Author: perfectpeace Page 4 of 13

I was out running errands one morning, not in the greatest of moods, and by the time I returned, I felt worse than when I started out.  I thought if I got out among people it might help lift my mood.  My first stop was to get my glasses repaired…I had to wait and couldn’t see to read without my glasses, so I stared out the window watching people go by.  No one was smiling.  Next step was at a store to research a solution…the associate was anything but cheerful (first customer of the day even!) and her tone of voice sounded like I was an intrusion on her morning.  I went on to my next errand at another store…the cashier looked like he did not want to be there, was yawning and complaining about having to get up and go to work so early (9:30 am is not exactly early!).  After that I had to shop at one more store…the employees didn’t look very happy and the shoppers were rushing through the aisles thinking only of their own agenda.  Last stop was the gas station…thankfully it was self-service so I didn’t have to deal with any more grumpy, depressed, tired people.

All the people I saw, talked to, and interacted with this morning were anything but peaceful in their appearance.  I asked myself have I presented myself like that to others?  I admit at times I have, but I do try to be cheerful when I’m out and about even if I’m not feeling it at home.  Our moods do affect others’ moods.  I want to lift others up and bring a smile to their face, not cause them to be in a hurry to get away from me as if I’m poison.  If I had come across one person who was truly cheerful and kind that morning, it may have changed my own mood.

“A cheerful heart is good medicine,

but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.”

Proverbs 17:22, NLT

None of us truly knows what the other people we come in contact with is going through but we can at least give a smile, thank you, and interact courteously.  BUT on the flip side of that I have a problem when someone comes at me with overly cheerful responses when I’m having a bad day.  It’s like having a bucket of ice cubes thrown at you when you’re already cold.  I don’t always share with people the true answer to the How are you? question because I can’t handle some of the responses people give. 

I’m sorry…  goes a long way in touching the painful spots of people’s lives.  Try these to impart a peaceful feeling to the hurting without adding to their pain:

• I’m sorry you’re hurting.  PERIOD…don’t add anything else.
• I’m sorry for your loss.  PERIOD…don’t come back with “where” the person is nor any of your own stories of loss.
• I’m sorry you were treated that way.  Maybe add a touch on the arm or shoulder.
• I’m sorry that you’re not feeling well today.  PERIOD…That person does not want to think about what tomorrow might bring.  They are hurting now and just want to get through today.
• I’m sorry …  You fill in the blank, but keep it short and focused on the other person.
• Ask them if they’d like to talk, and if they do, LISTEN.
• Ask them how you could pray for them, and DO IT THEN.

Show them you care in actions rather than words that don’t always help.

Prayer:  Lord, I pray for those today who are going through struggles in life, facing situations that are trying and draining, needing wisdom and guidance, feeling lost and alone, weak and in need of strength and hope to go on.  Meet their needs.  Send myself or someone else into the moments of their day to encourage and lift them up emotionally, spiritually, and maybe even physically.  Thank You for what You’re going to do in them and in me today.  Amen.

This is such a peaceful scene for me, walking in the quiet woods, sun peaking in and out of the trees, refreshing coolness of the shade on a hot day.  Close your eyes and picture what makes you feel peaceful.  Then open your eyes and describe it to another person, or if no one is nearby, take out a piece of paper and write about it.  Just taking the time to think about it and share it will help you experience the feeling of peace permeating your mind and body.

In Matthew 5 Jesus taught the crowd on the mountain along with His disciples what we now know as the Beatitudes which are part of the Sermon on the Mount.  Blessed are…  Wouldn’t you like to be considered blessed?  Absolutely!  And we are blessed if we are His child.  The Beatitudes give us eight different descriptive statements of how we are blessed and the results.  I’m focusing today on verse 9:

“Blessed are the peacemakers:
for they shall be called the children of God.”
Matthew 5:9, KJV

Peacemakers or peacekeepers???  Some people use these two words interchangeably but to a great degree, they are not synonyms.  Both are nouns but seem more like active verbs.  A peacemaker is one who is actively looking for ways of finding a peaceful solution to conflict, and in particular reconciling people to God and to one another.  A peacekeeper is one who looks for ways of avoiding issues, smoothing over problems and conflicts, and keeping things quiet before they get to the point of conflict.

