To Flourish in Peace We Need to Understand Peace

    I would like to share with you something that I read while studying and researching the word ‘peace,’ which in Hebrew is ‘shalom’ and in Greek, ‘eirene.’ 

“Shalom really means everything that makes for a man’s highest good, all that makes life life indeed. In English peace has come to have something of a negative meaning. It is apt to mean the absence of war and the absence of trouble. For instance, if in a campaign hostilities actually came to an end and there was no more fighting we would be likely to say that there was peace; but quite certainly the Hebrew would not call a situation where there was a blasted earth, and where people still regarded each other with a kind of terrified suspicion, peace. …The greeting salaam does not simply express the negative wish that a man’s life may be free from trouble; it expresses the positive hope and prayer that he may enjoy all good gifts and blessings from the hand of God. In thinking of the meaning of peace, both in the Old and New Testament, it is essential to bear in mind the positive meaning of the word.” (William Barclay, Flesh and Spirit, 1962)

    Can you understand why love comes before peace in most every list of qualities a Christian is to have?

    We need to have a heart that learns to truly love – undefeatable goodwill and benevolence that seeks only good for the other – in order to pursue peace which is a sincere wish that the other will be blessed with ‘everything that makes for man’s highest good.’

    All too often we are content with a peace that is only visible on the surface. We think, ‘there are no negative interactions, no outward upset, so we’re at peace right?’ Yet our hearts are disappointed, discouraged, angry, frustrated, irritated, or fuming. Our hearts are so darkened that the very idea of hoping that our fellow man has everything that makes for their highest good is something we sneer and scoff at. God wants us to pursue true peace, and it begins in the heart.

 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which you were called in one body; and be thankful.” (Colossians 3:15 NKJV)

    We are to let the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7), rule in our hearts. “Rule” comes from the Greek word ‘brabeuo’ (G1018) which means to govern, prevail. So we are to let the peace of God govern our hearts, to let it prevail in our hearts.

    Prevail means to prove more powerful than opposing forces. It wins. It should always win. Paul tells us that the peace of God will guard your hearts and minds (Philippians 4:7), it will prove itself more powerful than any opposing forces, when we let it rule in our hearts.

    So, how do we flourish in peace and let it rule in our hearts, and conquer our negative thinking?

Give your concerns to God and be thankful (Philippians 4:6-9, Colossians 3:15-17) Burdened with ‘what-if’ thinking and imagining worst-case scenarios? Give every one of your worries to God and then use your thinking for good by taking inventory of all that you have in your life (Psalm 68:19) and all that you have been blessed with through Jesus (Romans 8:31-39, Ephesians 1:3-14, 1 John 3:1-3) and thank God for them all! Then busy yourself with doing good for your household, your brethren, and your neighbours while remembering how abundantly He has blessed you (2 Corinthians 9:7-8, Ephesians 2:10, Galatians 6:9-10, Titus 3:8, 14)!

Follow Jesus’ instruction (Matthew 5:44) Are you finding yourself having imaginary conversations, arguments, or confrontations with someone, in your mind? This type of thinking prevents peace from ruling in our hearts – Jesus gives us a better way:

• Do you have an enemy? Don’t be an enemy to them, instead be kind toward them, love them.
• Has someone cursed you or spoken evil against you? Don’t retaliate with the same, instead speak only good about them, bless them.
• Does someone hate you? Don’t let your heart build up hate toward them, instead search for ways to do good to them.
• Does someone purposefully try to hurt you, belittle you, or infuriate you? Don’t seek revenge, instead overcome the evil with good by purposefully praying for them.

    Doing it God’s way will allow peace to rule in your heart, it will allow you to truly hope that God’s blessings will be upon them. And although these trials may continue for some time, going through them with God and His instruction will allow you to flourish in strength, resilience, wisdom, faith, and peace.

    God’s way IS the best way! How wonderful that He provides SO much help to us so that we can serve Him properly and thrive in this life!! To God be the glory, great things He has done!!

    Consider your heart this week and consider what peace truly means. Are you allowing God’s peace to rule in your heart? Is your heart truly at peace with your family, friends, brethren, and neighbours? Can you sincerely hope for them everything that makes for their highest good?

    Take time to read 1 Peter 3:8-12 each day this week. Be mindful of your many thoughts and determine to let God’s peace rule in your heart! Always seek for His peace so you can truly flourish in it and share it with others!

You can do it! So can I!!   

Flourishing Even More in Peace - Think on These Things

    Peace, perfect peace.

    It is more than just a quiet moment after a chaotic day. It is a quiet mind and a calm heart even amidst the chaos.

    Is it attainable? YES! What God commands, we can do; what God promises, He will do!

    Consider for a moment James 1:5-8. James warns against being double-minded (vv6-8). The term double-minded holds the idea of being anxious, that stress-inducing battle between rational and irrational thought. It is a mind that is not at peace.

