More Peace

Growing up, I had this verse referenced in today's 1st PW devotional on a glass knick knack in my room.  I don't recall if I bought it or if it was a gift from someone (which is a good reason to note on the bottom of your gifts the date & from whom the gift came...for when you are ancient, like me, and forget who gave you what...but that really doesn't apply in this situation, as I don't even have this thing anymore...sheesh!).

 

I have to confess...I normally didn't feel "peace" at home until my dad got home from work.  As you can imagine, 6 women living under the same roof causes a lot of high emotions, hormonal overloads and excitable conversations!  It seemed like my mom was always "fussing" at us to clean this, wash that or help prepare this next.  It wasn't until my dad came home that it seemed my mom transformed into this calmer, quieter, easier to mix with human being.  I distinctly recall thinking my dad must have something on my mom to get her to acquiesce almost EVERY time he came home.

 

It wasn't until after being married for a few years that I discovered what must have been happening in my childhood home.  Frank and I have both felt this disconnect whenever the other isn't around...at Youth Group, at a party, meeting, etc.  We are one.  We are unified.  We are complete, together.  Together, we share the burden, task, assignment, project....it is easier or doable because the other is there to pitch in, take up the slack, fill in, moderate, or just lend support by their silent presence (or my not so silent presence...I am working on that one, really).

 

I'm pretty sure I understand, now, the transformation that took place the millisecond my dad graced the threshold of our home.  Something, somewhere, inside my mom relaxed and released this sigh of "I"m not in this alone anymore...Jim's home to share the tasks, trials, events...of our home."

 

Most of you aren't married.  However, you should still be able to understand this concept in your relationship with Jesus.  The HUGE difference is we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us!  We are NEVER alone.  When you are feeling anxious or overwhelmed or disheveled or disconnected from God...it is because you are trying to go it on your own.  And, you don't have peace.

 

It is exactly like if all of a sudden you were promoted to President of the United States.  How absurd would it be if you shrugged everyone off and said, "Hey, I got it.  I can do this all by myself.  I don't need any briefing, advice nor explanation about the powers of office I just assumed."

 

In ourselves, we cannot have perfect peace doing things our own way.  It is only when we are relying on God, through the Holy Spirit, obeying Him, trusting Him...resting in Him that we have that "I"m not in this alone anymore...Jesus is home to share the tasks, trials, events...all the good and not so good...of my life."

 

Pursue peace.

PlanetWisdom.com Devotionals

Peace Week: One Hope Posted: 02 May 2009 01:46 PM PDT "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." (Isaiah 26:3) If I were to ask you, "What's the ultimate source of peace?" You would answer "Jesus" or "God" or "the Bible," because those are the right answers to every Bible study question ever. And, of course, all are correct, in a way. But suppose we were standing in an airplane that had run out of fuel 1,500 feet above the ground and I asked you, "What's the safest way down, this parachute or flapping your arms really fast?" You wouldn't guess at an answer you thought I wanted to hear, you'd take the parachute and put all of your hope in it to save your life -- instead of foolishly believing you could save yourself. In any given moment, the ultimate source of peace is to actively trust God to take care of everything that terrifies you. Why? Because He is perfectly powerful and good and loving. And nothing else is. Think: Could you ever have perfect peace of mind without trusting God? If so, would that peace be reasonable, rational? Why or why not? Pray: Ask God to help you to actively and "steadfastly" trust Him so that you can regularly experience His perfect peace. Do: Read today's verse again and look up the world "steadfast" in a dictionary. Write down one of the definitions on any piece of paper that happens to be nearby. Visit PlanetWisdom.com for more great resources!

Peace Week: Disciplining You Posted: 01 May 2009 07:07 AM PDT "Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul." (Proverbs 29:17) You might have noticed a theme developing about peace this week. God wants for us to have peaceful households. We've found several passages describing what robs the peace of our homes and makes them stressful places to live. One thing that should stand out about a Christian home is that it can be a peaceful, orderly place. But how much can you really do about that? Isn't it the parents who set the tone in the household? Isn't it their job to make it a peaceful place to live together as a family? Well, yes and no. Today's verse says that one way they make it peaceful is by disciplining their sons. Loving discipline can bring peace and order to a home. But that also tells us that students have the power to make home a more peaceful place by choosing to be disciplined people -- no matter what mom or dad might do. You can't really control the other people in your house, but you can control you. You can make your home more peaceful (less angry, less stressful, less chaotic) than it would be without you. Think: Be honest with yourself. Do you think you make your home more or less peaceful than it would be without you? Without taking responsibility for other people's choices, how could you be a peacemaker at home? Pray: Ask God to help you to make choices with your words, attitudes, and actions to promote peace in your home. Do: Notice this week the trigger moments that make your home more or less peaceful and make a mental note of which ones you contributed to. Visit PlanetWisdom.com for more great resources!