Rambling today about having peace in my life…
- Do you want more peace in your life? I do. The world brings some serious chaos, doesn’t it?
- Do you think you can just flash a peace sign and peace will come your way? I wish!
- So first, let me offer a bit of theology. Jesus = peace.
- Know Jesus, know peace. No Jesus, no peace. Saw that on a bumper sticker.
- Trusting Jesus alone for the forgiveness of our sins and for our hope of eternal life (and a right relationship with God) brings peace.
- Someone who loves you and forgives you and doesn’t make you pay take some working through. But the peace is unimaginable. Really.
- Second, let’s talk about all the chaos. Calamities, global events, government, crime. How can we have peace in the midst of all this?
- A few practical things I try…
- I don’t watch a lot of news. I keep informed. But, I have to remember that news channels seek ratings by making consumers feel unsettled.
- At its very nature, the news will only bring you alarm.
- I try to act. I try to find specific people to pray for. I read about specific people trying to help.
- We can never stop hurricanes, wars, etc. from happening. We can pray for and support those acting in the middle of it.
- I worship the Lord. I play music, I sing in my heart to God. I trust Him. I try to do this especially when the chaos presses in hard.
- I read the Bible. I’m not here to brag, but to encourage.
- I don’t know how anyone will relate well to God and find peace in this world without reading God’s Word.
- And don’t just read it, let the Bible infiltrate your thinking. Who is God? Who are we? What are we reading and how can we obey?
- I think about others. Not just due to that whole “pastor” title, but I find serving people a way to get my mind off my own concerns and troubles.
- I try to make time to enjoy things. A bowl of ice cream. My favorite cereal. A small treat at a fast food joint…every once in a while.
- Things I wish I did more…watch meaningful programming, pray in quiet without feeling the need to do something, use my words more gracefully, sin less.
- These things would all increase peace. But, I mention them to demonstrate the process.
- Peace, after all, makes the list of “fruit of the Spirit”. Fruit doesn’t grow quickly. It takes time. More peace in our lives will take time.
- What do you do to pursue it?