“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.” Colossians 3:15

Ask God for His peace today as you speak and interact with others.  Be the voice of peace to those around you.

Blessings

Linda

Peace is something we crave as believers.  “I only need a moments peace” or “Give me a little peace, please.”  Asking for peace from others is not always assured, but asking God for peace is a sure thing.  James tells us “You do not have because you do not ask.” (James 4:2b)  Jesus told his disciples in John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”.

So how do I get this peace Jesus wants to give to me?  One step is to seek peace.  Psalm 34:14 says “Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”   Do you seek peace in your life?  Do you strive to end quarrels and fights by being a peacemaker?  Is living in harmony with others important enough to you to pursue it?

Another step is to look into God’s Word.  Psalm 119:165 says”Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.”  God’s word will lead and show us how to live in peace with others.  A side benefit is that we are then assured that we are sure footed and not prone to stumble over worldly pursuits and circumstances.  Isaiah 26:3 also talks about God’s word in regard to peace.  I love this verse and claim it in my life. “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.”  Are you experiencing the steadfastness of God’s peace in your life?  Are you walking each day trusting in God to provide and lead you?

The last step I want to mention is that we need to let go of our anxieties and things that are causing us to be unsettled or discontent within ourselves.  Philippians 4:6-7 hits this right on the mark “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.”  Let go of your problems and stop trying to solve everything yourself.  Step into God’s care and let Him comfort and care for you.   Remember, God is greater than anything we can ever face.

I pray that you will be able to apply one of these steps to your life this week and receive the peace Jesus wants to give you.  Remember: seek peace, look into God’s word and give your anxieties to God.  Then as promised He will give you peace.  Psalm 29:11 “The Lord give strength to his people, the LORD blesses his people with peace.”

Blessings of peace, shalom, to you,

Linda

Jeremiah 32:17  “Ah, Lord God!  It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm!  Nothing is too hard for you.”

Do not ever think your problems or circumstances are beyond the reach of God.  He is omnipotent and sovereign. “Nothing is impossible with God”. (Luke 1:37)

Live victoriously today, depending upon the Lord for your sustaining power,

Linda

(The photo is from Lourdes, France where thousands go each year to pray and be touched the healing waters.)

Isaiah 43:1-2  ” Fear not I have redeemed you; I have called you by name,you are mine.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flames shall not consume you.”

God knows you by name, you are His!  God has special purposes for those who He has redeemed!  You are loved by God and are special to Him!

Blessings today as you live like a son/daughter of the King!

Linda

Psalm 145:18-19 “The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.  He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.”

Don’t believe the lies of the enemy.  God’s does listen to us and He hears us. Remember the psalmists words today and know that God hears your cries.  Approach Him with reverence and speak to Him from your heart.  He will listen and respond.

Blessings today,

Linda

What is joy and why would God want that state of mind and being for me?  What makes me happy or what causes me to have an optimistic outlook on life?  Scripture  speaks of joy of the soul that is not dependent upon any outward circumstances or a happy attitude.  Here are a few examples:

Psalm 5:11 “But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy.  Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.”  Being cared for and loved by God brings soulful joy.

Isaiah 51:11 speaks about our state in heaven, “The ransomed of the LORD will return.  They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads.  Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.”  When we are in heaven, it will be a place of eternal joy in the presence of God.

John 15:11 speaks the words of Jesus when he says, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.”  Jesus wants us to have complete joy in Him.

Acts 14:17  Paul speaks of  proof, “Yet he has not left himself without testimony:  he has shown kindness by giving rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”  We are so fortunate that we can see and experience a portion of God’s joy for us here on earth.

Scripture tells us that Biblical joy is from the Lord.  It is not dependent upon my circumstances and is a state of mind and being that God desires for his redeemed.  Faith in Jesus gives me access to this unlimited joy.  Claim it today and spend your day with a joyfilled attitude and heart that will bless you and those around you.

Blessings,

Linda

2 Corinthians 12:9

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Ever feel like these mountain goats, stuck in a desolate place?  When you feel abandoned, alone or are overwhelmed by life’s situations, think about the total sufficiency of Christ and how He longs to sustain you.  Where I am weak He is strong.

Be encouraged today by the total sufficiency of the Lord Jesus.

Blessings,

Linda

God desires that I live a life of holiness but as I interact with the world where He has placed me, He wants me to have a love for others.  Why is that?  I was pondering this question and decided that my first love is for God, and then I need to love myself and others as God loves us.   Matthew 19:19…”You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”    John 15:12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”   Galatians 5:14 “For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'”   Jesus and then the apostles were very insistent that the way we show others our love for God is by loving ourselves and those around us.  Why is that so hard?  It sounds easy on the surface but in a world driven by selfish desires it is often easy to get sidetracked by our own wants and needs.  God tells us to avoid hatred, envy, malice, bitterness and hostility towards our fellow man.  Paul speaks of this in Ephesians 4:31-32 “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”   It is too easy to let our own desires step in front of our desire to follow Christ and treat one another with love and compassion.  It is a challenge that needs to be met with prayer and thanksgiving.  Let your week be filled with goodness towards others as Christ would desire for you.

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for Jesus  and His sacrificial love that shows me how to love and treat my family, friends, neighbors, and enemies. Give me a genuine love for those around me and help me to see their needs.   Give me compassion for them that I would desire to pray for them and speak words of love over their problems and concerns.  Help me to grow more and more like Jesus.  Amen.

Blessings as you strive to live like Jesus this week and love one another.

Linda

Today I thought I’d try something new.  Here is a pretty picture and a verse of scripture. I have been meditating on this verse for the last week or so….

Psalm 37:3   “Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.”

Are you living a life based on trust in the Lord?  Are  you doing good where you live?  What does it mean to you to befriend faithfulness?

Have a blessed day.  More tomorrow on Loving Others.

Linda

Earlier this week I blogged about Holiness, a characteristic God desires of all His children.  Let’s look at the opposite of holiness which is evil and indifference towards God.  1Thessalonians 5:22 “Avoid every kind of evil.”  Romans 12:9 says “Hate what is evil and cling to what is good.”  We know that evil takes many forms – in our thoughts, deeds and actions toward ourselves, our fellowman and towards God.  If we pursue worldly thoughts and passions, they can overcome and consume us.  We must “resist the devil, he will flee from you, and draw near to God and He will draw near to you” as James tells us in James 4:7-8.  

Evil also takes the form of indifference towards God.   1 Thessalonians 4:8 tells us the result of rejecting the call to holiness and a godly life. “Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Sprit.”  Also John 3:36 “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”

So what about you?  Are you pursuing godly holiness or are you letting the world consume your thoughts and actions?  Are you resisting or even turning away from God? What motives you each day?  I constantly remind myself that I am a work in progress.  God is not finished with me yet, thank goodness!   It is easy to be sucked into the ungodly, worldly pursuits of the world in which we live.  We all have goals and objectives we want to accomplish in our lives.  However, seeing them though God’s perspective and His goal for our life which is HOLINESS is a constant challenge.  We are promised in James 4:10 “Humble yourselves before God and He will exalt you.”  Jesus said the greatest commandment is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and will all your soul and with all your mind.”   Matthew 22:37   Does this describe the desire of your heart?  Are you endeavoring to seek God’s holiness, resist evil and exalt God in your life? Isaiah put it this way, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the way, walk in it”. (Isaiah 30:21)  Listen for God’s Holy Spirit to speak to you though His word and in prayer so you can walk with God and exalt Him in your life each day.

Blessings as you walk and listen for God’s voice,

Linda