I came across a good definition of a peacekeeper that really sums up what a peacekeeper is:

“Peacekeepers relish developing positive relationships between people, and seeking harmony, compromise, and cooperation. They tend to be empathetic, agreeable, agile, and diplomatic.”

from https://principlesyou.com/archetypes/peacekeeper

Both peacemakers and peacekeepers are needed in the church and the world.  Peacemakers are looking for ways to resolve issues that are already present.  Peacekeepers are on the lookout for ways of diverting or avoiding issues that may cause problems.  Both are tough jobs and over the years I’ve been in both situations.  Sometimes it seems like there is no way to resolve some issues which makes the peacemaker’s job difficult.  Then there are other times that no matter how much you try to divert attention away from or avoid an issue, it’s hard to keep peace. 

Maintaining a positive attitude, working towards harmony, compromise, and cooperation, and being agreeable and diplomatic as stated in the above quote are definitely a great start to being a peacekeeper and will go a long way in maintaining a peaceful atmosphere, whether it’s home, church, work, or anywhere else in the world. 

When you have children, parents learn to be peacekeepers along the way.  Even in a marriage, one spouse learns ways of being a peacekeeper when things get tense and tempers flare.  Being a peacekeeper puts you on the hot seat, so to speak, and while it makes you a hero to one person, it’s not always as pleasant with the other person.  Finding ways to resolve issues are not always easy for the peacemaker either.  While one party might be satisfied, another may accuse you of showing favoritism.

“For God is not a God of disorder
but of peace,
as in all the meetings
of God’s holy people.”
I Corinthians 14:33, NLT

God wants us to have order in our lives and the peace that goes along with it.  That is the job of both a peacemaker and a peacekeeper—to constantly be striving towards a peaceful resolution of conflict as well as an ongoing peaceful environment. 

What does a peaceful living or working environment look like to you?  Do you have it now?  Could you help to achieve it?  We all need peace in our lives and in the world.  Unrest in other parts of the world does affect us no matter where we live.  PRAY for peace.  True eternal peace is yet to come, but is promised to us when we belong to Him. 

There’s an old saying that To find a prince you got to kiss some toads.  I can’t say that I ever kissed any toads, but then I didn’t get a prince either. 

Today I want to talk about the Prince of Peace, Jesus, as He is referred to in the Gospels.  Jesus often disturbed the peace rather than smoothing over things to keep peace.  He spoke the truth when truth was what was needed, not caring about His own safety. He did this because he came to bring true shalom, not superficial peace.  His peace is “name brand”, not generic or store brand.  I’m OK with generic or store brand on some items, but not everything.  Sometimes they just don’t cut it and I need the name brand.  Jesus is the only one who can bring true “name brand” peace.

As Christians who belong to God, we need to have integrity and do what is right regardless of what others may think. We need to aim for real peace, not the name brand that only hints at peace.  For peace to reign in us, we need to experience all that God has for us. 

“And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6b, NIV

When do you usually hear that verse?  Probably at Christmastime when we talk about Jesus coming to earth and the names He will be given as referenced in Isaiah long before Jesus was born.  Jesus didn’t come into the world as a prince would, though.  He came into the world in a dirty old stable of animals.  But isn’t that so symbolic?  He came into the world to save sinners who were full of dirt and sin, so why wouldn’t He come into a dirty stable?  If He had come to minister to princes and men of social status, He might have come into a pristine castle and been attended by socialites rather than a teen mother, carpenter father, and shepherds. 

Tranquility is one aspect of peace.  This world is definitely not full of tranquility, but the Prince of Peace came to bring tranquility to the hearts and minds of those who accept and believe in Him.  When I think of tranquil, I picture a lake with still, calm water, nothing moving, looking like a sea of glass.  Tranquil is the opposite of turbulence.  Turbulence reminds me of the harsh ripples in the ocean after a speedboat zooms by, churning up the water.  When the turbulence is over, tranquility can once again be seen and felt, but many times it takes a long while for the storm to pass by and calmness to descend again.

“Tranquility is a sense of peace and quiet. It is the feeling you have while sitting under a starry sky, listening to the crickets. The aura of tranquility comes from the calm in the world, which makes you feel you are without a care in the world.”

from https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/tranquillity

If you’re a camper, that word picture soothes your spirit.  For me, it’s sitting quietly on my porch swing staring up into the clouds on a clear evening when the noise of lawn mowers and vehicles have died down for the day, or walking through the woods at sunset when the birds and animals are settling down for the night and their chatter ceases.

