War and Peace

As I was driving with my kids to "Crazy Park" (the fitting name my kids gave to the old Roosevelt school park in town) this morning, I was struck by the quote on the Veteran's Memorial on Grand Avenue - the memorial I've driven by a hundred times:

To be prepared for war, is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.
(George Washington, from the First Annual Message to Congress, January 8, 1790...had to look that up!)

This quote struck me because it is very true of my own spiritual life. My heart is more at peace when I am prepared for war. When I am not prepared for war emotionally and spiritually and a battle breaks out, it catches me off guard and I am way more likely to worry, fear and not have peace. I am still learning to always be prepared for war.

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." Ephesians 6:10-18