Knowing Him Daily

03.July.2025

Part 1: Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum – If You Want Peace, Prepare for War

Let’s get something straight, this war is real.

The enemy isn’t playing games. And neither should we. If we want peace, in our minds, our homes, our calling, we must prepare for war.

That’s why the Latin phrase “Si vis pacem, para bellum” caught my spirit.

Translation: “If you want peace, prepare for war.”

I first heard it quoted in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum by Winston, the manager of the Continental Hotel. (Yes, I watched it—and yes, I looked up what it meant. 😄) While the action genre isn’t normally my thing, I felt a strong prompting to watch. There was something God wanted to show me, and this line was it.

Turns out, the phrase comes from Vegetius, a Roman military strategist. His message was simple: if you truly want to preserve peace, you don’t wait for a fight, you train for it.

You can watch this video to see how the quote is used in John Wick Chapter 3: 

The concept isn’t just for movies. It’s biblical.

“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” ~1 Peter 5:8 (NLT)~

Let’s start here: Praise is not passive. Praise is war.

Every time you lift your hands or open your mouth, you’re not just singing a nice melody—you’re declaring war on the enemy. Even clapping is spiritual. It’s not just celebration; it’s confrontation. It breaks through heaviness. It commands attention. It rallies heaven’s army.

“Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand.” ~Psalm 149:6 (KJV)~

Praise confuses the enemy. Worship invites the presence of God. This is how we fight our battles.

In war, when the enemy upgrades his armor to resist normal fire, the soldier doesn’t panic—he upgrades his ammunition.

In the spirit, it’s the same. The enemy doesn’t come at you with new tricks. He’s not creative—just persistent. His armor is made of: lies, fear, pride, accusation, and temptation.

He’s been studying you. He’s after your weaknesses. But even though his tactics are old, if we’re untrained or unaware, we’ll still fall for them.

Here’s the truth: God didn’t leave us unarmed.

“We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.” ~2 Corinthians 10:4 (NLT)~

But weapons don’t win battles just by sitting in your lap. You have to know them, and you have to use them skillfully.

Think about it: nobody hands someone a loaded weapon and expects victory without training. If you don’t know how to aim, fire, or reload, you’re a danger to yourself. The same is true spiritually. We need to be trained in faith.

Are you fighting with spiritual weapons, or just hoping for peace to magically appear?

Are you prepared—or praying the battle skips you?

This isn’t about living scared. It’s about living prepared.

We don’t train for war because we love violence. We train because we love Him, and that victory was already won at the cross. We operate from a place of victory not to obtain it.

If you’ve never given your life to Jesus, or if you’ve walked away, trying to do life your own way-it’s not too late. He’s calling you back. He’s been waiting.

Return to Him today. Surrender your plans, your pain, and your past. He’s ready to restore, renew, and realign you with your divine purpose.

~ Dear Heavenly Father ~

Thank You for sending Jesus to die on the Cross just for me. I admit that I have sinned, and I repent. I ask You to forgive me. I believe that He died and rose again. Right now, I make Him the Lord of my life. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit. My sins are washed away, my past is forgiven, and my future is bright. Thank you for saving me. In Jesus’ Name Amen.

Make today count and see you tomorrow.