Can't find peace? It's closer than you think!

Can't find peace?  It's closer than you think.  How to tap into the peace that only the Holy Spirit can provide.


What would you say are the top circumstances that people say would give them peace?  I am thinking good health and a long life.

There is a couple that I follow on Instagram and You Tube who are not Christians, but their zest for life and travel is contagious!  I've gone to many parts of the world with them and it is amazing all the stunningly beautiful places that the Lord has created on Earth for His creation to enjoy.

But one of the most contagious attributes about them is their positivity.   They seem to have mastered living in the moment and enjoying life to the fullest like a small child seeing something for the first time.

Their company actually created a gratitude journal.  They definitely live out a life of gratitude.

But one thing that always makes me bristle is when they talk about "the Universe giving them this or that".  It makes me sad really that they seem to have captured a way to live in peace and happiness that many Christians haven't attained, (waving my hand wildly over here), but they don't know the ONLY One who gives true peace.  We, however, do know the One that gives true peace, but too often live in fear and worry.

It's a well known fact that stress kills. That's the most stressful sentence I've every blogged!  lol.  But seriously, stress, worry, anxiety, living a sinful life and making unhealthy choices, all will lead to significant health problems.

But the Lord has provided the answer to cultivating a long life lived well...

“Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the rules—that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it,  that you may fear the Lord your God, you and your son and your son's son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long.  Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, 
Deuteronomy 6:1-3

The Peace that Comes From Letting Go


I don't know if Facebook is reading my mind again, but I keep having articles about anxiety appearing in my newsfeed.  And I will say most of them have been encouraging reads.  Well done Facebook!  Haha.

But seriously, yesterday I read one that really resonated with me in this season of debilitating anxiety.  The person in the article recognized that an anxiety attack she had had was directly related to not letting go of something she needed to.  Once she let go, her anxiety resolved.  Now she didn't divulge what she had to let go of, but it caused me to analyze my own anxiety and the ugly truth came forward...

I need to let go of control.   That which is at the root of my anxiety is based on lack of trust in God and His faithfulness.  Lack of trust in His will for my life.  Lack of trust in His provision if my worst fears were to be realized.  And lack of carrying God's statutes, commandments and Words close to my heart.

If I or any of us were to follow God's command above, indeed life would go well AND we would avoid stress related illnesses that can take a serious toll.

The Peace that Comes from Throwing Away Junk


I heard a story yesterday that I will modify, but the basic gist was a man came to seek wisdom from a master, but never stopped talking to even hear what the master had to say.  While the man was  talking, the master got up and filled his own tea cup to the brim and then began pouring into the man's cup, but once it was full, he just kept pouring and pouring.  The man yelled out "Stop!  Your spilling tea all over the table." The master then proceeded to explain that the teacup represented the man who wouldn't stop talking long enough to listen.  He was like the cup which was so full and overflowing, there was no room to take anything new in.  In the man's case, he wouldn't learn anything because he felt he knew it all already.  The master said, you need to empty yourself of yourself so that you can become wiser.

We are like this with our own selfish desires and thoughts OR when we are consumed with worry and what-ifs.  Our minds are filled with so much junk, that God's Words, Commands and Promises have nowhere to go, nowhere to stick and no way to make a difference in our lives.

 If we were to conduct ourselves with a Holy, healthy fear of the Lord, to seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, to consume His Words to the point that it will crowd out any selfishness, sin or worry from our lives, He will add everything to us.  It WILL go well with us, and we WILL add years to our lives.

When God's Words and Commandments are at the forefront of our minds, our go-to mindset in any struggle, whether a trial, a temptation or a selfish thought, will be God is faithful.  He will keep His promises to me.  His Words are true.  He is mighty to save.  He will provide.

True peace comes from peace with God and His Faithfulness  


The couple I mentioned earlier, do have a chink in their armor.  They have repeated on several occasions that "If you don't have your health, you DON'T have ANYTHING."  I thought to myself, whoa!  That's going to be a problem for them one day because everyone will suffer with some health crisis and everyone will die. They can do all the positivity and gratitude, which is indeed wonderful and healthy, and eat all the healthy plant-based foods, BUT they WILL crash when their health gives way and they can't travel anymore and do all the external and internal things that seem to make them happy.  Because at the end of the day, without the peace of Christ living inside of them, everything they are finding their happiness in WILL fade away...

That's not to say that we as Believers don't fall into a faith crisis with bad health, but we are sealed by the Holy Spirit, and the Lord is faithful whether or not we are faithful.

if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.
2 Timothy 2:13



To read more about God's faithfulness, please click on the following:


                                                        God's Waiting for you in the Fire



The key to true peace in life is a steady diet of God's Word, a healthy prayer life and constant communion with the Holy Spirit who is as close as your breathing.  Even though the storms of life WILL blow, there is a peace that resides deep within you that nothing can touch.  Nourish that peace with all that God provides.

And we can say with the Psalmist...

