peace and quiet

AaaRRRrrrrgggghhh!

Hi God, it's me again. And, guess what, I'm having one of THOSE days... One of those frustrating days when everyone present in my life is DRIVING ME CRAZY! One of those moments when I don't want to be gracious, or patient, or humble, or giving. I just want people to figure things out on there own. I just want others to grow up and act like the intelligent, responsible adults I know they are capable of being. I just want everyone to stop asking me questions they already know the answers to and/or can figure out themselves. I just want to be left alone and obtain a little bit of peace... yes, peace. And let's not forget quiet. Quiet would be nice too. Quiet would let me think, regroup, relax, de-stress. Yes, that's what I need, Lord... peace and quiet!

AaaRRRrrrrgggghhh again!

Hmmm? What's that you say? You alone are peace? You alone can fulfill my every need? You alone should be the only One I live for... and not myself? Not my wants? Not my way?

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. (John 14:27)

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. (Romans 8:6)

Yes, of course, Lord. I know, I know. But today, can't I get a short break? A break from the many takers, complainers, time suckers, attention getter's, and questioners with their long list of floundering requests? Can't you just clamp down and give me some solace from all these bombardments, inquisitions, and ridiculous incompetence's from those whom I honestly suspect are not as deficient as they portray?

Why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: "As surely as I live," says the Lord, "every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God." So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. (Romans 14:10-13a,19)

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails. (Proverbs 19:21)

Hmmm? What's that you say? I'm judging others? I'm not looking at them as you look at them? And my time is really YOUR time? My every step is in your care? And those whom you've placed in my life at this precise moment are here for a specific purpose of which you have ordained and are overseeing? You want me to love? You want me to live sacrificially as a beacon of your grace? You want my own plans to be discarded and your purpose to prevail?

But how can I do this when all I really want to do right now is slap everybody and scream?

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. (Jeremiah 33:3)

Everything is possible for one who believes. (Mark 9:23b)

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. (1 Peter 5:6)

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:29)

If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything; because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (1 John 3:12 & 4:4b)

Hmmm? What's that you say? Call to you and you will answer? All things are possible in your Name? You are greater than all this? You are both mighty and gentle... ready to save and restore those who seek to know and obey you? Yes, Lord... my desire is YOU. I wish to be restored to your true peace (and quiet) and to know you intimately. So, teach me! Teach me how to stop rolling my eyes and deal with my own selfish frustrations. Teach me to love like Jesus loves and change me to be more and more like Him. Let me blossom in your wisdom and display the holy truth of your word with my very life! Move me past my own disdain and grumbling and bless me with your Way - the only Way!

How then shall I live, my Master? Guide my steps. Change my heart even if you won't change my circumstance.

Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the LORD or fully declare his praise? Blessed are those who act justly, who always do what is right. (Psalm 106:1-3)

The Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. (2 Timothy 2:24)

You must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:25-27; 29-37)

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:13-16; 22-23)

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:5-10; 12-17)

Ladies, this is my journal entry from yesterday and the verses the Spirit gave me to meditate on. Oh, how blessed we are to be able to call on Him - for He will indeed show us His great Way! He will remind us of His truths! He will reclaim us so that we may regroup in His Spirit and live righteously by His decrees! And yes, in His Name, we can know peace and quiet - even in the midst of our own inner storms. By His grace, we can step forward from our anxious, unhappy, unholy, selfish hearts and learn to truly love others as we learn to love Him more than ourselves. But we must choose to love Him more. We must choose Him alone and be thankful.

If you have felt as I did yesterday, I encourage you to call on God and consider His Word. Refocus your eyes on how you are living. Is it devoted to your Master's purpose or your own plans? Are you actively thankful and living in love with Him and others, or has your own selfishness stumbled your steps?

Yesterday, I stumbled. For a moment, I looked inward instead of upward. I festered and grumbled and roared in sinful contempt about everyone who crossed my path. And then I desperately went to God... and Jesus's rod and staff re-directed my course. My spirit was made to lie down in the green pastures of my Shepherd. There, in His Word, my Comforter restored my weary, anxious, unsatisfied soul.

Mind you, physically I was never alone... I did not receive a break from others... I never got away... I never got MY way. But in Jesus Name, I received peace and quiet from His eternal, unchanging, holy Word. My King used my selfish stumble to show me His true goodness and mercy. My God demonstrated His intimate love for me by once again saving me from myself. Blessed is His Name! Blessed is His yoke! Blessed is His LIFE!

So, as I wrap up today's blog, allow me to share with you what the Holy Spirit kindly shared with me:

Be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone. At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. (Titus 3:1b-8)

Let us live devoted to God and not ourselves. Let us always do what is good. Let us be thankful. Let us live holy and righteous because He is holy righteous. Most importantly, let us love because He first loved us!

Ahhhh... peace and quiet! Thank you, Lord!

The LORD’s justice will dwell in the desert, his righteousness live in the fertile field. The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever. (Isaiah 32:16-17)

The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand. (Psalm 37:23-24)

Blessings!

~Victoria

© The Devoted Woman | Victoria Anderson