Keep Peace

"The devil wants us to feel pressured, and he will use any opportunity. We can choose to not react."

THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS you can't stop in your life. Things subject to time. The behavior of other people. The attempt of the enemy to penetrate your thoughts.

Stuff happens. People make choices. The devil will make an attempt.

You are not responsible for any of those. God does not condemn you when things around you seem to go astray. Condemnation comes from the enemy. You know what that feels like. It's when you keep beating yourself up and asking what you did wrong. Unable to figure it out, you invent something.

But here's the thing. Jesus never condemned anyone. They brought a woman to him who had been caught in adultery and He forgave her. He forgave the thief on the cross. Even if you made a mistake, perhaps you delayed and missed an opportunity, God's forgiveness is always available. He loves you. And why would He get upset with you for what someone else did?

Half the battle of keeping our peace is recognizing the enemy. And sometimes, often, it's making it a battle in the first place. The devil wants us to feel pressured, and he will use any opportunity. We can choose to not react.

Shrug it off. "Not today. I choose to stay at peace." Then focus your thoughts on what is true, honest, pure, lovely, of good report, with any virtue and praise. And here's the best part of that list from Philippians 4:8. When it says "think on," that phrase comes from the Greek word "logos" meaning "the Divine Expression" or "Christ." It's a beautiful description of Him.

He is the Prince of Peace. He came to earth so that we could live in peace, never having up-and-down days. Yes, there will be times when life tries to push us into strife and unrest. But by leaning on the Holy Spirit, by considering Christ, we can pass them by and never lose our peace in the first place.

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)

• True – as in not concealing
• Honest – inviting reverence; honorable, venerated for character
• Just – innocent, holy, righteous, virtuous, faultless, guiltless
• Pure – “Moral and spiritual purity of a very high grade”; absolutely holy
• Lovely – adapted to excite love, and to endear him who does such things
• Good report – Literally, sounding well; fairspeaking, and so winning, gracious
• Virtue – manliness (valor), excellence, praise
• Praise – “Commendation corresponding to the moral value of the virtue.”; laudation, a commendable thing
• Think on – logizomai, to take an inventory, from logos, something said; specifically the Divine Expression, (that is, Christ)

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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com