So, I am often teased about being the eternal optimist. But, I must admit, there are sometimes I do get discouraged. However, it usually doesn’t last very long. This week has provided plenty of opportunities for discouragement to creep in and live for a while…fortunately, with God’s word available, it’s hard to allow that to happen! I have been seeking strength and sustenance in Colossians Chapter 3 this week. I am reminded of a sermon series recently on this passage and the take aways that have been ringing in my ears since then.
Here’s a bit from Colossions 3:12 – 17
12-14So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.
15-17Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.
Here’s what I learned:
God has called His family to LOVE. Our equipment to do this is through the wardrobe he describes that we should dress in: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline, even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive, and most importantly – WEAR LOVE.
God has given us a strategy for enduring trials – PEACE.
- God provides us PEACE in the midst of life’s storms through THANKFULNESS. Peace keeps us in tune with each other. Being thankful changes your perspective quickly. Investigating every situation for something to be thankful is a good practice. We often let thankfulness be taken from us because of the distraction of a trial. We need to be thankful to help create a perspective change!
- God provides us PEACE through HIS WORD. We need to allow HIS WORD to dwell in us RICHLY!
- God provides us PEACE through our WORSHIP to Him. Praising Him and treating others like Jesus adds to your perspective change.
It’s a good thing to realize that having PEACE in the midst of a trial, doesn’t remove the trial…but practicing thankfulness, reading His Word, Worshiping Him, all add up to equal the layer of peace that each of us can have in the midst of a very difficult situation. This peace is not easily described, in fact Jesus said it is a peace not like the world can give! (John 14: 27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.)
God rocks —- but you knew that! His POWER, PEACE, FORGIVENESS, GRACE, PROMISES are downloadable for immediate application in our lives through prayer and through His word 24 hours a day!
Do you search for God’s peace and perspective in the midst of a trial first before freaking out and feeling discouraged? Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t, but I know that when I do, walking through the trial with a foundation of God-given peace beats walking through it without it every time!
Quirky saying, but oh so true: KNOW GOD, KNOW PEACE! NO GOD, NO PEACE!
My prayer is that you KNOW GOD!
(Welcome to my random thoughts…I hope there were some nuggets, however, that will encourage you today!)
Enjoying the journey! 
preach on sister. I agree! AMEN and AMEN!
You should write and publish a book! This is my first time to read this, took a little while, but now will check it frequently! What a gift you are to all of us! Thanks for sharing! Love you!
Thank you so much for those nuggets! They definitely encouraged me today.
Rock on Mama! Your optimisim as always been a blessing to me and I feel that I myself have learned this quality from you! Once again thank you so much for being such a good example of what Jesus is like! I love you!
Hey, thank you so much for commenting on my blog. To tell you the truth, I really can’t stand blogging, but it seems to be something the Lord wants me to do and the more I do it, the less bothered I am about it. I guess I’d rather be teaching in front of thousands of people willing to hear the “undiluted” word of God. However, thank you and you have much to say as well sister. God Bless and may the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.