Peace Be With You

“Peace Be With You!” As the disciples hid behind locked doors from the Jewish leaders these are the first words said to them after Jesus’ resurrection. So what does “Peace Be With You!” mean and why is this an important phrase to Jesus? James 14:25-27 (NIV) sheds some light as Jesus exclaims, “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 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.”

“Peace Be with You!” means, if we follow Jesus’ words, peace is given through the guidance of the Holy Spirit and not of our worldly conditions, relationships, and objects. Many times we believe we have peace in our own lives if we have enough money, we are doing what we want, or our relationships are stable and loving. These are all examples of a worldly peace. However, Jesus talks about a difference type of peace---A peace guided by the Holy Spirit. That peace is more about following the path set forth by the Holy Spirit—Are we doing what God calls us to do with the many blessings he has given us? Are we honoring him in our relationships with others and are we fulfilling His calling for our life? The challenge is we have to have a relationship with Him so that we can not only hear him as he directs our life, but also listen and act on what he wants us to do. It is this peace that puts our heart in alignment with him where we are not afraid because we are doing exactly as he has commanded us. “Peace Be with You!” I pray the relationship you have with the Holy Spirit allows you to hear His callings so that you have the peace Jesus was talking about!

While I do wish you a worldly peace I ask that you never sacrifice the peace that Jesus talks about to get it. Keep your eyes, ears, and mind focused on Him and through that peace you will have the relationships and lives that your heart desires.

Making Decisions

Over the course of your life there are many decisions you will make-- many small and some big. Some decisions you won’t think much about and even if you make a bad decision the consequences will be minimal. For example, every morning you wake up and decide what you are going to have for breakfast. You may choose to eat oatmeal or have that donut. Either way, aside from a little sugar rush, the consequences of you eating a donut over oatmeal will not have a significant impact on your life—but it may if you choose that decision every day! Every decision you make is a choice—a choice to follow one particular path over another. Regardless of the path chosen there are consequences. Some decisions have far greater consequences than other decisions. The consequences of some decisions may affect one day in your life while others can impact your entire life. Examples of two critical decisions that you will face in your life that will have significant consequences are the choice of spouse and career.

While there are many circumstances that may influence our decisions there is only one question that you need to ask in making each decision—“Am I honoring God in my choices?” You must remember that God has a plan for your life—“For I know the plans I have for you, “ declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” But how do you uncover those plans. Proverbs 4 states clearly “Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them.” First and foremost, pray, meditate and seek council from those around you who can provide you wisdom before you make a big decision. If you don’t have peace about a decision or those whom you trust do not have peace about a decision you are making then re-think your choice. Proverbs 12:15 sums it up best: “The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.”

That’s really the hard part. We need to lean on God when making those big decisions because Satan can confuse you, usually through your emotions, leading you down that takes you further away from God. Have you ever made a big decision out of pure emotion and then once the emotion subsides you find yourself asking, “What in the world was I thinking?”  Quite simply, when faced with a big decision in your life follow these steps 1) pray to God and seek His wisdom, then listen, 2) ask trusted mentors and other spiritual authorities their thoughts on your decision, and 3) ask God to make it obvious to you what decision you are to make. Proverbs 11:14 says,  “Where there is no guidance, a people fails, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” Too many times we go about our decision-making without including God. In the end trust God and those he has entrusted as your authority. An easy question to ask yourself is, “What would those who love me the most tell me in this situation?” Think about this the next time you have a decision to make.