The Peace of God

"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto Goid. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus".
Philippians 4:6-7

Life can be pretty crazy and confusing at times; actually...most of the time. This has probably been the most difficult year ever. Trying to figure out life, dealing with hurts, spiritual battles and many other things. Sometimes, even the everyday things can be troublesome to deal with. It can get downright overwhelming.

But, I've been learning something - worrying really is worthless, don't do it. Easier said than done, I know. Stuff starts getting crazy and I start going crazy with it. It's so easy to get totally out of focus. Instead of looking to God, I put my focus on the storm; how big those waves are that are crashing down on me. I look at how powerful my spiritual enemy is and forget about the power of the Cross. I look at my brokenness and forget that I am "God's masterpiece" - Ephesians 2:10.

I was praying about a lot of stuff tonight and, as I was praying, remembered that when I go to Him "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep [my heart and mind] through Christ Jesus". In troubled times when I am distressed, confused, frusterated, hurt, or whatever, I have Someone who is watching out for me and who will protect me, no matter how hard it gets.

I'm forgiven..."He is so rich in kindness that he purchased our freedom through the blood of his Son, and our sins are forgiven." Ephesians 1:7

I'm loved..."What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it - we're called children of God!" 1 John 3:1

I have a new heart..."And I will give you a new heart with new and right desires, and I will put a new spirit in you..." Ezekiel 36:26

I have eternal life..."I assure you, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life." John 5:24

God won't ever give up on me..."And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again." Philippians 1:6

After this Battle, Heaven is waiting..."But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior." Philippians 3:20

What's there to really worry about?

Jesus, all for Jesus

Jesus, all for Jesus

Jesus, all for Jesus
All I am and and have and ever hope to be
Jesus, all for Jesus
All I am and and have and ever hope to be

All of my ambitions, hopes and plans
I surrender these into your hands
All of my ambitions, hopes and plans
I surrender these into your hands

For it's only in your will that I am free
For it's only in your will that I am free
Jesus, all for Jesus
All I am and have and ever hope to be

Healer of the brokenhearted

"He heals the brokenhearted,
binding up their wounds."
-Psalm 147:3 NLT

I spent a good hour or two today looking through old pictures of my family. There must have been at least 500 photographs in the two big Tupperware boxes my mom dug out of the laundry room. Some were probably thirty years old, others were much more recent. There was one thing I noticed, though - as time went by, the smiles were fading away and a look of sadness was growing in their eyes...mine as well.

All of us have been wounded...

People let us down...someone important wasn't there...we were given harsh words...we feel unnoticed, unimportant, or unloved. Fill in the blank - we all have something. What's yours?

God's been working on my heart lately. It can be a painful thing to let the hurts...well...hurt. It's much easier to just ignore them in some way. Fill your life with busyness, get obsessed with sports or some other hobby, go from girl to girl or guy to guy trying to find love - that'll work just fine.

But I want to be a person who lives from the heart.

I don't want to kill it. I want to be who God made me to be. I have to admit, right now, I'm quite far from being that person. The real me just sits in hiding, afraid to come out. This isn't good at all. God has put things in me that other people need, but instead...I'm distant, detached, and afraid to love the people that God has put in my life. "You're such a jerk" Satan chimes in, "That person needed encouragement, but once again you failed to give it - That person needed you to love them, but you were too afraid...as usual".

Good thing I serve a God who is going to finish His work in me. Jesus came to "bind up the brokenhearted, [and] proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound" Isaiah 61:1 KJV. My heart is His now. There is nothing that He can't fix and there is no situation that is hopeless with Him.

He is restoring my heart everyday.