    God wants us to have peace. He instructs us to "be anxious for nothing" in Philippians 4:6, and He does not leave it at that, He tells us exactly what needs to be done to overcome anxiety and ‘be at one again’ in our mind and heart: "in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)

    While your Bible is open to Philippians 4, continue reading through verse 8; God in His loving provision also gave us instruction in how to maintain the peace He grants us, instructions that will help us develop a new focus for our thoughts as we obey the command to “meditate on these things.”  The things mentioned in this verse – things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy – give us a multi-faceted defense against the devil’s ploys and deceptions.

Anxiety comes from giving ear to the devil, but peace comes from giving everything to God.

    By giving us a command to meditate on these things, God is training us to ward off the devil:

• The devil will tell us lies (John 8:44, Revelation 12:9), but if we are meditating on what is TRUE you will not believe his lies and you will quickly squelch them by recalling the truth to your mind (Hebrews 5:14).
• The devil will try to draw our attention to immoral people (celebrities, influencers, athletes) that appear to ‘have it all’ (read and consider Psalm 73) and try to convince us that they are worthy of our awe and fandom, but if we are meditating on what is NOBLE, we won’t be easily impressed or swayed by worldly standards of nobility.
• The devil will try to convince us that anger, retaliation, and revenge is the best way to treat people who have hurt us (consider Cain in Genesis 4:1-15, and Simeon and Levi in Genesis 34, 49:5-6, and Joshua 19:1-9) but if we are meditating on what is JUST we will be well-versed in God’s true justice and learn mercy and grace because we have needed it so very often ourselves (consider Matthew 5:44-48, 6:14-15).
• The devil will infiltrate every form of media with impurities – commercials, TV shows, movies, videos, music, books, magazines, podcasts, etc. – to fill our minds with impure thoughts and impure judgments (consider Matthew 15:19-20), but if we are meditating on what is PURE we will be repulsed by impurities and flee from them (Romans 12:9, 2 Timothy 2:22).
• The devil will try to convince us that we must attain the world’s standard for “beauty” (as well as its immodesty and vanity, consider 1 Peter 3:3), but if we meditate on what is truly LOVELY we will not become self-centred and vain, and our standard will be to behave in a way that is “very precious in the sight of God” (1 Peter 3:4).
• The devil will try to tempt you into gossip and slander (Proverbs 26:22), but if we meditate on what is OF GOOD REPORT we will be repulsed and stop the gossip in its tracks so “the fire goes out” (Proverbs 26:20-21).
• The devil will try to lower our standards so we give of our time and our means to worthless pursuits. He will try to keep us from seeing what is truly worthy of our time and attention, but if we are meditating on what is VIRTUOUS we will keep a higher standard and make better use of our time and we will also support those who are making efforts in doing what is good and right (Hebrews 10:24-25, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15).
• The devil will try to make us feel hard done by so that we grow lax and begin to forget all that God has done, is doing, and promises yet to do, but if we are meditating on what is PRAISEWORTHY we will be filled with ever-increasing gratitude and appreciation for God and His wondrous way, His lovingkindness (mercy) and His faithfulness (Psalm 92:1-2, Romans 12:1-2).

    We go through many struggles and hardships in our lives, but through it all God is more than willing to supply His abundant peace, all He is asks of us is to give over our worries and anxieties, ask Him for His help, and keep our minds thinking on what is good (Colossians 3:1-17) so we can daily quench the fiery darts of the devil (Ephesians 6:16, James 4:7).

    Our gracious Father is ready, willing, and able to provide His peace! Are you willing to give your worries to God in exchange for His perfect peace? Are you ready and willing to learn and meditate on all the good and proper things that God has provided in His word so you can maintain His perfect peace? Let’s determine today to trust God more, to believe His promises (Hebrews 11:6), and flourish even more in peace!

You can do it! So can I!!

Flourishing Even More - in Peace with God

    It is time for new study, something more we can flourish in, let’s now try to flourish even more in 2024 in peace. If the Lord wills, over the next few weeks we will study to gain a better understanding of peace so that we can truly “seek peace and pursue it” (Psalm 34:14) as God commands. We will look at all things that pertain to it: how to attain it, how to maintain it, and how to be at peace with God, our brethren, and mankind.

    For today, I would like you to consider these two verses that command us to pursue peace:

“Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (1 Timothy 2:22 NKJV)

“Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.” (1 Peter 3:11 NKJV)

    In both of these passages we are given instruction to turn and run away from evil, and eagerly seek after peace. The peace spoken of in both these verses means 'being at one again.' When we sin we are no longer ‘at one’ with God (consider Isaiah 59:1-2), we have followed after something in the opposite direction from God (James 1:14-15).

