Ever feel like God is talking to you about something specific, and He's saying "Get this, and get it NOW?" That is the urgency I've sensed with understanding His peace. (I refuse to wonder WHY I need so urgently to get it right this second, because i just don't need to let my mind go there)
Specifically, He's talking to me about how His peace is directly related to acknowledging and submitting to His authority over my life. I get that.
Here I mentioned that following God can be really inconvenient. I had the well thought out idea that Mike really shouldn't take Kim-11yr and Ethan-6yr on this cruise. I had a TON of reasons, mostly stemming from the ugly/unhealthy family dynamics we've got going on right now. I always worry when the kids are away, but I couldn't even imagine how much worse it would be this time. For SO many reasons, this was a bad idea for them.
But Mike insisted.
I brattily said, "Fine! You tell God to change my mind, because that's the ONLY way I'll agree." Ha! I thought I had it in the bag. No way was that gonna happen.
But it did. God said 'let them go.' So I did.
I haven't worried about them at all.
Peace accompanied submitting to the Prince of Peace. I couldn't have predicted it, and it didn't make sense until I started getting into the lesson on peace this week.
So, if I'd done it my way, my kids would not be in Mexico right now. I would not be relaxed, I assure you, I would be caught up in the ugly/unhealthy family dynamics we have going on right now. Peace would not be mine, or theirs. I would have chosen what i THOUGHT was peace - but it would have been my way. And thank God that His ways are not our ways and his peace is a whole lot better than my idea of peace!
What I keep sensing is He's pointing out that to a degree peace is a CHOICE. Hmm. It's not just mine, just because? Nope. Not if I choose not to submit to the Prince of Peace.
Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
So it's that "Let" God is talking about. I can 'let' or 'not let' peace rule in my heart. And I can choose to be thankful, or not.
Living Beyond Yourself, Not Eloquent or Fancy:
Choose to submit to the Prince of Peace. (Don't decide you know what's best, Kels, and keep your kids from the blessing of seasickness and sunburns.)
In this instance, this is 'letting' peace rule.
Then, get a good attitude about it, be grateful, and don't be a brat.
(i wanted to post now, since I'm supposed to, but I'm still going over the homework and studying this stuff.)
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Sherry |
Tara | |
| Heather | HolyMama! | Eph2810 |
| Christy | Jenn | Karin |
This is a list of the women participating in the study and the links to their blogs. New postings on the study will be published weekly, between Friday 8pm - Saturday 8am. Please feel free to visit each of us and comment. Everyone is welcome to participate in this discussion as we seek to live beyond ourselves. May God bless you richly from the hearing of His word. | ||
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Your Comments
Brilliant! Inspiring! What a great post! You are right--in the midst of struggle, pain, and uncertainty--it just doesn't make sense to choose peace. That is, of course, unless you are personally related to the Author of all Peace! And you are such a child of God!
I can totally relate to your anxiety. thanks for being such a great model--through good times AND the unavoidable difficult times we experience.
Blessings!
Diane
I love that you pointed out the choice aspect. So many times we like to cast ourselves as the victim of a lack of peace.
This was very similar to what God was trying to show me. Very similar. And I agree, about continuing to study. I wish I could stretch each of these aspects out for a whole month there's just SO MUCH!!!
Thanks Kelsey!
Ahhh, I can so totally relate to this. Remember when I told you about my oldest having to go away a few weeks ago to see "other relatives"? Well, I had a peace like none other - peace like a river as the old hymn goes. It was amazing. I did not worry. I even tried to and couldn't! I am so so happy for you. I hope this turns things around in a positive way. At least I'm praying for that :)
Even if it started as means to keep the kids home, I think it is so great you turned to God to find the peace in letting them leave. See what that has opened up for you? I don't think you would have been relaxing and going out and enjoying yourself in your new social life even you hadn't found that peace first.
I know that submitting to His ways are sometimes so very hard...I don't know what I can't sometimes, but when I do, oh it is so much better to get through this life. You know, some days I just wish I would be already in heaven and can talk things over with Him face-to-face. But I guess He is not finished with me down here.
God's peace is always there for us, Kelsey, but sometimes we are too overwhelmed, angry, hurt, grief-stricken, or just plain rebellious to turn to Him, seeking it. Or in my case, just plain ol' dense. It seems I always wait till I have nowhere else to turn before I turn to God for help. If I ever develop any smarts, I'll remember to turn to Him FIRST! :-)
You're making progress in the right direction, Kelsey. Good job, both the writing and the life decisions. ;-)