"Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum."

While listening to the radio, the other day at work, I heard a quote that as a History major I have heard and read many times. I had even posted it on FaceBook the other day. The quote was "Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." which translated is "if you want peace, prepare for war" by Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus. So very true not only in real life but in our spiritual walk also!

As I sat thinking of this from a secular point of view I can remember many leaders, both civilian and military that knew this so well. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, General Ulysses S. Grant, General George Patton, President Ronald Reagan, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and many others. One leader that immediately came to mind was President Theodore Roosevelt. He stated the premise of Vegitius' quote in his famous saying "Talk softly and carry a big stick". While many consider
this view to be arrogant it has lead to many years of peace for the U.S. while walking the thin line between being prepared and not being prepared. There have been several times in our country's history that we have strayed from these concepts and as a result we as a nation were dragged into a war defending ourselves from aggressors that wanted what we or other freedom loving peoples had. It has been proven over and over throughout history that those that are prepared and willing to defend their freedom will have peace.

Not only do I feel this is important for our country today, I feel it is important to us in our spiritual walk also. It seems like every day the last several weeks I have been drug into a "war" by Satan and his attacks, at work, home, church and in the lives of my family. Some days I have been prepared and others I have not.

"If you want peace, prepare for war" is equally sound for our Christian walk. While we do not take up physical arms we are in a war, a spiritual war. Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:12 "12 For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens." As in one of my first blogs "Putting on the Armour" we have to "prepare for war" by prayer, studying God's word and trusting in the direction of the Holy Spirit. This is a winner take all, no holds barred fight that we are in, against Satan and his forces, and if we want peace, God's peace, then we must prepare for war. As Teddy probably told his Rough Riders as they prepared for war, "Saddle up!"