The Peace of Christ

 “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

“Paul tells us to let Christ’s peace be umpire or referee be in our hearts.  Our hearts are the center of conflict because there our feelings and desires clash - our fears and hopes, distrust and trust, jealousy and love.  How can we deal with constant conflicts and live as God wants?  Paul explains that we must decide between conflicting elements by using the rule of peace in our souls.”

~ Life Application Study Bible

Our Need For The Holy Spirit

 “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the

Father will send in my name, will teach 

you all things and remind you of everything

I have said to you.”

John 14:26

Almost twenty years ago, I knelt down next to my bed and prayed for more of the Holy Spirit.

I prayed for my ears to hear Him as my friend heard Him. If the Lord had more of Himself to give me, more gifts of the Holy Spirit, despite my fears, I wanted more. I knew people who walked with confidence and power in their faith. I wanted that, and from what I could tell, their confidence came from intimacy with the Spirit of God.

On that day, as I prayed fervently, I felt my ears begin to burn. I’m not sure it was answer to prayer or the intensity in which I prayed. But I knew this, as soon as I said, “Amen!” and got up from my knees, I noticed a direction from a voice within.

“Go get the clothes out of the dryer.”

I was a little disappointed. Was that my thought or God’s?

He Can Organize Your Day

It wasn’t anything grand, but I took that thought as His order, and that’s how I began my walk with the Holy Spirit. I began living a conversation with God, and no matter how trivial the instruction, I followed through (most of the time). I knew He was in the small details of my life as well as the big if I paid attention.

When I began to do this I discovered my day was better organized as I listened for cues and nudges from the divine. (Smile.) Practicing His Presence helped me hear His voice better. Now, I walk with confidence of His leading. But it took daily practice and trust. It took Faith.

We need the Holy Spirit.

The other day, I was reading through my One Year Bible, which is a great way to read the Bible through the year because you read a section of the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs.  Anyway, on that day I was finishing 2 Corinthians. I loved Paul’s closing. I know I’ve read it before, but this time it really jumped out to me. Not very many scriptures involve all three persons of God.

“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spiritbe with you all” (2 Cor. 13:14.)

Isn’t it beautiful?

How differently would we walk this journey if we did so fully aware of the grace of Jesus, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit?

~ wordsbyandylee.com

Fear Not

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

Isaiah 41:10 is a great example of the encouragement found within the book of Isaiah. The book of Isaiah is filled with so many countless encouraging verses, which all reflect on the power and love and providence of our Lord God.

In verse 10, there are several layers and parts that stand out to me, and that provide reassurance, hope, strength, and peace:

“Fear not, for I am with you”: God is always with us. He is with you, day and night, no matter what you’re going through. That’s a promise! I love in the first part of verse 10 how we are commanded to “Fear not,” because God is with us. What a promise! What an encouragement! We have no reason to fear, because God is with us.

“Be not dismayed, for I am your God”: Dismay is another word for distress, usually instigated by something unexpected. In Isaiah 41:10, we are encouraged to be not dismayed. Why? “for I am your God”. We serve the Living Christ, Who conquered death for us, so there is no reason to be dismayed. This is something I need to constantly remind myself of, especially when life throws curve balls my way.

“I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you”: God promises to provide us with strength, and with help. When you’re feeling like you can’t go on or you just don’t know how you’re going to get through the day, God will be right with you to provide you with the strength and help you need, to get through whatever you’re facing.

“I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”: God promises to uphold us. More than that, He promises to uphold us with His righteous right hand. That means, when you lose your footing, He’s going to be there to hold you up, if you’ll trust in Him. What I love about this verse, is that we are told God will uphold us with His righteous right hand. Righteous: Pure, virtuous, upstanding, ethical, honest. Regardless of your circumstances, God is righteous. And He will uphold you with His right hand. His right hand! Throughout scripture, God’s right hand is mentioned several times. Historically, to be put on someone’s right hand is to be held in equal honour. God’s right hand also symbolizes His power and His greatness.

Whatever you’re facing this week, remember Isaiah 41:10 and claim it for yourself!

~ hopereflected.com

 

Waiting Patiently

“Hear my prayer, Lord,

listen to my cry for help.”

Psalm 39:12

Maybe you’re struggling to believe that a brighter day can come for you. You’ve gotten used to feeling down and out, lonely, misunderstood, and heartbroken. But imagine for a minute that things can change for the better. Imagine how your heart would be glad! I invite you into David’s experience, which gives us hope that God hears our cries for help and is willing to meet us at our lowest point. Like David, we can find ourselves in a new day, with a song on our lips and rejoicing in our hearts.  

Pray

God, I want to be joyful. I want to believe that a new and brighter day can dawn for me. Help me believe.

~ Bible.com

God Will Take Of You

 22 Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

Psalm 55:22

God loves us with unconditional love, He forgives our transgressions, and He takes care of us. By faith and with prayer, give up your worries, burdens, and fears to God. During trials and temptation, He sustains and strengthens the faithful. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. Or as the Message translation says, “Pile your troubles on God’s shoulders – he’ll carry your load, he’ll help you out. He’ll never let good people topple into ruin.”

When burdened, fearful, or overwhelmed do you go in prayer to the Lord who cares for you?

Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, we thank you and praise You for Your compassion and love. Teach us to give You our worries, burdens, and to bask in your calming peace. Help us to understand that You will take care of us and sustain us. As the daylilies new flowers open daily, let us daily to be open in prayer, giving You, Lord our troubles. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

~ gardenfaith.com

God Is Your Strength

 “Look to the Lord and his strength;

seek his face always.”

“No matter how many times you cry out to God for strength He will be there.  He hears you every single time.  Don’t give up, don’t stop seeking the Lord.  Don’t let anything keep you from seeking His face.  God will give you the strength you need to get through anything.  No matter what you face He is by your side and He will never leave you.  If your soul is weary, if you’re going through troubled waters, if you’re facing temptations, whatever trials you are going through pour your heart out to God because his promises not only to give you strength but to be your strength.

~ Anonymous 

Play Often

 “For everything there is a season, 

a time for every activity under heaven…

a time to laugh…a time to dance.”

Ecclesiastes 3:1,4

“So, what qualifies as play - making art, sleeping in, riding a bike, baking cookies, watching movies?  Very simply, play is doing something for the enjoyment of doing it, even if we don’t do it particularly well.  It’s something that doesn’t need to be done.

Whatever else Jesus meant when He urged His disciples to be childlike, perhaps He wanted them to play more.  All the other virtues of childlikeness - trust, wonder, simplicity, humility - arise out of the richness of play.  When we embrace fun, we’re not only more joyful and creative in all we do; we also become radiant reflection of our Creator.”

~ Charles Stanley Ministries