Peace of Christ

"Let the peace of Christ rule 

in your hearts,..." Colossians 3:15

There is one thing everyone wants, and that is a sense of inner peace. Many people think it comes only when all the circumstances of life are pleasant, but for Christians, God’s peace is available even when nothing around us is calm and ordered. 

Our verse today reveals a number of important truths regarding the peace of Christ: 

First of all, we are given a command: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” The implication is that we play a role in whether or not we experience His peace. And anytime we are given a command in Scripture, we can count on God to enable us to obey it. 

Second, Christ’s peace is capable of ruling in our heart. The word rule means “to act as arbiter.” An arbiter is a person who has the power or authority to decide a dispute. When doubts or worries arise, Christ’s peace reminds us of God’s truths, which have the power to quiet our heart and renew our trust in Him. This amazing peace also overflows into our relationships in the body of Christ so that we can live in harmony with one another.

Third, gratitude is an important aspect of peace. Thankfulness is the result of remembering all God’s benefits instead of dwelling on the circumstances that tend to rob us of peace. Counting our blessings in this way insures the rule of Christ’s peace in our life.

We don’t have to let our concerns and worries bury us in a sea of unrest. Christ’s peace, which is available no matter what we are facing, can strengthen our confidence and trust in Him. 

~ Charles Stanley In Touch Devotional

Rest in God

Psalm 62:5, NIV Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.

Matthew 6:34, NIV Therefore do not worryabout tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. 

God is my happiness ; God is my happy place ; God is my source ; God is my rest.

God doesn’t expect me to do it all, God only expects me to do my part!
God doesn’t expect me to be all things to all people,
God only expects me to be who God created me to be!
God doesn’t expect me to be successful in my own power, my success comes from God alone!

So how do we find rest in God? By remembering that He alone is our source, Our help comes from him, and our lives are in his hands! In other words:
– Don’t worry, Trust God;
– Seek God first in all things;
Living for an audience of one; and
– Trusting God one day at a time.

Never Forget: God’s got your back!

jollynotes.com

Positive Thinking

“Fix our thoughts on what is true and good and right.”

Philippians 4:18 TLB

“Thoughts - optimistics, pessimistic and everything in between - flit through our minds all day long.  And they affect everything about us, from our emotions to our health.  The contents of your thoughts matters a lot.  Our thoughts can limit who we are and what we become, or they can prompt us forward in our lives.  Our thoughts influence our character, shape our attitudes, determines our behaviors, affect our spirituality, and even influence the immune system.  Your thinking determines whether you will be happy or sad most of the time.

“Our Creator designed us so that our thoughts have every aspect of our life.  Positive thoughts bring about positive effects.   Negative thoughts take everything - from attitude to health - in the opposite direction.”

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit

dries up the bones.”  Proverbs 17:22

“Scriptural teaching about our thoughts is not just informative; it’s encouraging - and potentially life-changing.  Memorizing and dwelling upon scripture can help bring order to your thought life and, as a result, improve your relationships, health, and happiness!”

                              “What happened in your life today because of what you thought?”

Excerpted from “A Better Way to Think” by H. Norman Wright

Seek God First

Why should you seek God first in all you do? 

God created you and wants to help you (Is 43:1-2)
God loves you more than anyone else ever will (Ps 103:11)
God always wants what’s best for you (Jeremiah 29:11)
God knows all and sees all
God sees the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10)
God sees the big picture (Job 28:24)
God is for us – God is on your side!

So please, remember to seek God first in all things. Ask God for wisdom, and He will direct you. Ask God for guidance and peace of mind, and be strong in the Lord. God can even direct you to ask the right person or the right resource for your particular situation, so you can ask the right questions, and wisely and carefully consider all of the information you have available to you. Then By God’s grace, you can make the right decisions, trusting God for the best because you know that God is for us, and that God is with us always. Amen. 

~jollynotes.com

Be an Encourager

"When we encourage others, we are representing Jesus.

You will often help put a smile on someone's face!"

1 Thessalonians 5:11, NLT So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
Ephesians 4:29, NLT Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
Romans 14:19, NIV Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.  (By God’s grace!)

~ jollynotes.com

God in 3 Persons

God In 3 Persons

https://music.apple.com/us/album/this-i-believe/980626057?i=980626387

We believe in one living and true God who is the Creator of heaven and earth; who is eternal, almighty, unchangeable, infinitely powerful, wise, just and holy.

We believe that the one God eternally exists in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and that these three are one God, co-equal and co-eternal, having precisely the same nature and attributes, and worthy of precisely the same worship, confidence, and obedience. Matthew 3:16, 17; Matthew 28:19, 20; Mark 12:29; John 1:14; Acts 5:3, 4; II Corinthians 13:14.

• God the Father's role is to generate things. Things originate with him and flow from him. God the Father is equal with the Son and the Holy Spirit, but things start with him. The Father sent both the Son (John 3:16-17) and Holy Spirit (John 14:26) into the world.
• God the Son's role is to pay for our sins with his blood, which he did on the cross (Romans 5:9). The Son also acts as a lawyer for us before God, acting as a "mediator" between us and God (1 Timothy 2:5), and speaking "to the Father in our defense" (1 John 2:1).
• God the Holy Spirit has many roles. The Spirit helps us pray (Romans 8:26-27). He gives us new life (John 3:3-6). He is our Comforter, and he helps us understand God's word (John 14:26). He lifts up Christ (John 15:26). He convicts us of sin (John 16:7-11). He helps us to live holy lives (Romans 15:16). He gives us love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). He helps us share our faith (Acts 1:8). And he lives inside us (Romans 8:11).

~ Articles from Christian websites

Just Trust

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart...”

Proverbs 3:5-6

“When we have an important decision to make, we must trust him completely in every choice we make.  God knows what is best for us.  Bring decisions to God in prayer, use the Bible as your guide, and then follow God’s leading.  He will make your paths straight by guiding and protecting you.”

~ Life Application Study Bible 

“Trusting God’s goodness sets us free from expectation.  We often care about how the details roll out.  Sometimes so much that it keeps us paralyzed and unable to move forward.  The good news is that it’s not actually even about the details.  It’s about Jesus.  And if we choose Him we can’t choose wrong.”

- Consider the Spirit’s Prompting

- Consider Scripture

- Consider Wise People in your Life

- Consider the Goodness in God

~ In an article by Kristen Dooley - “How to Discern How God is Leading You”

   gravityleadership.com