I remain confident of this: 
I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
Psalm 27:13




You might find me on these link-ups:

Grace & TruthWoman to Woman Ministries, Inspire Me MondayA Wise Women Builds Her HomeSpiritual Sundays, Soul Survival,  Good Morning MondaysTell His StoryFaith & Fellowship Blog Hop  Tuesday Talk   Faith 'N Friends Sitting Among Friends   House to Home  ,Wonderful Wednesday , Literacy Musings Mondays,Imparting GraceDance with Jesus Booknificent Thursdays  Fresh Market Friday Moments of Hope Wonderful Wednesdays , Tea & Word Tuesday Heart Encouragement Thursday Hearts for Home Messy Marriage Link-up Friday at the Fire Station Link-up Tune In Thursday Faith on Fire Link-upSunday Scripture Blessings Link-up, Sunday ThoughtsWriter Wednesday, Faith Filled Friday God Sized Dreams Link-Up Sitting Among Friends Be Thee Inspired Graceful Tuesday Link-up Aprons & Pearls Link-up Trekkingthru Link-up  Encouraging Word Wednesday  Grace Moments Link-up  Encouraging Hearts and Home Worth Beyond Rubies Seeking Sabbath Scripture and a Snapshot IHeart Verse Welcome Heart

Comments

  1. Amen. I am studying Deuteronomy with women from my church. God asks us to be obedient, to live remembering his Word daily. I enjoyed your post

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    1. Hi Carol, Oh! Thanks for sharing that!

      Indeed He does.

      Thank you so much for your kind words. I enjoyed your visit!

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  2. I loved reading your thoughts here. I relate way too much to the tendency to want control! It's an ongoing battle. I constantly need to be reminded of God's love and faithfulness and that I CAN trust him!

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    1. Hi Lesley, Aw, well thank you.

      I'm right there with you!

      Praising God for His faithfulness and trustworthiness.

      Thanks so much for stopping by.

      Delete
  3. I love the statement on faith in the verse from 2 Timothy you included here. All of our faith comes from God. His faithfulness should be a shining example for the rest of us. Blessings to you!

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    1. Indeed, all of our faith comes from God. As you say, His faithfulness is such an incredible example to us all and not only is it an example, but He is ready to shine through us! :-)

      Blessings to you too!

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  4. Wow! I know I have said it before, but I have a new favorite post of yours, my friend. THIS post! It is SO full of truth. Where do I begin? If I had to say a line that resonated most deeply, it is this one, "empty yourself of yourself so that you can become wiser." I could SO relate to ALL you said, as you well know, I struggle severely with anxiety. And you are right. It is all because of me not wanting to let go and release "control," as if I really have any over anything at all. One day I was praying and the Lord showed me that when I don't trust Him like I should, it is the same as being suspicious of Him. Whew. Talk about feeling horrible. I don't want to live life like I am suspicious of God, as I know His very nature is love and goodness. He also showed me how much it would hurt me if I saw our dear son crying and worrying over his basic needs, when he knows we, as his parents, will do anything and everything we need to do to make sure he is okay and provided for. God showed me that it is the same way with Him. It hurts Him to see me so anxious and fearful and worried when I know in my heart that He has promised to take care of us. So, your post was just such a blessing to me today, as are all of your posts. Sending much love to you today!

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    1. Hi Cheryl, Oh my! You are indeed my biggest cheerleader! Whenever I start to grow weary of blogging, you always pop into my mind and spur me on to keep on writing what the Lord lays on my heart. Words cannot express how much your encouragement means to me.

      I loved what you siad, "as if I have any control over anything at all". Those words just hit me afresh!

      Wow! Thank you so much for sharing what the Lord showed you of how it would feel if your son seemed "suspicious" of you. I had to read that word over and over again and it convicted me over and over again. Indeed, we are acting suspicious when we don't trust God and His will.

      I love and appreciate you soooo much! Sending you many blessings.

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  5. We have had one of those situations lately where the ONLY way to find peace was to rest in Him and He is faithful when we do!

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    1. Hi Donna, I'm glad you found peace during a difficult situation.

      Praising God for His faithfulness to you and your family.

      Thanks so much for stopping by.

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  6. A steady diet of God's Word, wonderful and He left us His peace, we just have to receive it. John 14:27 And isn't it hard to talk to people who know it all?

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    1. Hi Rebecca, Thanks for sharing! Indeed Jesus said, My peace I leave with you, look not as the world gives, look to me. Great addition to the post!

      Thanks for stopping by.

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  7. Sometimes letting go and leaving it to God is the only way to conquer problems.

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    1. Hi Carol, Amen! Thanks so much for stopping by. :-)

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  8. Wonderful! You really opened my eyes to a few things. Thank you so much for sharing this!

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    1. Praising God that your eyes were opened about a few things. :-)

      You are very welcome. Thanks so much for visiting.

      Delete
  9. Peace...such a wonderful feeling on the days that I'm at peace. I've always been a worrier and have anxiety to some degree, but reading the word as you say has definitely helped. :)

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    1. Hi Peabea, Indeed!

      I have found the very same thing! :-) It is a healing balm to an anxious heart.

      Thanks for stopping by.

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  10. So much good here, Karen! The peace --- the need to let go of or surrender --- and the role gratitude plays. I nodded my head again and again. Amen!!!

    Thank you for sharing hope, my friend!
    Blessings,
    Lori

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    1. Hi Lori, Thank you so much for your kind words. I appreciate them. :-)

      You are very welcome!

      Thanks so much for visiting!

      Delete

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