Is it possible to live anxiety-free and in peace? To be “anxious for nothing,” as the apostle Paul mandated us believers? Anxiety is a distracting care that diverts our attention from the eternal Lord to temporal, earthly concerns. It not only divides our minds, but also weighs us down. Whether nagging worries, debilitating panic, or any other expression of it, anxiety has powerful and negative effects on the body, and we’ve all experienced it.
Pursuing Peace in My Emotions
Our emotions are a gift from God, to help us experience life more fully. Every emotion is good, and we are to experience them all, at the right time, in the right way. So how can we discover the peace of God and how the God of Peace helps us shape healthy expressions of emotions that honor God, bless others, and benefit ourselves? If we are going to experience peace within and around us, then we have to become skilled at identifying, expressing, and managing our emotions.
Pursuing Peace from My Shame
What is shame, and why is it such a large part of the human experience? Shame is the emotion that accompanies guilt; it churns like a hurricane in the soul, causing anxiety, isolation, and despair. So how do we release that emotion back to a place of peace? We must recognize God uses our pain for good, to conform us to the image of Christ, and give us a greater platform of ministry to those who have shared experiences.
Pursuing Peace in My Disciplines
Cultivating peace is not just a choice to “be still in the Lord,” hoping it will suddenly fall upon us. Experiencing peace is learned as Philippians 4:11 teaches us: “Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.” Experiencing peace is directly proportional to how strongly we are committed to the choices that will produce peace in us. The peace of God is not beyond comprehension; if we are not connected to the source of peace, we will fail to experience peace.
Pursuing Peace in a World Gone Mad
Peace doesn’t really seem to describe the experience of many in recent weeks, months, or years. In our pursuit of peace, we must realize that it is more than a feeling of calm or tranquility; peace is more than good luck or feeling blessed. Peace is also more than avoiding conflict or war. The Word of God gives us an understanding of the importance of peace and the pathway to obtain it.
No Butter Knives: Using the Sword of the Spirit
There are two great offensive weapons given to us by God: they are prayer and the Word of God, or Sword of the Spirit. We can tend to think of Ephesians 6 and the armor of God when we think of warfare. The armor of God is the defensive suit we wear into battle. The use of our offensive weapons starts with meditation … Read More
7 Tips to Make a Great Apology
When we are under a lot of stress, our anger may bubble over and scorch someone. Then what? We may think that we are justified in our anger and that the other person deserved our hot words or our icy stare. But Scripture provides a better way: confession leading to forgiveness. In other words: an apology! Jack and Jill needed … Read More
You Don’t Have to be Perfect
Are we keeping score of how well we are doing? Do we strive to keep ourselves on task whether it is managing a business, our family’s lives, or our own? Do we want to motivate, influence, and be people others want to follow? When it comes to evaluating our success, do we often fall into the trap of thinking that we must be … Read More
Why Wishing for the “Good Old Days” Will Destroy You
“Can we just get back to normal?” Perhaps you find yourself fatigued by circumstances over the last year and wonder this exact question. While this is a normal question to ask, especially after times of grief, difficulty and hardship, it often leads us to an unhealthy mindset. The book of Ecclesiastes provides us with some thought-provoking counsel when we are … Read More
