Pleas for Peace!
I’ve been finding myself pleading for peace lately. It’s a word that keeps surfacing in my thoughts and prayers. “Lord, give me peace”, I plead with Him. “I just want peace.” Peace in my soul. Peace of mind. Peace for our country. Peace for our nation. PEACE! Fear overrides peace. Then He reminds me, that I have peace. Peace is within me by way of the Holy Spirit when I accepted Christ as my savior many years ago. So if I have been given peace, why don’t I feel peace? That I’ve come to realize is on me! My choices reflect whether I feel peace or not. When I stay connected to God through reading the word, praying, meditating, being still and abiding in Him, the result is peace. When I allow myself to be distracted by the uncertainty of this world, I experience an uneasiness within my soul. Conflict within my mind and body, which is the opposite of peace and the opposite of God’s plans for me. His plans are to prosper, not to harm. He provides peace that surpasses all understanding. My distractions, my negative thoughts, my drifting, my disobedience result in the inner conflict I experience. The same conflict the world experiences when we do not lean into the amazing gift He alone provides…PEACE. I literally have a peace sign tattooed on my body. There was a time I regretted the choice I made in getting a tattoo. I wrestled with the question of, “Is God upset with me for defiling my body?” (A previous church I attended did not preach the grace gospel but the list of what not to do, guilt and shame gospel, which caused me to regret and beat myself up over my choice to get a tattoo.) The tattoo is literally a permanent visual reminder of peace. It’s also a reminder of my yesteryears when I was much more of a risk taker and did things on a whim with not a whole lot of thought involved. I definitely didn’t make it a priority to seek God’s wisdom before taking a step. I’ve believed in God on some level for as long as I can remember. However, it wasn’t until about 10 years ago that I began a real personal relationship with Christ and had a clearer understanding of what He did for me. How much he loves me. The grace He gives! Grace. Thank you God! God hears my pleas for peace and answers with, you already have it! I’ve given it to you. It’s yours. Stay connected to me, feel it and go share it!!! I’ve released the guilt I had over my tattoo because of his grace and now look at it as a tangible reminder of his peace within me that truly does surpass all understanding, no pleas required.
Thank you Lord for your peace!
Shine bright,
Teresa
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27 NIV