November 11, 2019

Got Peace?

This morning, I played a few stories on an audio CD for my young children as we were getting things in order for home school.
The CD played cute little poems and stories that were teaching a concept or moral.
I started to chuckle as I remembered a few years back that some of my kids were listening to this same CD while they were going to bed at night. I came in to check on them, & they were both terrified asking to turn off the stories.
Upon further inspection, I found out that one of the poems had a line saying, "and then she came to eat the children!"
Now, if you are anything like me, when it's time for bed, my mind can start thinking about all the things. My "to do" list starts to grow, & my imagination becomes vivid as I process my day. Relate?
Well, I checked the CD, and quickly realized that the kids were hearing something that wasn't really being said. There was no line that said that the children would be eaten, it's just what they thought they heard.
This reminds me of how many times my inner dialogue is not truth. The enemy wants to kill, steal & destroy. This can happen even in our thought life.
So how do we keep our peace? How can we fight the spiritual battle to keep our hearts & minds on Christ?
It starts with a relationship with God. Then, read your Bible & pray. God will give you understanding of the scriptures through the Holy Spirit. He also gives us the church to edify each other.
Once we learn what God has for us in His Word, we are able to walk in truth & love. This results in peace!
I don't know about you, but my life is full of challenges, decisions & action. It's easy to get overwhelmed & lost in the fast paced days. I have to continually be reminded of the gospel and how it relates to me!
So a scripture that comes to my mind frequently is Philippians 4:8-9 says, Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
When I turn my heart to a place of gratitude, the Lord keeps my heart and mind healthy, and peaceful. 
What scriptures do you meditate on to keep a peaceful, clear heart and mind?

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