Category Archives: Bible Verse

Bible Verse, Emotions

Find Peace Within

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“If you cannot find peace within yourself, you will never find it anywhere else”- Marvin Gaye

 

It’s hard to find peace today.  Watch any news program and you’ll be reminded of the wars and violence that are so prevalent around the world, in each of our countries, our cities, and even in some of our own neighborhoods.  Greed, hatred, selfishness, and a love of power has seeped in and stolen others’ innocence, faith in humanity, and an outward peace that we wish was reigning in humanity today.  We’ve learned that we can’t find peace in the world and that has left some of us feeling despondent.

It’s difficult to find peace in our daily lives as well.  Money troubles, school or job stress, our personal hang-ups or struggles, family or relationship problems, and even social media drama.  The list seems endless as we deal with the messy details in our lives.  These dilemmas can leave us full of anxiety, worry, and fear.  Sometimes we can turn to friends and family, but they will eventually fail us at some point, because they are only human also.

If we can’t find true peace in the world or in other people, where can we find it?  We have to look inside ourselves.  But can we create peace on our own?  No, we have to look to God.

“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:5-7

This verse always challenges me.  As a person who gets social anxiety in a crowded room or when I’m meeting new people, it’s hard to overcome my feelings and be at peace.  I also worry about the distant future and even what might happen to me in a coming week.  I forget that God is in control of everything and that He has already taken care of my future.  I focus on my circumstances instead of talking to Him about them.

If we would learn to let go and change our mindset about our lives, we might just find the serenity we desire.  Instead of opening our souls to dread and worry, we should greet each day with eager optimism and unbridled hope.  We can’t depend on the world or other people to create a peaceful atmosphere around us, but we can learn to find inner peace through prayer and surrender.  We have to give up trying to orchestrate our lives and remember that He is in control already.

Bible Verse, Love

A New Creation

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beasttransformation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:  The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corin. 5:17

 

If you have accepted Jesus’ death as payment for your wrongdoing, you are a new creation.  No longer are you a slave to evil desires.  You want to please God, because He has transformed you into a brand new person.

Before Christ, you lived according to the flesh as stated in Galatians 5:19-21, “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”  You were a vile beast that couldn’t be controlled and only thought of yourself.  You didn’t want to obey God and you didn’t have the power to do so.

Now with Christ, you desire to live in the Spirit:  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22, 23  You are a new creature.  You want to obey God and you have the freedom to pursue righteousness.

In ‘Beauty and the Beast’, a prince is turned into a beast to help teach him a lesson.  He has a temper and spends most of his days selfishly.  Over time, he is transformed by the love of Belle.  Just as the prince becomes a new person, we too are changed by an unconditional love.

Sometimes I forget how I once was and how much I’ve been changed.  I look closely at the minor mistakes I’ve made and the things I’ve done wrong.  It’s easy for me to ignore what I’m doing right, because I’m a perfectionist.  But perfection doesn’t exist for humans.  That’s precisely why God sent Jesus to die in place of us, because we can’t live according to God’s law in our own strength.  That’s where grace comes in.  Grace looks past the flaws and sees what someone can become.  I have to remember that when I’m thinking about myself.  I have to look through the eyes of grace as God does with me.  He doesn’t see me as an out of control beast anymore.  He sees me as royalty.  He sees me as a new creation.