Webster says peaceful implies a state of repose in contrast with or following strife or turmoil.  That’s a perfect picture of Jesus resting in the grave after the turmoil of Holy Week and the pain and agony He went through for us to have His perfect peace.

Countries can be at war with each other and yet talk about pledging peace and tranquility, but often it it is all talk or that they are saying that because they’re both at odds with another country.  That is not true peace and tranquility.  Countries and governments can produce a sense of peace at times, but it will never be a truly lasting peace until our Prince of Peace comes and sends evil away and reigns over the world with a true sense of Godly peace because He is our Prince of Peace.

“Now may the Lord of peace Himself
give you His peace
at all times and in every situation.
The Lord be with you all.”
II Thessalonians 3:16, NLT

Peace can be transient and temporary unless it’s from the Prince of Peace Himself.  His peace is there for us all the time, no matter what comes our way.  Do you know the Prince of Peace?  Do you have His peace in your heart?  You can…just ask Him…and don’t let anything steal it away from you.

Who remembers the old TV game show “Truth or Consequences”?  While we don’t know what animals are thinking since they can’t talk to us, I liked to imagine what my cat might be thinking.  Sometimes she gave me that look that seemed to say I dare you…to move me! 

“What sorrow awaits my rebellious children,”
says the Lord.
“You make plans that are contrary to mine.
You make alliances not directed by my Spirit,
thus piling up your sins.”
Isaiah 30:1, NLT

In II Chronicles 20:35-37, King Jehoshaphat of Judah made an alliance with King Ahaziah of Israel, who was very wicked.  A prophet told Jehoshaphat, “Because you have allied yourself with King Ahaziah, the Lord will destroy your work.” So the ships met with disaster and never put out to sea.”  That was definitely truth or consequences!  Jehoshaphat did not align himself with truth and suffered the consequences.

Paul told the Corinthians that bad company corrupts good character.  That still holds true today.  Sometimes young people think they can hang out with friends who don’t hold to the same moral and spiritual guidelines that they do, but soon find themselves getting swept away by the company they keep and their good character becomes tainted.  Does that sound a little like Adam and Eve and the serpent?  No I don’t think that’s stretching the truth at all.  They were all in the same Garden and were talking together.  If Eve hadn’t hung around and listened to the serpent, she might not have gotten caught up with his lies and then passed them on to Adam.  It’s in the company you keep.

“Don’t be fooled by those who say such things,
for “bad company corrupts good character.”
I Corinthians 15:33, NLT

While we often want to think some things in life are gray, I’m a black-and-white person.  It’s either OK or it isn’t.  So when I hear, see, read, or watch something, my mind is conscientiously processing it and running it through the filter of God’s truth.  For instance, this morning I heard something on Christian radio and it sounded good.  It happened to be a song, but I’m not going to get into what type of music it was because that’s irrelevant.  What is important is the truth, the message, and what’s behind it. 

I’d heard this particular song dozens if not hundreds of times before, liked it, and even worshipped God through it.  But I know there are lots of false teachings out there and so I like to step back and do a little research.  I want to make sure that what I am listening to adheres to Scripture, has a solid message, and that the person who wrote it and sings it is a good conduit of God’s truths.  In this particular song, I was disappointed to find that it is aligned with a church that has a bad reputation and does not hold to the inerrant Word of God.

The words of a song may sound good, but we need to do more than just give voice to the words and enjoy the music.  Let me ask you a question…  When you find a product you like (a book, a toiletry, a line of clothing), do you not look for other items by the same author or company?  Why?  Because you like the one you have experienced.  When you hear a song you like, do you not hop onto YouTube and see what other songs there are by the same person?  You’re hooked!  The author has your attention.  But when you listen to the next song or message, are you really paying attention to the words?  Are you hearing and processing the words to see if they hold to the truth of God’s Word?  That’s check one.

Check two is looking up the author or group.  Who are they aligned with?  In other words, where do they attend church?  Do they share a platform or agenda with anyone, and if so, what are their beliefs?  Years ago I attended a concert of one of my favorite singers but as I wasn’t then aware is the norm, another singer and group preceded them on stage to open the concert and I was very disappointed in that group.

