Tag: peace

Who or What’s Your ‘Go-to’?

Bad news surrounds us as new viruses abound, gas and food prices continue to soar, and corruption, violence, and lawlessness becomes more pervasive. It sure can become easy to get caught up with all that’s wrong.

                Who or where you turn to when the going gets tough will determine your state of peace. 

What’s your ‘go-to’?  A ‘go-to’ is the person or thing most trusted to accomplish a purpose, and relied on regularly for expert knowledge, skill, or performance. When we operate out of our fleshly sinful nature ‘quick fixes’ like shopping, gambling, over-eating, drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, etc. are easy to turn to. Some of these alone aren’t necessarily bad in moderation, but when they become our ‘go-to’ the tendency to overindulge, binge, and engage in addictive behavior brings enslavement—not lasting peace. Other drawbacks regarding these ‘go-tos’ are buyer’s remorse, debt, weight gain, ill-health, and premature death. And just as detrimental (when used in excess) is technology in the forms of social media, videos, and online gaming as they high-jack our time away from true, meaningful relationships and experiences. When our ‘go-to’ is our self we can become over controlling and then ironically spiral out of control when things don’t go as we’ve planned.

                Maybe you do turn to God as your ’go-to’ (mostly) but struggle with staying on a steadfast course with Him. It’s easy to get side-tracked, distracted, or preoccupied with earthly things. The author Bob Goff said, “Distraction robs us of the ability to both live in the moment and discern what lasts.”  Cultivating a long-term perspective is necessary because it’s in the things of God that one receives the best return on investment of their time (Phil. 3:20, Col. 3:1-2). The apostle Paul said, “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come” (1 Tim. 4:8).  Paul wrote in his 2nd letter to the Corinthians, “Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Cor. 4:16-18).  

                If you’ve ever tried to hold still and balance on one leg, you might’ve found that you could do it longer when your focus was on what you were doing. Once your mind starts veering to other things, you’re inclined to teeter and then fall.  We all know that’s how it is for most things, whether it’s putting in too much (or too little) of an ingredient in baking or tripping and running into something when our mind wanders. Those who take their attention off the road (either by texting or other distractions) while they’re driving are more apt to get into an accident.  We can also be headed for a crash in the same way when we divert our focus away from the Lord and onto our troubles, taking on a posture of fear instead of standing firmly in God’s strength (Eph. 6:10-11, 13). A mind that’s ever renewed with God’s truth remembers that He is so much more reliable, infallible, and eternally powerful than we are or whatever (or whoever) is in the world (Rom. 12:2, 1 John 2:16-17, 4:4). God is the only good, pure, righteous, and superior source to turn to. Our sight is limited while God is all-knowing and not bound by time (Isa. 46:9-10, 40:21-31, Rev. 1:8).

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“He will not be afraid of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord” (Psalm 112:7).

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Our faith is built as we stay in God’s Word and communicate with Him on a daily basis. This helps us to stay in ‘trust-in-God’ mode rather than turn to lesser things. Those who are steadfast in faith repel the devil’s fiery darts (Eph. 6:16, 1 Pet. 5:8-9). Those who cast all their anxieties on the Lord have a peace that passes all understanding as their hearts and thoughts are guarded in Christ Jesus (1 Pet. 5:7, Phil. 4:6-7). It’s helpful to get in a habit of declaring God’s lovingkindness in the morning and His faithfulness every night (See Psalm 92:2). In the morning we can direct our voice to the Lord and look up to Him for direction as we begin our day (Psalm. 5:3, Prov. 3:5-7).   In the evening it’s just as important to refocus our minds on Him instead of on earthly worries. We can put them to rest for the night when we give them to the Lord in prayer (Phil. 4:6).

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“I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep:  For You, Lord, only make me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8).

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                This summer disconnect and disengage from your temporary ‘go-tos’. Think long term. Be available to notice the beauty and the opportunities that the Lord has allowed you to be a part of for His greater purposes (Eph. 2:10). Be present in the moment. Pay attention to whatever is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, things of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy. Meditate on these things (Phil 4:8). Let the Lord be your ‘go-to’ and allow your heart to stand in awe of His Word and bring you peace (Psalm 119:161, Isa. 26:3).  

Laura

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CONTENT OR CONTENTIOUS?

Content Heart
Content Heart by Laura Kestly

More, newer, bigger, faster, younger—now—’on demand’! Need a quick fix? There’s a pill for that and another pill for the side effects. We’ve gotten to a point in society where even the Joneses can’t keep up.
It’s not God who causes discontentment. God has made man upright (Eccl. 7:29). The fall of man is entirely due to disobedience to the will and word of God. James 1:13-16 states that the cause of man’s temptation with evil is within himself and his own lust that entices him to err, setting up the never ending cycle of satisfying the insatiable lusts of the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21). It’s envy that makes the bones rot and a desire to be rich that snare many into traps of temptation and foolish and harmful lusts that drown them in destruction and perdition (Prov. 14:30, 1 Tim. 6:9-10).
God’s words and ways direct man’s path in righteousness and bring health to his bones (Prov. 3:5-8). A wholesome fear of God compensates and calms one in the midst of the fallen inequities and strife of this life. Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it’s certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content (1 Tim. 6:6-8).
The new man looks beyond the present life that’s filled with inequalities and is wise to remember that this world is out of joint by reason of sin, and any attempt to straighten crooked things apart from Redemption is the worst vexation of all (Eccl. 1:14-15, 7:13).
It’s a challenge to be content when one suffers evil and experiences illness, loss, loneliness, etc. Just listening to the news and state of affairs in this world gives cause for discontentment.
Instead of allowing the limited horizon of this life to dictate one’s actions, arouse one’s anger and lead one in the vain pursuit of improving the old nature– how much better to remember that life in Christ is enough. For a believer it’s more than enough—they are complete in Him, where all the fullness of the Godhead bodily dwells, the head of all principality and power (Col. 2:9-10)! All things through Him & His strength can be done, including the ability to be patient in spirit, be even tempered and content in whatever condition one is presently in. As the mind meditates on the praiseworthy & virtuous–whatever is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, there is always a cause to rejoice in the Lord (Phil. 4:4-8, 11-13).
Contentment can be found with a view that is occupied with life beyond the grave even though presently wickedness is sitting in the place of judgment (Eccl. 3:16). All have to deal with time and chance as the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong (Eccl. 9:11). Life can still be unfair with mysteries of providence that are perplexing (Eccl. 6:12, 8:14, 17). God alone holds all things in His hands and works all things according to His purposes. The day will come when all will be set straight/right (Eccl. 3:17). Until then trust in Him, abound in thanksgiving and hold fast to hope without wavering for He who promised is faithful (Col. 2:6-7, Heb. 10:23). In this crazy fallen world filled with random terror attacks, greed, corruption and misplaced power, true peace and contentment can only be found from above.
“I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for you Lord only, make me dwell in safety”

Laura

 

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