Disturbing the Peace

I am just going to be honest. This has been a terrible week. I had a friend die in a tragic accident. I had "just before payday stress". I had a really scary fall and I am still waiting for God to do some restoration. Read on to see what God has showed me about coping with a time like this.


Disturbing the Peace
These things I have spoken unto you that in me you might have peace. In this world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer. for I have overcome the world. John 16:33


There are a few pockets of beauty in the dry, flat West Texas landscape, One of them is McBride Canyon. There are trees big enough to climb, and I remember a time when one of our church friends climbed one and stayed there all day. He even had his food tossed up to him and ate in the tree. A few years later we made a trip there for a campout with my brother's cub scout troop. It was special for me because my friend who had moved away came back and camped with us. We talked non-stop for hours. We slept in a pop up camper on one of the bunk beds and our friend and her daughter slept on the other bunk bed. We finally wore our selves out and fell asleep listening to the crickets and frogs and night sounds that were different from what we heard in town. About 5 in the morning our friend got up to take her little girl to the bathroom. We woke up as they were leaving the camper. We lay there in the dark and listened again to the quiet sounds, then of course started talking.We talked about being away from civilization which we knew so much about at 12 years old. After a few minutes, one of us wondered if there were bears in these "woods". Our imaginations ran with that for a few minutes, even though the nearest bear was probably 700 miles away. We had started to quiet down when we heard a sound that struck terror in our hearts. The zipper on the camper. We jumped sky high, sure that a bear had  not only found its way to the Texas Panhandle, but learned how to unzip a camper. I said the only thing I could think of. "Who Goes There?" This was met by hysterical laughter, not from a bear, but our friend and her daughter.


God has offered us peace as one of the fruits of the spirit. He has promised to fight our battles and carry our burdens and bind up the broken hearted. He has promised that he will never leave us or forsake us. Unfortunately we also have an enemy who wants nothing more than to disturb our peace. He will work in our minds and speak through other people. He will bring difficult situations He will tempt us to worry or resent and then hit us with guilt when we succumb to these temptations. Talk about playing both ends against the middle. How do we combat this when it comes?


The first thing is to put on our armor. Ephesians 6:10-17 reads


Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God
 I don't know about you but I need to read and remember this every day, especially in hard times. Us the shield of faith and the sword of the spirit.


Second remember the promises of God, including these words of Jesus.


These things I have spoken unto you that in me you might have peace. In this world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer. for I have overcome the world. John 16:33

 Jeremiah 29:11 says  For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.


Micah 7:8 us one that I go to in hard times. Do not rejoice over me my enemy for though I fall I will rise again, and though I sit in darkness the Lord will be my light.


Finally I have a challenge for you. Try to come up with a part of your identity in Christ fro each letter of the alphabet. For example, Accepted, Beloved, Cherished, Delivered, Forgiven,


These things can help us through weeks like this and any time the enemy tries to come against us. Also lets commit to holding each other up in prayer. Ask God who needs you to fight for them and swing those swords.

Be still


Psalms 46:10 Be still and know that I am God.


I was watching the ducks at the park the other day. They appear to be sitting perfectly still on top of the water. I learned, though, that their feet are paddling 90 to nothing where we can't see them. I love to swim. It is a good workout and it is relaxing. On thing that I do for cardio is to tread water. My head is above water and I look relaxed but my legs and arms are in constant motion to keep me afloat. On the other hand, if I relax and lean my head back and let my muscles relax, I will float.If I want to keep afloat with no effort, I can use a floatation device like a ball, kickboard or noodle.
 I am not going to lie. As soon as I hit save on this post, I entered a situation where I have to be still. I have learned again that I have to let God be in control of my loved ones and my life. I have so many ideas of things that I can do to help God get things fixed more quickly. I can tread water furiously and thrash and flail, That is not what I am supposed to be doing though.  What I am supposed to be doing  is pray, praise the Lord, and be still . These are the words that He has given me.
First my verse that I love and hate. Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, exalted in the earth. Psalms 46:10-11.
Exodus 14:13
 “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. ¹⁴ The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
Ephesians 6:13.Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
1 Samuel 12:16
“Now then, stand still and see this great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes!


Right now I do not feel very confident but it is  not about feelings. God is good and he is faithful. I am probably not the only one who needs to hear this now so we will stand together.