Who we spend time with rubs off on us and affects our thoughts and personality.  So digging a little into music, speakers, and even churches before supporting them enthusiastically should be our due diligence.  My personal rule of thumb is that if I find anything that doesn’t align with God’s Word or the person or group shares “stage” with someone who promotes false teachings…then I immediately stop listening to anything by that person or group.  That may sound narrow-minded to some, but think about it.  If Eve had stopped listening to the serpent in the beginning, this world wouldn’t be in the mess it is in today!  What she did trickled down through history, and what we do trickles down to those who come after us.  Are we allowing wrong to keep on or are we filtering it out?  Truth promotes good but evil brings consequences.

When I started my blog in January, I never realized there were so many aspects and attributes to peace.  This week a new one presented itself to me…not new in general or in concept, but a new realization for me.  Rest in peace.  We hear that at funerals but it became a reality for my 16-year companion cat, Joy.  Her quality of life has been going downhill since she became deaf about 2 years ago, and though I miss her terribly already, I had to be merciful and let her go on before me to wait for me at Heaven’s gates.  It was a very difficult decision to make.  Her sad eyes looking at me, pleading, and her meows of discomfort were breaking my heart.  As I sat in the vet’s office holding Joy for the last time, I hugged her, comforted her, and whispered in my heart rest in peace until I see you again.

I know some people do not believe pets will be in Heaven, but I do.  Why else would God create animals if He didn’t intend to take care of them for eternity?  If you’ve never read Randy Alcorn’s book Heaven, it’s an awesome read.  In it he talks about this very subject as well as all the other things we will experience in Heaven—all based on Scripture.  It changed my whole perspective of Heaven when I read it a few years ago.

I’ve written a rather long post on my blog in memory of Joy and you can read the complete post here.  I just want to share an excerpt from the end below.

“It felt like she was holding on for me even though she was hurting, and I didn’t want her to suffer or struggle on my account.  I wanted what was best for her.  I know how it is when I don’t feel well and struggle to get up and get something to eat or get a shower or even talk to anyone.  It’s no fun, takes all your energy, and is not the way I would want to live the rest of my life.  The Bible tells us to be merciful to others if we want to be shown mercy, and as I meditated on that, I knew it was time to give her up and put her down.

“So my beautiful, soft, loving Joy, go to sleep peacefully, rest in peace, enjoy the eternal rest you’ve earned by being such a loving, faithful companion to me here, and I’ll see you on the other side to share eternity with you.  Until then…”

When we talk about resting in peace, it has a very comforting, relaxing, almost ethereal feeling to it.  Yes, ethereal which means extremely delicate and light in a way that seems too perfect for this world.  Picture a clear, calm day in the sun, no distractions like phones, radios, or people.  You just sink into a comfortable chair and feel yourself relaxing.  Then you close your eyes and drift away into a peaceful sleep, no cares in the world, just a calming, restful, peaceful time.  I think that is what resting in peace would be like, and it definitely will be peace when we rest in Jesus’ arms as He carries us into eternity with Him.  That kind of peace is definitely too perfect for this world!  Those kind of restful times with no distractions come to an end all too quickly, but when we rest in peace in eternity, there will not be an end.  It will be an ongoing way of life.

“As for you, go your way until the end.
You will rest, and then at the end of the days,
you will rise again to receive the inheritance set aside for you.”
Daniel 12:13, NLT

There is an eternal peace and rest but there are stipulations.  You need to be one of God’s children and follow Godly paths.  Then when you die, you will rest in peace.  Clergy speaking platitudes or even Scripture over a deceased person is not what gives them eternal peaceful rest.  So don’t wait until you or a loved one is on your death bed to establish a relationship with the Lord.  Do it while you can so you will be ready to take that rest in peace when the time comes because the other direction you’ll want to avoid is not rest and not peaceful.

“For those who follow godly paths
will rest in peace when they die.”
Isaiah 57:2, NLT

I hope to see you on the other side to share eternity with you.  Until then…rest in peace.

I was in marching band all through school and can still hear the director drilling alignment into our heads.  Formations had to be stepped out and counted carefully or we wouldn’t be aligned properly.  If one person was not in the proper place, it would throw off the whole formation.  A straight line when marching in a parade was no different than the desks in a classroom that had to be lined up straight at the end of a day.

