Archive
Where does joy come from?
We want joy in our life. We want peace.
Do we long for God? Does our heart yearn to know what God wants us to do today?
Then we will know joy and peace.
“God can not give us joy and peace apart from Himself cause there is no such thing.” -C.S. Lewis
Is my mind steadfast?
There is peace and then there is a peace that is complete, nothing lacking at all. It envelopes us, wrapping us in His gifts. I gain entrance with a mind that is focused on Him.
My trust in His direction keeps me safe and secure. No alarm system works like His love. Safe, secure, complete peace. That is His way.
May I stay focused on Him.
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3
Fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to God. Connecting with Him brings peace. Why worry?
Wisdom that is pure
There is a “real” wisdom. Not the way I usually think about it for sure. It is God’s wisdom. He created everything. He knows what is happening and why. His wisdom is completely perfect and pure. 
His wisdom has an interesting characteristic to it. It shows me how to get along with everyone. I know some interesting people who are not always reasonable. God’s wisdom isn’t that way. His wisdom is very gentle. His wisdom has so many blessings attached to it. I should focus on expanding relationships with those who live right with God and produce the results that go with that kind of living.
There is some hard work that goes with getting along with each other. Producing a harvest doesn’t happen by magic. The results of treating others with dignity and honor is an amazing right standing with my heavenly Father. It will overflow.
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. James 3:17-18
Related articles
- The Colours of the Church (brokenbelievers.com)
- A Walk Through Proverbs; The Reward of Wisdom (promisebook.net)
- by God’s wisdom and love… (thehandmaid.wordpress.com)
- “God’s Wisdom” (breakawaybylintrollins.wordpress.com)
How can I be a blessing to others?
We need to get back to using blessings when we greet people and leave. How powerful it is to be a blessing to others and speak a good word into their day.
Paul did this and frequently blessed others with
Grace – χάρις – meaning a gift or blessing brought to man by Jesus Christ, favor, gratitude, thanks, kindness.
Peace – εἰρήνη – meaning peace of mind; invocation of peace a common Jewish farewell, in the Hebraistic sense of the health (welfare) of an individual.
How powerful for us and those we know. May I great others with that blessing.
“So I greet you with the great words, grace and peace!” ~~Apostle Paul (Galatians 1:3 The Message)
Related articles
- Christ Paid Sin’s Price (anotherchristianblog.org)
- This Deadly Temptation (conmakhalira.wordpress.com)
- Sermon By Pastor E A Adeboye RCCG 60th Annual RCCG Convention. Come Up Higher – THAT I MAY KNOW HIM (bummyla.wordpress.com)
- More than just Sunday (mybelovedtheophilus.wordpress.com)
What will I lack?
We are asked to stand in awe of our mighty God. He is God. And there is a promise. If we do, we will lack nothing. Now this also requires that we go after Him. He is available to us but we have to go after Him. No sitting around and waiting. Jesus would go off and spend time by himself hearing and seeing what His Father was up to. Hearing and seeing what God wanted to happen.
We can also be taught how to stand in awe of Him. There are those people of God around us that have insight for us. They have prophetic words for us. They have words of wisdom for us. They see the way and can guide us
We need to tell the truth about God and His ways. Opportunities abound. The harvest of souls is ready. The worst lie is the unspoken truth about God being God, good and great. Opportunities abound!!!
Fear the LORD, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. Psalm 34:9-14
Related articles
- I Didn’t Do It Because I Feared God (scripturenuggets.wordpress.com)
- What Happened to Fearing God??? (standupstandfirm.wordpress.com)
- Pursue Fear? (gracesatisfies.wordpress.com)
- Gifts of God Within You (todaysfreshmanna.wordpress.com)
- Act With Integrity (loopyloo305.com)
Where does all my planning get me?
A friend sent me this quote. I have reading it over and over. Not sure who to attribute it to but thought it was worth sharing.
“You will not find My Peace by engaging in excessive planning: attempting to control what will happen to you in the future. This is a commonly practiced form of unbelief. When your mind spins with multiple plans, Peace may sometimes seem to be within your grasp; yet it always eludes you. Just when you think you have prepared for all possibilities, something unexpected pops up and throws things into confusion.
I did not design the human mind to figure out the future. That is beyond your capability. I crafted your mind for continual communication with Me. Bring Me all your needs your hopes and fears. Commit everything into My care. Turn from the path of planning to the path of Peace. “
The promise of rest if we believe. Don’t exasperate God!
Relax, God is in control. I keep hearing that from our Father. He promised a rest. That is His goal for us. This rest requires that we have faith in Him.
