Tag: peace

1 Peter 3:10-11 ESV For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;  let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.”

These are wise words that help lead us to good days and a life we can enjoy. It challenges us to keep a guard over our tongues, turn from evil, do good, and to seek and pursue peace. Since our words and actions have an impact, asking God to help us to be mindful in these areas and being sure to talk to Him about our specific struggles will invite Him in to help us. 

We are often ready to get to the next season of life. Especially when we are going through something difficult. However, learning as much as we can right where God has us, will benefit us now and when we enter the next season of life. And the wisdom found in these verses to not indulge in harmful words and evil actions will help us as we go through the learning process. 

We often cannot fully perceive what we are missing out on until we are willing to trust God and obey what He is telling us to do. Then our obedience leads to blessings and better understanding. 

The final words of these verses say to seek peace and pursue it. I have found that peace brings clarity and the ability to better hear God’s voice and follow His leading. We serve a God who is willing to give us peace in exchange for our worries; so cast your worries on Him today because he cares for you (Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Peter 5:7).

Matthew 6:11 NIV, “Give us today our daily bread.”

Lately, I have thought of this verse to remind myself that the Lord is willing to give us our daily bread to navigate our lives. Not only through the trials we may face but also to get through our daily tasks and responsibilities. We just simply have to be willing to ask for help and then surrender to God and trust Him to answer. James 4:2 reminds us that we have not because we ask not. 

When we keep our focus on Jesus, we can take courage knowing He loves us and that even in the midst of our difficulties, He is working all things together for our good (Romans 8:28). The lessons we are learning will make us even more wise and teach us more about the character of our God. And we never know who is watching us; how we act and what we say can inspire others and shine the Light of Jesus into their lives.

God sends us the people and resources we need to help us. He is the source of anything good and He is willing to share His goodness with us everyday. It’s a simple truth that is easy to overlook, especially when we feel pressure to have all the answers. But it’s true, all we have to do is ask. 

Dear Heavenly Father, 

Give us today our daily bread. 

In Jesus name. Amen. 

Galatians 5:16 NLT, “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.”

Most of us can probably agree that it is not always easy to live by the Holy Spirit. As the verse mentions, the sinful nature rises up to entice us. Plus, we live in a hectic world that sends us many signals, signals that work to draw our hearts and minds away from the Lord. Remaining intentional about staying tuned in to the voice and leading of the Holy Spirit will help us to not be lead astray.

When we read and meditate on God’s Word, it will strengthen us so our thoughts and actions stay in line with His will. And honest communication with the Lord about everything through prayer, will remind us that He is with us, is sovereign over our lives and loves us unconditionally. Exchanging our worries for prayer, will also lead us to God’s perfect peace.

We all have times in life where we go through difficult challenges, and our faith and trust in God are tested. During these times, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us may seem especially hard, but no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in, God is willing to help us in our time of need. Remember, nothing we face is too hard for God and He is faithful to us. He never changes. His love always remains the same. 

Psalm 36:5 ESV, “Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.”

Stay tuned in to the Lord. He promises to direct our paths as we trust Him.

Joshua 1:5, “No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.”

The simple truth that God is always with us allows us to keep persevering day by day. When He is on our side, who can stand against us? We all face numerous obstacles, but His love and strength carry us through. It’s difficult because we don’t always understand why things happen or what is happening, but we know He is directing our steps as we trust Him. He will somehow make a way and cause all things to work out for our good because we love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

I have been in awe at God’s perfect timing in my life. First, going all the way back to when I left Florida, in November 2019, and about two months later, the pandemic started. But He allowed me to relocate here to Virginia and start working in February 2020, just in time plus I was able to be closer to my mom and help her out. Second, He lead me to start graduate school in May 2020 and now I just completed my program a week ago, this was the perfect time to finish up school so I can have extra time to focus on other things. Third, this past April, the Lord blessed me with a new home and He allowed it to be in the perfect location. My goal is to turn the house into a rental one day, and help someone else have an affordable home. Fourth, in June, I ended up with two blood clots but God allowed them to be treated before further damage could occur. Plus my daughter returned home from Spain, a week later, which was perfect timing so she could help me and my mom, who has had many health challenges, over the last couple of years especially. Fifth, just this past week, I had a medical procedure done which I am currently recuperating from. And prayerfully it will bring me much relief from an issue I have had for awhile. And lastly, I am also thankful that my daughter just landed a new job after being back in the states less than two months.

Through all of these things, God has remained faithful. He has never left my side and I pray you remember that He will never leave yours. As we endure the trials of this life, our faith gets stronger and we come to better understand who God is and how He works. When He is on our side, who can stand against us?