I want to continue a little on the line of one of my last posts.  It is so important to align ourselves with God’s people, Christian beliefs, and truth.  I’ve met people who claimed to be a Christian but then I would see or hear something both from them and from others that told me there was a major disconnect in what they said and what their life portrayed.  Some (Disclaimer, NOT ALL) people will self-identify as a Christian or as a believer, but unfortunately in today’s world especially we cannot always take their statement at face value.  No, we are not to judge others, but the Bible does tell us this:

“You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.”
Matthew 7:16-20, NLT

So thinking back to my last post, based on the above words from Jesus, what do you think you should do when you come across a person or people who do not align with the Word of God and what Jesus taught us???  Should you let them think what they want and move on?  You may be able to move away from wrong teaching and bad influences, but what about the next person whom they encounter?  What if a friend who is not as strong as you are in the faith encounters someone who is leading people into things that are wrong?  What if they follow that person and find themselves being led farther and farther away from the Lord? 

This is why it is so important for us to be observant, knowledgeable, and discerning.  As I mentioned in the last post, we so often like something so much that we look for more things (books, music, movies, products, etc.) like it and are so engrossed with it that we share it with all our friends whether it’s in person or on social media.  Soon our enthusiasm has spread to many others.  The problem comes in when we have not done proper research before sharing.

I remember one time I read an article on the internet in the early days of my using a computer.  It said that if you find this one file on your computer, you should delete it because it was a virus.  Well, I was gullible, found the file, and deleted it.  In addition, I shared it with several other people who also deleted it.  The bad news was that it must have been a hacker who posted that article because I found out too late that it was NOT a virus and was indeed a very important file to the operating system of the computer.  All turned out OK in the end when we all found how to restore the file, but it could have been a very different outcome.

We really need to know who our favorite authors, musicians, groups, and churches are aligned to, what they believe, who they promote, and who or what they stand for.  If a person is hanging around with and supporting those who do not believe the truth of God’s Word, they are going to be unquestionably influenced by what’s surrounding them.  Then those values, words, and actions are going to affect their lives and their ministries.  I’ve had to re-think many of my “favorites” because of their alignment with things that do not reflect the greatness and love of God and that do not adhere to the Word of God.  You’ve heard of the duck test—”If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck”.  The characteristics of a duck are what identifies it. 

The absence or distortion of certain characteristics identify false teachings.  Make sure that you are promoting only good and true things and people.  You don’t want to lead anyone astray nor do you want to be led astray.  It takes time to research and we don’t always find a definitive answer, but keep your eyes and ears open, and ask the Holy Spirit to give you discernment.  That is what is needed to maintain the perfect peace of God in our lives.

Does your peace wane about the time you need to start cooking and you haven’t decided what to make yet???  Mine does!  It’s too late to get anything out of the freezer so I check the frig for leftovers.  None today.  Next I check the closet and see what’s there that I could throw together.  I’d rather go take a nap than have meal malaise!

I find myself eating the same things and remind myself that I need to do more planning ahead of time.  Ah! A menu!  Years ago my spouse insisted on sitting down on Sunday and planning a menu for the week so when we went to the store on Monday we could get what we needed.  That’s a great idea but not my idea of the best thing to do on a Sunday afternoon or evening when all I wanted to do was rest up for the busy week ahead.  It does have its merits, though, because getting frozen items out the night before and knowing what you are going to make the next day saves time and stress.

Now that I’m alone I find myself deciding from day to day what I want to have tomorrow—most of the time.  It’s so easy to put off the decision until later or allow distractions to take over…but I’m getting better at it.  My activities and appointments for the week as well as projects I’m involved in may change what I had thought I’d make, but at least I’m planning ahead.  Besides I’m only a couple of blocks away from a grocery store!

We all have our favorite dishes or recipes but do you find yourself eating chicken five different ways in a week?  Or the all-time ground beef 50 different ways?  Even when I go to my freezer, I discover that if I want a home-cooked meal to pull out and warm up, I only have chicken one time or steak another time.  It all depends on what I’ve made recently and how many meals of it I had left. 

I like to fill my crockpot and cook once for multiple meals rather than just making one serving.  That usually yields enough for a meal that night, maybe two meals in the frig for later in the week, and maybe a couple meals packed away in the freezer for some day when I’m really busy or don’t feel like cooking.