If we believe that nothing is impossible for God, that he loves us and has a great plan for us, we can be “at rest”. His peace isn’t easily understood but it is real. His rest is like no other.
There is only one requirement. We must believe.
For as long, then, as that promise of resting in him pulls us on to God’s goal for us, we need to be careful that we’re not disqualified. We received the same promises as those people in the wilderness, but the promises didn’t do them a bit of good because they didn’t receive the promises with faith. If we believe, though, we’ll experience that state of resting. But not if we don’t have faith. Remember that God said, Exasperated, I vowed, “They’ll never get where they’re going, never be able to sit down and rest.” Hebrews 4:1-3
What should I be thinking about?
How would Paul summarize things? Well, he would suggest that I fill my mind on some things that are positive. Not the power of positive thinking but something way beyond that. I need to practice these things. Peace will be mine if I do. There is a blessing attached to this.
Here are some ideas he suggests to me to think on and contemplate about:
- What is true
- What is so amazingly noble
- Who has a reputation for being Godly and who is authentic
- What is God compelling me to do in His power
- What do I know about God’s gracious nature
- The best that I have seen Jesus do
- Things that are so amazingly beautiful
- All I have to give thanks and praise for
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9
“The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists who are dedicated to justice, peace and brotherhood.” ~Martin Luther King, Jr.
“We must concentrate not merely on the negative expulsion of war but the postive affirmation of peace.” ~Martin Luther King, Jr.
Run after peace for all I am worth
I should go all out for it. Pursue it no matter what. Peace is from Him but I have to go for it. Don’t say things that hurt others. Cultivate the good in others. Go after the good. Ignore the evil. God approves this and listens to me in this context.
May I cultivate the good. May I go for peace no matter what. May my day fill up with good.
Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good, here’s what you do:
Say nothing evil or hurtful;
Snub evil and cultivate good;
run after peace for all you’re worth.
God looks on all this with approval,
listening and responding well to what he’s asked;
But he turns his back on those who do evil things.1 Peter 3:8-12
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” ~~Apostle Paul
I should be thankful and talk with God about everything. He is in charge. He loves me and has wonderful plans for me. Wow, that takes the pressure off and allows me to not be anxious. He ROCKS!!!
This is His path to peace for me. I don’t understand it for sure but it is true. He is guarding me. Leting Him be in charge guards my mind from my own plans which clearly leads to worry and fear.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! …. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-9
“Do not be anxious about anything.” ~~Apostle Paul
My part is to rejoice. God is so very good and He is always in this amazing mood. Jesus has a mission to bring Good News to me. Am I hearing bad news? It is a lie then. That is from my enemy Satan. So, I will rejoice at the good God is doing now.
I need to talk with my Father, ask Him for what I need, and be thankful in my conversations with Him. He knows what I need and will do more than I can imagine.
I don’t understand it, but as a result, His peace is mine. I can rest and relax. His peace is at attention in my heart. He is protecting me and the enemy can’t reach my heart.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-9
Special agents
God has a plan for us. Under His plan, we are special agents of Jesus. His assignments for us aren’t “normal”. They are special. Planned out just for us. How amazing is that?
Now that is some very good news for today. That brings some much needed grace and peace to our lives.
I, Paul, am under God’s plan as an apostle, a special agent of Christ Jesus, writing to you faithful believers in Ephesus. I greet you with the grace and peace poured into our lives by God our Father and our Master, Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:1-2
May I understand the role God has for me and serve as His special agent.
Not forced on us
Some things just aren’t forced on us. We can have it or we can not. Peace comes from knowing His love and doing what He wants. We have to let that kind of peace happen. Jesus has peace to offer us like we have never known. His peace can rule over any other emotions that we have.
The phone is ringing. A text has arrived. The email arrives “You have peace from Jesus” we hear. A tweet shows up on Twitter. It is Jesus calling us to peace.
For this peace, I am very thankful.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15
May I let His peace have precedence over any other emotion in my life.
I want to be a son
God is training me for my good. There are things He wants me to learn. Sometimes He needs to get my attention. I can be stubborn. No doubt about that. I do want righteousness and peace. It can be mine. I must be a son though.
The Peace and Strength of Jesus' Love
from writer Amy Carmichael…
If the praise of man elates me and his blame depresses me…
If I can not rest under misunderstanding without defending myself…
If I love to be loved more than to love, to be served more than to serve…
then I know nothing of Calvary Love.
What a good and great God we have: His love gives us more than enough strength and peace to meet the challenges of our lives and to love those around us.
Michael Wilson's Blog 