This evening we’re stepping into our third week with the MaverickRx Fruit of the Spirit Challenge. We’re hopeful that you’ve been able to take a pause with each email so far and think about how the fruits can positively impact your mindset. Last week we talked about joy and how it nurtures our relationship with God.
Remember to join us on Thursday at 8:15 a.m. on Facebook to share your thoughts and get a little inspired, too.
Let’s get to it! This week we’re talking about PEACE!
SCRIPTURE:
Luke 1: 78-79 New Living Translation (NLT)
Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.”
REFLECTION:
We experience times in life when we feel like God really came through for us, don’t we? A prayer was answered, a child healed, a marriage renewed, a sunset enjoyed. Those times we fall comfortably into God’s peace and feel at ease.
Then there are the hard times when we feel as though we are very alone, lacking direction, hearing no answers, or not in control. In those times, when we feel hopeless we have to choose to lean into God as much as possible – to seek his peace, deliberately reminding ourselves of the good work he has done and will most certainly do again.
A few weeks ago Rhonda came to my Pilates class and we were talking about the upcoming weekend. Her mind was in a whirlwind – because she had a lot on her plate in a single day: softball games, relatives visiting, packing grandparents for a move. We talked about how it will all “work out as it should” and I encouraged her to just take one step at a time. (Something she’s told me a gazillion times!) Saturday came around and the games were rained out, the visiting relatives changed their plans, and all she ended up needing to work on was moving her grandparents.
In the moments when we feel overwhelmed, Rhonda and I often remind each other of the times when things just “work out as they should”. It rarely goes as we expect it to go, but it always goes as it should. In hindsight it is plain to see. But in the moment, it requires deliberate choice to be at peace with not being in control.