For the last few days I was contemplating how I could more variety into my meal ideas (I am a list maker, but due to past experience with menus, I don’t like to be so specific as to pin myself down to a specific meal on a specific day.).  I came up with food adjectives for each day of the week and a category so that if I use my own idea, I will have more variety of meats and dishes.

• Sumptuous Sunday (roast, potatoes, & veggies)
• Melted Monday (cheese, ground beef, sandwiches)
• Tasty Tuesday (grilled pork chops or steak)
• Warm Wednesday (leftovers, breakfast meal)
• Themed Thursday (Italian, chicken, crockpot)
• Fresh Friday (seafood, salads, fruits)
• Saucy Saturday (spaghetti, alfredo, ravioli, stew)

If that doesn’t work for you, switch the categories and descriptions to a different day of the week or come up with your own plan.  Sometimes our plans are good and sometimes we need a little input from others to get us thinking—sometimes out of the box!  If you keep planning, you will eventually be more productive and maybe even creative…which brings success.

“Plans fail for lack of counsel,
but with many advisers they succeed.”
Proverbs 15:22

The Bible even mentions some foods that are good to put into our diet such as olive oil, grapes, flax seeds, sprouted grain bread, goat milk, herbs, raw honey, and vegetables—just to name a few.  Incorporate a little Bible study with your meal planning and see what new menu might present itself and then use it as a springboard for conversation at the dinner table.  Though you might not want to tell your kids you used goat milk to make their favorite pudding (at least until they’ve eaten it)!

Part of my meal malaise problem is not having the ingredients I might need for a specific recipe.  That’s where a certain amount of planning ahead comes in.  Before I go to the store I usually take a few minutes and think what I haven’t had for awhile or what recipe I’d like to try out.  Then I add those ingredients to my shopping list.  However, for the most part I keep my pantry stocked with basics such as spices, soups, and vegetables.  When I get low on any item, I immediately add it to my list for the next shopping trip.  

To make it easy for myself, I created a spreadsheet on my phone with every item I ever buy in the store.  The list is separated by categories such as dairy, meat, produce, etc.  (I also include other items such as batteries, water filters, and other household items.)  I alphabetize the items, and there is a column to the left of the items where I can place an “X” when I need to replenish that item.  Then I went on to organize the categories in shopping order according to my favorite store’s layout.  I told you I’m a list person!  😊  But that way I’m never out of an item.  Well, almost never!  Just last week I went for a cup of rice and had just a cup left.  Normally I would have already purchased another package, but must have gotten interrupted before it made its way to my shopping list.

Well, enough about food—for today anyway!  I hope you enjoyed this little side trip from peace and yet it’s not a side trip because food is not only a “comfort” food, but also a necessity to our physical bodies if we want all the parts of our bodies to be at peace with one another.  Speaking of bodies, drink lots of water and though sun rays are important to our health, seek more shade in these extreme high temperatures we’ve been having everywhere.

I grew up in an old farmhouse and these were the steps to the second floor.  (The ones to the basement were even worse!)  As we were emptying the house after my dad’s death, I remembered as a kid growing up there how many times I slid down those steps on my bottom for fun.  But as an adult carrying boxes down those steps, I thought how pure evil they were as I had to so carefully watch my step.  If I had slipped on those steps with an armful of boxes, it would not have been fun, so I had to resist the urge to take one last slide down those old steps on my bottom.  It would have been pure evil to my back!

As I read about peace by other authors, I’m amazed at how so many things affect our peace or lack thereof!  One writer said that for peace to flourish, evil must be resisted.  Oh how true that is!  So how do we resist evil?

“So humble yourselves before God.
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
James 4:7, NLT

To resist means to withstand the force or effect of.  The nature of the evil we need to resist dictates our response.  If the evil is chasing you, an immediate decision to run is the best choice, and strength to do so is very much needed.  If the evil is a subtle thing that catches us by surprise, we must be prepared in our mind how we will respond and not hesitate to respond accordingly.

Evil is not always a horrible monster that attacks us.  Evil comes in a variety of ways.  It doesn’t always look, sound, or feel the same way twice.  It’s that constant urge to go to the refrigerator or the snack closet when you are trying to diet.  It’s that unhealthy desire to take just a peek at something inappropriate on the internet.  Or how about staying in the break room when you should be back at your work station?  Evil is sin…sin is evil. 