    Jesus is our peace (please take the time today to read Ephesians 2), it is Jesus’ sacrifice that grants us access to the Father so we may come boldly to the throne of grace and obtain mercy and find grace (Hebrews 4:16); it is only through His willing sacrifice that we can be forgiven (1 John 1:5-10), when we wholly repent* of our sin.

*Repent means to: recognize you are lost in sin, regret what you have done, resolve to turn your back on sin and sinful habits, reform your life to keep from sin, and return to your Father, wholly submitting to His will (borrowed from my Dad’s sermon yesterday morning)

    If you are not a Christian and realize you have sinned, you need to repent of your sin and be baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:26-29, Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38), because every spiritual blessing, including redemption and forgiveness of sins, are only found in Christ (Ephesians 1:3-14). When you are baptized into Christ (Romans 6:3-4), it is described as being buried with Him into death (putting to death and burying the sinful person you were) and just as Jesus was raised by the glory of the Father, you too are raised to walk in “newness of life” – with a clean slate – a new life in which you learn to choose God and His way every day (alongside those who also call on the Lord out of pure heart, 2 Timothy 2:22-26) instead of the ways of the devil (1 John 2:15-17, 5:18-20).  

    If you are a Christian and realize you have sinned you need to repent of your sin and run to God and confess your sin to Him; He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

    We are no longer to be participating in sin – Jesus died to redeem us from the bondage of sin and grant us peace with our Father, why would we choose to return to the destructive ways of sin when we have access to restorative peace with God? Appreciate Jesus’ sacrifice and joy in your peace with God! Turn from evil, abhor it and its ways, and cling to God and His way (consider Romans 6:1-23, 12:9, and Ephesians 4:17-24)!

    Jesus provided the way – take it! Make your life right with God! If you need to come to the Lord or come back to the Lord, let today be the day!!

You can do it! So can I!!

If you would like to talk more about how to become a Christian
please email me – I would love to talk to you about it!

I've written a Bible study/devotional book for women titled, Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs, and it is available in the United States, direct from the publisher: Gospel Armory Publishing 

It is also available through amazon (click your region):

AUSTRALIA

CANADA

GERMANY

HOLLAND

ITALY

UNITED KINGDOM

UNITED STATES

Faithfully Flourishing Subscribers - BIG NEWS!

    *Update* I have discovered that my book is only available on Canadian amazon site (NOT the US site, or other worldwide sites, sorry!). For anyone in the US, it is available from the Gospel Armory (Publishing) site in the US - and at a discounted price until July 9th. I have now added the US link below for my American subscribers. 

    I wanted to let everyone know that I have a Bible study/devotional book that just became available on amazon .ca (Canadian site) on July 6th. 

    Ephesians 5:19 says we are to "speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs" and Colossians 3:16 tells us to teach and admonish (warn) one another in psalms and hymns an spiritual songs, so I spent a year writing/teaching from only the Psalms (selected from the book of Psalms), selected hymns (commonly found in hymn books used in church services), and spiritual songs (the songs found throughout the Bible) - this book is the result of that effort.

    Read Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs with an open Bible beside you and turn to the passages I reference in each lesson; if you do that I know God's words will motivate and strengthen your determination to honour and serve Him, and I hope my words will encourage you to keep growing and flourishing in your faith!

Canadians: Click here to read a sample and/or purchase a copy of 

Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs on amazon.

Americans: Click here to purchase a copy direct from the publisher 

(Gospel Armory, Bowling Green Kentucky)

Flourishing in Fruit – A Summary

    Over the past several weeks we have looked at the Bible verses that tell us the importance of flourishing in fruit. 

God has provided all we need and expects us to bear good fruit (read and consider Isaiah 5:1-4)

    God wants us to produce good fruit. We, as Christians and members of the kingdom of God, are to be bearing the good fruit of God’s kingdom (consider Matthew 21:43). Jesus said that a tree is known by its fruits (Matthew 12:33), and we have within us (as humans with free will) the potential to bear either the fruit of sin (which leads to death) or the fruit to holiness (which leads to everlasting life, Romans 6:21-23); we can choose to be either a tree lost in the darkness of the devil’s decaying orchard or we can be planted and flourishing in the courts of our God (Psalm 92:13-14).

“Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Matthew 7:19 NKJV)

We must be mindful of what buds in our hearts/minds 

    Just as the farmer is watchful of the bud formation knowing it leads to fruit, we also need to be very attentive to what buds in our hearts/minds and determine whether a bud ought to be nipped immediately or nurtured to blossom and develop fruit. We need to be using God’s word (hearing it and doing it, James 1:21-27) so that our senses are exercised to discern both good and evil (Hebrews 5:13-14).

