Day 3: Peace

"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 who strengthens all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-8

Reflection

Peace is about wholeness, is about completeness, it is a state of being.Sometimes we think it's affected by what's external and what's happening all around us. The Hebrew word for peace is Shalom. Sometimes it can be a state of affairs, sometimes it means being concerned about the well-being of your fellow human, your neighbor. Peace, shalom, signifies value. As you look about, everything that's happening in our own country: fires burning in the West, flooding, and earthquakes and now these mass shootings. It's easy to be distracted and it's easy to lose heart and it's easy to lose joy and love and peace and not focus on the Fruit of the Spirit. It's easy to cry out for peace when there is no peace. There's a disconnect between what we're saying with our lips and what is actually happening internally and around us and in our hearts. One of the ways I can keep peace in the midst of all this chaos is I can look to our ancestors through sister Harriet and sister Fannie Lou and Dr. Chang and Sister Parks, and all of those who have gone on before us.

Be reminded that wherever we are today, this is not the first time we've been at the crossroads and this time will not kill us. It will not break us, it will not be the end of us.

Encourage yourself that you can continue, you can go on, you can be at peace and we will find rest for our souls that are sometimes weary.

Prayer

Lord I thank You that you are the God of peace. That You've told us that in Your word that You can give us a peace that transcends all understanding even when we don't understand or we don't know. You know all things. You know how to guard our heart, You know how to condition and discipline us that we can maintain a state of peace. That of wholeness, that of completeness within our own self because we are connected to You who is the source of our peace. I thank You, God, that you are faithful to do exceedingly and abundantly above all that we can ask or think.

So I ask Lord that you will guard our heart, our minds, our bodies, our actions into the way of peace.

Help us to know the ancient path, Lord. Help us to walk in it, for your glory. Amen.

Walking Assignment

Financial worries are a leading cause of stress for so many of us and disrupt our peace. Today we get on top of money management and move towards peace of mind. Peace of mind is a balance between work and space. Proverbs 16:3 says, "Commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established." Today, walk to the local post office and mail a bill payment. Thank God for allowing you the resources and for all the future blessings that you have with your name on them. Commit to a two-week financial fast saving as much as you can by restraining from purchasing any luxury items including fast food. Put the money you saved into an untouchable account and start building from there. Pray for strength to continue to do the work. Make the sacrifices.