God who had already brought them that far.
00:18:24.046 --> 00:18:28.139
And somebody listening today needs that reminder. I need that reminder.
00:18:28.267 --> 00:18:31.221
You do not have to panic your way into your next season.
00:18:31.610 --> 00:18:35.876
Do not have to force what God has promised. Do not have to manipulate an outcome
00:18:35.876 --> 00:18:38.414
because you're afraid God will forget you.
00:18:38.669 --> 00:18:41.977
Sometimes peace says, God knows where I am.
00:18:42.331 --> 00:18:49.146
God knows what I need. God knows what he promised. And I do not have to destroy my peace to get,
00:18:49.802 --> 00:18:53.291
to do God's job. Gospel of peace makes you ready.
00:18:53.430 --> 00:18:58.498
The word preparation in Ephesians 6, 15 also carries the idea of readiness.
00:18:58.782 --> 00:19:00.709
Peace does not make you passive.
00:19:01.005 --> 00:19:03.269
It makes you ready. There's a difference.
00:19:03.815 --> 00:19:09.212
You know, when you are grounded in the gospel, you are not constantly trying
00:19:09.212 --> 00:19:10.990
to figure out whether God loves you.
00:19:11.362 --> 00:19:15.732
You're not constantly wondering whether you belong to him. You're not constantly
00:19:15.732 --> 00:19:19.367
trying to learn what Christ has already provided.
00:19:20.172 --> 00:19:24.912
You are ready to move when God says move. The ready and ready to remain still,
00:19:24.912 --> 00:19:28.422
if he tells you to stay still, that's a spiritual stability.
00:19:28.724 --> 00:19:32.648
Peace guards you too. In Philippians 4, 17, it's a guard.
00:19:32.921 --> 00:19:37.802
Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving,
00:19:38.110 --> 00:19:40.618
let your requests be known unto God.
00:19:40.890 --> 00:19:46.042
And then the peace of God, which passes all understanding to keep your heart
00:19:46.042 --> 00:19:48.025
and mind through Christ Jesus.
00:19:48.286 --> 00:19:54.747
Notice that word keep. God's peace guards, it protects. It watches over your heart and mind.
00:19:55.008 --> 00:19:58.764
That means peace is not weakness. Peace can be protection.
00:19:59.118 --> 00:20:03.896
When anxiety says everything is gonna fall apart, peace says God is still present.
00:20:04.221 --> 00:20:09.062
When fear says you need to control everything, peace says God is still sovereign.
00:20:09.358 --> 00:20:11.558
When people pressure you to react.
00:20:11.953 --> 00:20:15.478
Peace says, I do not have to move until God gives me direction.
00:20:15.478 --> 00:20:18.060
Peace does not mean avoiding conflict.
00:20:18.414 --> 00:20:20.518
We also need to make that clear.
00:20:20.898 --> 00:20:25.165
Because a person of peace does not mean you never confront anything.
00:20:25.415 --> 00:20:30.407
It does not mean you never set boundaries. It never means that you can tolerate wrongdoing.
00:20:30.668 --> 00:20:34.116
It does not mean you avoid every hard conversation.
00:20:34.447 --> 00:20:38.878
Jesus was the press of peace, and he still confronts hypocrisy.
00:20:38.878 --> 00:20:41.378
He corrects people. He challenges injustice.
00:20:41.678 --> 00:20:46.670
He speaks truth. He tells the truth. Biblical peace is not pretending everything's okay.
00:20:46.873 --> 00:20:52.148
It's being so secure in God. Even when you must confront something,
00:20:52.148 --> 00:20:55.831
you do not need to have to lose yourself in the process.
00:20:56.005 --> 00:20:59.726
You can speak truth without hatred, set boundaries without revenge,
00:20:59.882 --> 00:21:07.110
walk away without bitterness, say no without guilt, confront wrong without becoming consumed by anger.
00:21:07.388 --> 00:21:09.928
This is peace. God talks to us
00:21:09.928 --> 00:21:14.058
about having beautiful feet. And this is another language of this image.
00:21:14.348 --> 00:21:19.568
Isaiah 52, 7 says, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who
00:21:19.568 --> 00:21:23.311
brings good tiding that publishes peace.
00:21:23.532 --> 00:21:27.305
Paul echoes a similar language in Romans 10, 15.
00:21:27.584 --> 00:21:34.647
So these It's so, these shoes are about standing. And what does Romans 10, 15 tells us?
00:21:34.845 --> 00:21:41.416
Let's find out that God says it's about standing, standing, and therefore stand,
00:21:41.677 --> 00:21:46.507
Romans 10, 15. And how would everyone know and to tell them without being sent?
00:21:46.867 --> 00:21:53.392
And this is why the scripture says, how beautiful are the feet of the messengers who bring good news.
00:21:53.531 --> 00:21:55.563
They are also about carrying the gospel.
00:21:55.894 --> 00:21:59.162
You are standing at peace, but you're also preparing to bring peace.
