Our house saga continues. It has gotten worse, and the inconvenience is getting old. This actually is a great time to learn more about following Jesus. It’s easy to follow Him when things are as I would have them to be…Oh, happy day! But, not so much when things are disrupted or my feelings are screaming to be satisfied.
We often deal with the big things in life with amazing skill and calm. But, it’s the little things that get under our skin and build up that cause us turmoil and angst. Being Jesus left us His Peace, it is probably good for us to accept that living in peace is an important part of the Christian life. It is not a rule for us to follow…have peace or else! But, rather a gift to embrace…his peace he leaves with us, not as the world gives… The peace of God is better than what we personally know or possess.
The bottom line is, you and I are not going to have peace just because we want it. We are going to have peace when we opperate in the self-control of the Holy Spirit. Self control in this area is not letting negative emotions rule us. It is deciding, ” I am not going to let my peace be stolen” We must live in peace, ON PURPOSE.
Let me ask you a question that I have asked myself, Are you allowing other people in your life to steal your peace? Did you realize that some people have no peace in their own lives and we allow them to steal ours! We don’t need to let other people make us unhappy, grumpy and upset. If someone wants to be a grouch, judge us, or pick out every flaw we have, we can not stop them. But we can keep our peace and our joy in the Lord.
Jesus left peace, and then instructed…Let not your hearts be troubled….It’s time to make a decision to enjoy the life God has given us and live in peace.
This will mean we have to LET NOT:
- Not allowing every little thing to rock me emotionally
- Not giving power to people who insist on judging me or talking about me negatively
- Not being torn up if someone does not like me or approve of me, or doesn’t like the way I do things
- Not living to please people, but making decision to follow after God and please Him.
- Not treating people how they treat me, but treating them with the love of God according to Luke 6
- Not paying evil for evil, but choosing the peace of God by deciding to live in harmony
- Not giving into every whim of feeling, but making it a priority to trust God and focus on His faithfulness.
Again, In John 14:27, Jesus talks about leaving us his peace, now remember to pay attention that he instructed us in the next part of that verse, Do not let your hearts be troubled…
Is your heart troubled? Is there a relationship that needs to be addressed? A care that needs to be placed before God?An insecurity that needs to be healed?
It is time we stop allowing ourselves to be agitated and disturbed over every little thing, and do not permit ourselves to live in fear and intimadation, settling for staying upset. So when you start to get upset, remember that only one thing will put an end to it. You have to stop it. You have to get hold of yourself and say, “No, I am not getting upset” We can choose to get upset, and we can choose not to get upset. We often say, ” I can’t help it” but we can.
Proof? It’s amazing how we can act in control around someone we want to impress, or when we don’twant to look like a fool. We exhibit self control then. But, we often don’t control ourselves when we are around people we don’t care about impressing or are comfortable with. At those times we just don’t care, and we let the agitation get the best of us.
Today, get ahold of yourself, take your emotional self and give it over to God. Ask Him to teach you to walk in peace, while showing you the many things that rob you of living in peace. Start today by embracing the truth that God’s peace that was left to us is a gift. And, ask yourself the question, ” If God gave me peace as a gift, have I opened it and enjoyed this gift?” What would life be like if I did not get upset over every little thing but gave each one as they arose to God, claiming the truth of his provision to work all things out for my good and my growth?
Choosing peace by choosing trust,
Debbie
Thank you Debby for the reminder that Peace is a gift. I needed to be reminded of this, and how not to let my emotions get the best of me.
Bless you. You are such an encouragement.
Marissa
Thank you Debbie that was truly a blessing to read.
Our group has read Faith Dare and currently are reading A Different Kind of Wild – we ‘eat-it-up’.
You have no idea how much you’ve helped me grow in
my relationship to our wonderful Father.
I am stronger and more aware of my thoughts in handling everyday situations.
Peace truly is a gift, thank you for reminding me.
Love, deb 🙂
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Thank you so much for this motivating article! I have been in such a funk because I don’t know what to do with myself! So instead of being productive arltctisaily or doing plain house work, I just sit on the couch unable to do anything! This all changes tomorrow. I will sit at my computer and catch up editing, emails, and updates. Thanks again! you’re a rock star!Melissa C recently posted..[]