Whenever there is sin active in our lives, our peace will be short-circuited until we resist the sin.  So again I ask, how do you resist sin (evil)?  Just as there are shortcuts, remedies, and helpful hints for a lot of things in life, resisting sin has them, too.  One is to remove yourself from the situation. You know what they say: out of sight, out of mind.

Instead of choosing to sin, decide beforehand what you will do in various situations.  Part of that decision is being reconciled to God—having a relationship with Him, meditating on God’s Word—your resource for ammunition against Satan, turning away from anything ungodly, avoiding tempting situations, and being accountable to God and others.

We much too often underestimate how sin operates.  Understanding the nature of sin is very important. To resist temptation and overcome sin, we must be aware that sin is deceptive, divisive, and destructive.  But on the other hand, resisting temptation strengthens your faith because when you resist once, it shows you that you can do it and gives confidence for the next time.

The Bible declares that the devil is the source of all temptation and is called the “tempter.” Matthew 4:3 says “The tempter came to Jesus.”  In previous posts (# 22 through 27) I wrote about the temptations Jesus faced and how He handled them.  Go back and re-read those posts to find further help with temptation and resisting evil.

If we don’t resist the tempter and turn from evil/sin this time, it will be much harder the next time.  Don’t wait for the next time to come to deal with it.  Deal with it on the first encounter.  Sliding down those steps in the picture may have been fun for a resilient kid, but not for an older adult.  Know your strengths and weaknesses and don’t allow the weaknesses to dictate your response.  Ask God for guidance in dealing with the tempter so you will be able to resist just as Jesus did.  Then your peace will be protected.

Ah, the lazy days of Summer!  Or is it the busy days of Summer?  As a kid I looked forward to Summer—no school, sleepovers, pool time, and rides in the back of my uncle’s old pickup truck.  I loved to ride in the back and feel the breeze in my face, my hair blowing in the wind (no such thing as bad hair days back then!), waving to people in other vehicles as we rode along, and occasionally making funny faces at people.  Those were the days!  Things change so quickly.  Twenty years later when I had my own kids, it was unlawful to ride in the back of a truck so they never got to experience that.  Today I wouldn’t want to ride like that because of safety issues, not only due to accidents but because of what could happen when the truck was at a stop or someone who didn’t like you waving at them or whatever…you get the picture.  Things are so much different today than they were 60 years ago when I was a kid.  It’s so sad to think of all we’ve lost over the years.

As I think of the patriotic holidays we’ve just surpassed, I’m reminded of those freedoms that have gradually been taken away from us by laws, people, situations, and losses.  Parents still have children but the things they have to face these days are so much different than what I had to face as a kid.  I know I wasn’t prepared as well as I wish I had been for the working world, marriage, parenting, and life in general, but when I look at the world today, I’m thankful I grew up when and where I did.  We are all facing a different world and it is many times a very unfriendly, intimidating world.  That can eat away at our peace if we let it.

What does your Summer break look like?  Catching up on those house projects?  Playing chauffer to the kids’ activities?  Family vacation on the go?  Or a time of lying back, catching some rays of sun, playing Frisbee, catching lightning bugs, and grilling dogs and s’mores in the backyard?  A break is supposed to be the opportunity to stop everything you are doing, step back, and do something different.  Sure we have projects to work on, and kids need transportation to the pool and sports.  Sure vacation sounds good, but if it’s a hurry-up-let’s-get-to-the-next-place kind of vacation, tensions may run high and plans go amok, leaving everyone exhausted and wishing they were back home.  Make sure your Summer break includes a “stay-cation” not just to work around the house, but also to spend time with family and friends before the return to a busy Fall schedule.  Take time to rest and allow your body to rejuvenate itself.

“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him:
Fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way,
Because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.”
Psalm 37:7, KJV

Resting allows us to quiet ourselves before God and revives our minds, bodies, and spirits.  I like what Got Questions says.  Below is a partial quote.  Go to the link to read the complete article.

Rest in the Lord is a frequently used expression in the Bible. When the psalmist says, “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him” (Psalm 37:7, NKJV), he’s not talking about physical rest that involves taking a break from activity, relaxing, napping, or stopping to gather strength to continue or complete some physical undertaking. Rest in the Lord refers to a spiritual rest from confusion, worry, stress, useless human effort, and a break from all internal, external, mortal, and spiritual enemies.