    Examine the buds developed (and developing) in your mind; nip the bad ones to allow room for the good ones to flourish! The health of your soul is worth the daily, if not the moment to moment, efforts needed to keep yourself pure (1 John 3:3) and holy (1 Peter 1:15-16) so you can flourish even more in good fruit!!

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24 NKJV)

Our conduct is our fruit

• repentance (Matthew 3:8) – making the changes that prove that we have turned our backs to ungodliness and worldly lusts (Titus 2:11-12, 2 Timothy 2:22) while clinging to what is good (Romans 12, John 14:6)
• righteousness (Philippians 1:9-11, 2 Corinthians 9:9-11) – doing what is right in God’s sight, according to His commands and instructions (James 1:21-25, 1 John 3:7)
• good works (Colossians 1:9-11) – doing good for others, generously sharing our blessings with them (Psalm 68:19, 2 Corinthians 9:7-8)

Our words are our fruit

    Jesus said that our words come from the storehouses of our hearts (Matthew 12:34-35). Those who love Him should always be working to have good storehouses that are well-curated (and carefully guarded), guided by God’s good and perfect will, and full of the treasures of wisdom, knowledge, and righteousness (Colossians 2:2-3, Ephesians 5:17, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 12:3-11) so that the words we draw from our hearts are good and beneficial (Ephesians 4:29, Colossians 4:6).

“I will guard my ways, lest I sin with my tongue…” (Psalm 39:1a NKJV)

When we walk in the Spirit, the Spirit can bear His fruit in our lives (read and consider Galatians 5:16-26)

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth) finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:8-10 NKJV)

When we live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit (allowing God’s word to transform us, Romans 12:2, James 1:21-25, 1 John 2:15-17), and when we work continually to identify and remove the debris of selfishness/selfish ambitions/lusts (Hebrews 5:14), then our hearts will be a good soil (Matthew 13:23) in which the Spirit can develop and bear His fruit.

“…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV)  

When we flourish in bearing good fruit God will be glorified!

    Bearing good and proper fruit only happens when we abide in the True Vine and when His words abide in us (John 15:7). We need to hear God’s words (in His word, the Bible), take them into our heart, and purpose to do what He says (James 1:21-25). Hearing the word is the seed planted, thinking on it and allowing it to shape our thoughts and choices is the seed taking root, and then doing and saying what He has instructed through His word is bearing fruit. Consider the parable of the sower in Luke 8:4-8, 11-15. When we do this, God will be glorified!

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser… I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing… By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be my disciples.” (excerpt from John 15:1-8 NKJV)

    It will always be an excellent use of our time to read and study God’s word. Learning more about Him and His way is the best – and only – way to transform our hearts (Romans 12:1-2) so that they become storehouses of good things that we can share with others through our words and actions. When we purify our hearts (1 John 3:1-3) we clear the debris from the soil of our hearts and make it a good receptacle for the Spirit to bear His fruit. And we can flourish in good fruit that will bring glory to our wondrous Father in heaven!!

From wherever you are right now, determine that you will 

flourish even more in 2024 in bearing good fruit!!

You can do it! So can I!!

Flourishing in Fruit – That God May Be Glorified!

    I would like you to consider a few verses today as we near the end of our Flourishing in Fruit study. These verses tell us one of the important reasons why we must be developing and bearing fruit – so that God will be glorified!

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:15 NKJV)

    As we studied earlier, our conduct is our fruit – this includes good works (which we were created to do, Ephesians 2:10) – and so, when others see, it will cause them to look to God, praise Him, and thank Him!

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser… I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing… By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be my disciples.” (excerpt from John 15:1-8 NKJV)

    Bearing good and proper fruit only happens when we abide in the True Vine and when His words abide in us (John 15:7). We need to hear God’s words (in His word, the Bible), take them into our heart, and purpose to do what He says (James 1:21-25). Hearing the word is the seed planted, thinking on it and allowing it to shape our thoughts and choices is the seed taking root, and then doing and saying what He has instructed through His word is bearing fruit. Consider the parable of the sower in Luke 8:4-8, 11-15. When we do this, God will be glorified!

“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:9-11 NKJV)

    We need to be practicing righteousness (1 John 3:7) – making a daily determination to know more of Jesus so we can walk as He walked (1 John 2:3-6). When we are filled with the fruits of righteousness God will be glorified!!

    What does glorifying God mean? It means that one is recognizing His wondrous value and awesome substance. They are valuing Him for who He really is, esteeming Him worthy of all praise.

    When we obey His commands – abide in His word, practice righteousness, do good works – we are declaring Him to be wise, we are proclaiming His word to be truth and worthy of attention and obedience. Read and consider Romans 12:1-2 – we prove to ourselves and the world that God’s will is good and acceptable and perfect when we let it transform us!  

    Are you bearing fruit that will glorify God?

You can do it! So can I!!