Visions of Peace Introduction

We know that negative feelings can separate us from others and God’s peace.  When we react to these feelings we feel shame, regret, or sinful. These are more negative feelings. And thus begins a downward spiral.  


Let’s think of some of these negative feelings. Generally I have thought of 5 feelings that we are going to be discussing--fear, sadness, anger, outer conflict, and inner conflict.  Each of these feelings can be called other things as well.  For instance, afraid might be called nervous.  Take some time right now to write down these 5 feelings and as many synonyms as you can think of for these feelings.  Your paper might look something like this: 

 

When you are finished, take a look at the words you wrote for angry and try to put them in order from least angry to most angry.  Did you come up with a list similar to this----miffed, irritated, frustrated, aggravated, furious, livid?

Wouldn’t it be nice if we knew a secret so that when we first noticed we were beginning to feel (least angry word), we could stop the cycle right there? That is what we want to do with all these emotions.  They can all be put in order from least to most, but wouldn’t it be wonderful if we stopped needing to even think about the names for those times when we were totally filled with the emotion to the point of not being able to think straight.  I don’t know if you have ever been there, but I have.  And when you are unable to think, it is very hard to remember things like….

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27

or

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says Yahweh, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

or

Love's ways are ever fair, it takes no thought for itself; it is not quickly made ANGRY, it takes no account of evil; 1 Corinthians 13:5

In this blog, I will give you verses like these to memorize  so that you begin to have an arsenal to battle these emotions with because I believe you won’t really be fighting just the emotions.  I believe you will be battling Satan himself.  You see, I believe these emotions were given to us for a good purpose, but like all things good, Satan can’t stand that, so he twists them into something that can harm us and our relationship with God.  We have to break that power that Satan thinks he has over us and we can with God’s help and love.  

Remember that God is Holy. Listen to how Max Lucado describes that concept.

A Cut Above

“Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46: 10

The word holy means “to separate.” The ancestry of the term can be tracked back to the ancient meaning, “to cut.”  To be holy, then, is to be a cut above the norm, superior, extraordinary…

The Holy One dwells on a different level than the rest of us.  What frightens us does not frighten him.  What troubles us does not trouble him.

When you set your sights on our God, you focus on One “a cut above” any storm life may bring…   You find peace.

You cannot be anything you want to be.  But you can be everything God wants you to be.

So can you think of other words for peace, as well? Can they be put in order as easily?.....Not really, right?  Peace is peace.  It doesn’t have stages that move from least to most.  Now someone into meditation might argue with me there.  But for the most part, when you feel peace—you just feel peace, calm, at ease, and that makes me want to pray.

Lord, Bless the reader of this blog.  Grant them your peace. Grant them curiosity to continue reading and learning about emotions and how to control them before the emotions begin to control the person. And may these things be done in the name of your son, Jesus Christ.  Amen

 See you tomorrow!