2015: The Year of Peace

I love hanging up a new calendar. It is like making a fresh start, a blank slate to on which to write plans for the new year, one I hope will be better then the last. Too often, with great determination we make plans to pursue things we are sure will make our lives better—a new job, a new house, new friends, more travel…or more time for just plain fun! As important as they seem, these cannot bring lasting change or give us the special year we desire. The pleasure is gone as soon as the new boss is unreasonable, the first mortgage payment is due, or when we realize our new friends are using us for their benefit.

Or maybe your plans for this new year include the goal to have peace…peace with your family, friends, yourself or even with God. A goal, that as admirable as it is, seems totally impossible. How, you think, can I achieve peace this year, when I have failed so many times before?

Throughout the bible, God makes it clear that the only way to achieve peace…lasting peace is to pursue peace with Him first. Then we will find the peace we desire within ourselves and our relationships.

 Those who love Your law have great peace,and nothing causes them to stumble. Psalm 119:165

The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor let it be fearful. John 14:27

These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world. John 16:33

I will not be afraid…I will not be afraid

When asked about your faith–do you freeze, mouth go dry, or get the “deer in the headlight” look?  I have.  f3e0099805fa93c6a9e6943554010daeBy now you probably get the idea that I am not great at thinking on my feet when it comes to storytelling.  I am working on it. As Peter wrote we should always be ready to give an account for the hope we have within (1 Peter 3:15).  Scary stuff!

I have decided the way to be ready is to prepare in advance…starting with my heart.  I must honor Christ as Lord in my heart and leave no room for fear or intimation (1 Peter 3:14-15). Or as Paul puts it let the peace of Christ rule in my heart (Colossians 3:15)…The peace that Jesus promises in John 14:27…My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

Next I have realized I need to think about it in advance…engage my mind before I am asked. I need to spend some time remembering God’s work in my life…remembering the events of the past. This is something that I am not in the habit of doing.  I am more of a ‘press on’ kind of a girl.  Yet it is the past that can help prepare me to ‘press on’ and encourage others to do the same.  I have found some tips to help me remember my stories–

1. story prompts–some phrases to get my mind going*

2. life time line–marking out life events

3. daily reflection–stop and think back through the day

As well as, remembering, I have come to understand I need to become  the “author” of my stories and write them down.  They don’t need to be long…I am beginning to jot down a few sentences about the experience, God’s work in it and what I learned from it.

Once I have my heart right with God, my mind engaged-remembering—at least long enough to write it down…now I need to do one more thing to be ready to tell the story of God’s work in my life.  I need to perform an attitude check.

As Peter said…give an account for the hope within you yet with gentleness and reverence, and keep a good conscience…(1 Peter 3:15-16)

I must speak having a spirit of gentleness and out of reverence to God. I must keep a good conscience before God.  What I share must in no way be used to “trash” others, promote self, but always and only glorify God.  I must remember to keep God the main character not an after thought.

I hope you will join me in preparing to share the work of God in your life, so that we can our faith and bring glory to God.

 *I have included some prompts to help with your story telling in the resource section. Check them out and join me in remembering and writing today!