The Hebrew word translated as “rest” means “to be at peace,” “to be still,” “to be quiet or calm.” In place of “rest in the Lord,” some Bible translations say, “Be still before the Lord” (ESV and NIV), “Be silent before the Lord” (CSB), “Surrender yourself to the Lord” (GW), and “Be still in the presence of the Lord” (NLT). These versions convey the essential idea that to rest and be at peace, one must dwell in the presence of the Lord, surrendered to His lordship.

from https://www.gotquestions.org/rest-in-the-Lord.html

So take at least some of your Summer Break to rest in the Lord and renew your relationship with Him which in turn will re-balance the rest of your life and keep that peace ever present in your life no matter what comes your way.  Enjoy the Summer!  (It’s not my favorite time of year!  I can’t wait for Fall!)

Someone said, “To hold your peace, keep one’s peace.”  My six-month-old sibling kittens didn’t understand that.  When they played, they went all out tooth and nail, biting, clawing, growling, and chasing each other around.  Sometimes I had to separate them because their play was getting too rough, and I didn’t want them to be so aggressive.  Today 16 years later the gray one I still have gets a little feisty at times.

The dictionary says that if you hold or keep your peace, you do not speak, even though there is something you want or ought to say.  That does sound like peace, to be sure, but how many of us are predetermined to hold their peace?  Most of us like to be free to say what we think even if it does not end in peace.  I must continually guard my tongue and my thoughts from where the words come.  Sometimes I engage the tongue before the brain which is reverse of what I should do.  Hey, I’m not perfect! 

During the times that I have held my peace and allowed the Lord to do His work with the other person, the situation ended much differently—and better—than if I had plunged ahead and spewed out words in frustration or anger.  Which would you rather have—a happy ending or a worse situation than you started with???

Peace involves your mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.  They work together.  Mental is what you’re thinking about.  Physical is how your body is acting or reacting.  Emotional is what you’re feeling in your heart.  Spiritual is about the connection you have (or don’t have) with God.  Let’s do a little experiment.

What are you thinking about right now?  Now be aware of your body.  Is in relaxed or tense?  Is there pain anywhere in your body such as a headache or tight muscle?  Keep that in mind while you think about your emotions.  Do you feel happy? Content? Unsettled? Upset?  Last but not least, how does your faith or spiritual life interact with your mind, emotions, and body?

When steps are not taken to protect your peace, there is a disconnect.  When I find myself becoming tense or irritable, I have to stop and consider what else is going on in my life.  Usually I find the culprit is a thought or emotion…something that upset me…and something which I have not taken time to process and pray about it.  Most of the time when I take time to look at the bigger picture, I can resolve it and feel the peace returning…peace that never actually left, but had just gotten buried under stressors, thoughts, and emotions.

“The Lord will fight for you,
and you shall hold your peace
and remain at rest.”
Exodus 14:14 AMPC

Have you ever gone for a massage?  I have had therapists who did not talk but just massaged the body.  I’ve also had therapists who talked the whole time.  The quiet ones are my favorite because I can really relax the whole body and mind instead of having to think and maybe get uptight about something in the conversation.  That’s kind of what I picture as holding your peace.  No argument, no discussion, no disagreement, just total rest in the arms of the Savior as I hand over to Him the things on my mind, in my emotions, and body. 

There are some benefits of peace.  Reduced stress levels can help our whole body.  Becoming more compassionate endears us to others and shows God’s love.  Our response to negativity is different.  When I’m at peace, I don’t want to be around someone who is always looking on the dark side of things because they could easily drag me down if I let it.  Improved sleep quality is a big one!  Who can’t use better sleep, whether it’s uninterrupted, longer, falling asleep quicker, or just restful?  Managing your emotions efficiently helps deal with things that arise in life in a better way and helps to stay on top of things instead of allowing yourself to be dragged down by others.  Contentment is one I struggle with.  When I’m alone, I want to be with someone; when I’m in a crowd, I want to go home alone.  Contentment arises in many ways.  For you it might be possessions—what you have or don’t have.  Self-restraint is greatly affected by whether you have peace in your heart.

The next time you don’t feel that peace, go back to my experiment and see if you can find out why.  Ask God to show you what’s interfering with your peace.  Peace is a healthy benefit for every part of your being.  Holding it in place is the best way to keep from losing that peace.