Have you ever noticed how quickly peaceful can come unraveled? In less time than it takes to ask, what just happened here?, it has happened. Without warning, without warrant, without your wanting it to, peace flies out the window and leaves you fighting alone. Only, you dont want to be fighting. You want to be at peace. I know it takes two to tango, and maybe, just maybe, it takes two to keep the peace. But, doesnt it seem that just one peace-full person should be able to override and cancel out the other? Why, time and time again, does peace end up the wounded party? As I wrestle with this question, I find myself wrestling with God. Why, God, why? How, God, how? And then, my wrestling turns to pleading. Help, God, help!!! And, as always, He does. He leads me to my Amplified Bible and these words, that at this moment and at this time, seem to be written just for me. Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.] ~John 14:27 There it is in black and white. There it is in flesh and spirit. There it is in a nutshell. Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled. And, I see it so clearly now. Peace isnt leaving voluntarily. I am tossing it to the wind. I am choosing to not keep choosing to hold on to it no matter what. I am allowing myself to be agitated and disturbed. I and permitting myself to be unsettled. Once again, self is to blame. Not peace. Not the other party. Me, myself, and I. Its the same ole trip around the same ole mountain. Self stepping in and shooing out peace. Pride puffing up and pushing out peace. The need for validation, clarification, and clear communication overriding and cancelling out the need for peace. I know it takes two to tango, and maybe, just maybe, I am learning it takes two to keep the peace: this girl AND the Holy Spirit. By myself, peace will always end up the wounded party. By myself, I will always be left standing there asking what just happened here? By myself, strife will win, and everyone else involved will walk away a loser. Oh, gracious Heavenly Father, I dont want to go around this mountain anymore. I am tired of the fight. I am tired of the frustration. I am tired of the feeling of friction, swallowed up in failure, that tries to consume me. I want peace. Help me, Lord, to fight for peace at all cost. Help me to be willing to forgo whatever I might feel is due me for the sake of peace. Help me to surrender to Your Holy Spirit that I might now allow self to get agitated or disturbed. Help me to yield to Your Holy Spirit that I might not permit self to be fearful, intimidated, cowardly and unsettled. Help me to be at peace. Oh, Lord, you have given us such a precious treasure - Your peace. Help me to let Your peace RULE in my heart. In Jesus name I pray, Amen~
Posted on: Wed, 08 Oct 2014 02:40:56 +0000
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