00:21:59.562 --> 00:22:02.796
That means you should not walk into every room carrying chaos.
00:22:03.167 --> 00:22:06.395
You should not spread gossip. You should not spread division.
00:22:06.575 --> 00:22:10.921
If your feet are prepared with the gospel of peace, there should be something
00:22:10.921 --> 00:22:15.321
about your presence that reflects the one who sent you. So what are your feet
00:22:15.321 --> 00:22:17.751
standing on? This is where it gets personal.
00:22:18.131 --> 00:22:20.781
Some of us are trying to stand on things that cannot hold us.
00:22:20.781 --> 00:22:24.841
Approval, a title, a relationship, money, people's opinions,
00:22:24.841 --> 00:22:26.793
a job, a plan, a certain outcome.
00:22:27.055 --> 00:22:29.586
And then those things move and we move too.
00:22:29.888 --> 00:22:32.470
But God is trying to give us another foundation.
00:22:32.818 --> 00:22:39.029
The gospel says you are loved in Christ. You are reconciled to God.
00:22:39.851 --> 00:22:43.400
You have access to the Father. You are not abandoned.
00:22:44.291 --> 00:22:47.348
Your identity does not rise and fall with the people's opinion.
00:22:47.644 --> 00:22:54.685
Your future is not held together by one person or one opportunity that is stable ground.
00:22:54.987 --> 00:22:58.929
Think about that. when you know whose you are, you're not moved.
00:22:59.039 --> 00:23:00.984
You are not moved by what you see.
00:23:01.367 --> 00:23:05.111
You're not moved by what you hear. You're not in panic when things go awry.
00:23:05.407 --> 00:23:08.907
You know, I always teach this in my re-entry courses is, hey,
00:23:09.093 --> 00:23:11.537
always have a plan A. That's great.
00:23:11.885 --> 00:23:15.771
A plan B, that's even better. When people stop there, have a plan C,
00:23:16.251 --> 00:23:21.821
D, E, F, G, all the way to the end of the alphabet, it because God is not in
00:23:21.821 --> 00:23:26.880
panic mode and he will give you a plan if you would just listen, right?
00:23:27.147 --> 00:23:32.074
So take a spiritual water break and ask yourself, what has been disturbing my peace?
00:23:32.265 --> 00:23:36.393
And then ask something deeper. Why does it have that much power over me?
00:23:36.619 --> 00:23:39.631
Is my peace tied to an outcome? Wow.
00:23:40.011 --> 00:23:44.700
A person, a job, an answer, a deadline, a relationship, something I cannot control.
00:23:45.019 --> 00:23:46.940
Then bring yourself back to the gospel.
00:23:47.696 --> 00:23:50.970
Before anything else is settled, this is already settled.
00:23:51.324 --> 00:23:55.167
You are in Christ. You have peace with God. Start there.
00:23:55.376 --> 00:24:00.659
Plant your feet there. Because the enemy will love for you to become so unsettled
00:24:00.763 --> 00:24:06.046
by what is happening around you that you forget that there has already been
00:24:06.046 --> 00:24:07.880
settled between you and God.
00:24:08.153 --> 00:24:12.816
Don't let temporary chaos remove from your eternal peace. And that is why I
00:24:12.816 --> 00:24:14.701
titled this, Peace is Your Footing.
00:24:15.003 --> 00:24:17.366
Choose for an unstable word.
00:24:17.746 --> 00:24:21.911
Unstable world. I want to just take a pause here and give you more encouragement.
00:24:22.172 --> 00:24:26.456
Many of us are stepping out on faith like we've never done before.
00:24:26.712 --> 00:24:32.156
But as we step out on faith, we still have this kind of old habit of always
00:24:32.156 --> 00:24:34.796
checking and following up and see what God is up to.
00:24:34.796 --> 00:24:38.946
What I mean by that is God might have told you to apply for this position.
00:24:38.946 --> 00:24:44.352
He might have told you to do something and you're still waiting for that outcome to happen.
00:24:44.624 --> 00:24:49.186
And so God, I was at a dream and I woke up and the Lord was saying,
00:24:49.186 --> 00:24:52.994
Connie, I'm going to take you there, but in my timing.
00:24:53.257 --> 00:24:56.756
So I don't need you to keep, you know, checking on the application,
00:24:56.756 --> 00:25:02.556
checking on the status. You know, I just need you to just live your life and I take care of the rest.
00:25:02.759 --> 00:25:07.582
If I told you to do something, then allow me to take care of it. Amen.
00:25:07.932 --> 00:25:12.831
So B-Sales County, I want you to give $100 and then he promised you a hundred
00:25:13.103 --> 00:25:16.366
full return and you keep checking the bank account every day,
00:25:16.666 --> 00:25:18.822
when God win, where is the faith?
00:25:19.048 --> 00:25:22.003
God said, I was going to do that for you.
00:25:22.171 --> 00:25:26.476
And you're still, you're saying you're in faith, but your action shows you're
00:25:26.476 --> 00:25:28.206
in doubt. That's a good one.
00:25:28.740 --> 00:25:32.846
And so God wants us not to walk in doubt. He wants us not to trust by our own
00:25:32.846 --> 00:25:36.194
understanding. He wants us to put on our gospel.
00:25:36.758 --> 00:25:40.781
Peace and he wants us to stand firm in what he has already told you.
00:25:41.094 --> 00:25:45.410
You got to read your prayer notes again. Read them again. You got to take it
00:25:45.410 --> 00:25:48.676
and expand it and find scripture to support it. Do it again.
00:25:48.966 --> 00:25:56.501
But remember, whatever God says, his word says, it will not return void or without or empty handed.
00:25:56.814 --> 00:26:00.204
It will not return empty handed. So we have to trust that.
00:26:01.040 --> 00:26:04.912
I want you to understand that we are not standing because our environment is stable.
00:26:05.446 --> 00:26:08.703
You are standing because your relationship with God is secure in Christ.
00:26:08.883 --> 00:26:13.649
And sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do in the middle of a battle is refuse to panic.
00:26:14.328 --> 00:26:18.805
I was preaching to myself, stand, pray, listen, and trust, and keep your feet
00:26:18.805 --> 00:26:20.493
planted in the gospel of peace.
00:26:21.015 --> 00:26:25.695
In our next episode, the attack becomes even more visible. Paul says,
00:26:25.695 --> 00:26:27.870
above all, take the shield of faith.
00:26:28.299 --> 00:26:32.665
Because once your feet are planted, you need to be ready for what's coming towards you.
00:26:32.972 --> 00:26:37.007
And that's the fairy darts. And that's where faith becomes your shield.
00:26:37.256 --> 00:26:42.388
Let's pray. Father, in the name of Jesus, thank you for the peace that comes through Jesus Christ.
00:26:42.684 --> 00:26:47.090
Thank you for our peace does not have to depend on perfect circumstances.
00:26:47.357 --> 00:26:51.815
Trust us. Trust us. Teach us to trust us where you plant our feet.
00:26:52.164 --> 00:26:54.311
When fear tells us to panic, help us to stand.
00:26:54.706 --> 00:26:59.646
When anxiety tells us to control everything, remind us that you are still God.
00:26:59.954 --> 00:27:08.336
When pressure tells us to react too quickly, give us enough peace to hear your voice before we move.
00:27:08.557 --> 00:27:13.015
Show us where we have tied our peace to people, outcomes, title,
00:27:13.015 --> 00:27:14.623
relationships, or circumstances.
00:27:14.925 --> 00:27:16.829
Bring us back to the gospel.
00:27:17.148 --> 00:27:20.538
Remind us that through Jesus Christ, we have peace with you.
00:27:20.765 --> 00:27:22.233
Let your peace guide our hearts.
00:27:22.512 --> 00:27:27.695
Let your peace guide our minds. Help us to carry peace into the places where you send us.
00:27:27.962 --> 00:27:33.155
And when everything around us feels unstable, keep our feet firmly planted in
00:27:33.515 --> 00:27:35.810
you. In Jesus' name, amen.
00:27:35.949 --> 00:27:40.286
This has been the Diary of a Black Woman podcast I'm your host Connie Morris.
00:27:40.744 --> 00:27:46.555
And I'll see you on the next episode Of the Diary of a Black Woman podcast Goodbye.
00:27:51.557 --> 00:27:56.439
Thank you for tuning in to the Morris Perspective Podcast with your host, Connie Morris.
00:27:56.706 --> 00:28:01.468
And if this episode made you think, made you pause, made you check the narratives
00:28:01.468 --> 00:28:07.068
that you have been believing, or maybe even look at an issue differently, don't stop here.
00:28:07.335 --> 00:28:11.253
There are more conversations waiting for you, episodes you may have missed,
00:28:11.590 --> 00:28:17.098
topics you may want to revisit, and discussions that continue to build on what
00:28:17.098 --> 00:28:18.481
we have talked about today.
00:28:18.620 --> 00:28:24.784
You can find them on my pod page. A pod page is simply the online home for my podcast.
00:28:25.133 --> 00:28:29.498
It's where you find all the episodes in one place. You can listen again,
00:28:29.684 --> 00:28:33.666
you can explore different topics, and you can share episodes with others.
00:28:33.981 --> 00:28:38.078
And most importantly, you can sign up for my newsletters.
00:28:38.240 --> 00:28:44.661
To get there, just click on the pod page link listed in this episode description. And yes, it is free.
00:28:45.080 --> 00:28:48.548
If you have any questions, episode ideas, or simply want to connect with me
00:28:48.548 --> 00:28:53.994
directly, email me at themorrisperspectivepodcast at gmail.com.
00:28:54.284 --> 00:28:59.648
Until then, stay empowered, stay in the know, and stay knowledgeable.
00:28:59.874 --> 00:29:04.675
Thank you for tuning in, and I'll see you on the next episode.