Peace is not absence of war, but surrender in the midst of the fight.
We live as if war is not a reality, but for the believer it’s a daily occurrence. Our enemy and the world of messages we hear each day want to delude us into thinking we are someone other than who we are in Christ. This cuts both ways: thinking we are more than as well as less than who we’ve been created in Christ (Eph. 2:10).
This battle is crucial. A wrong view either way affects the choices we make. Only a correct view of self sets us free from the negative side effects of our choices, peace destroyers. And, only listening to and surrendering to our Commander-in-Chief will keep us victorious in the midst of the daily battle, peace keepers.
“Lord, help us choose the path of peace.”

When God says don’t, it’s for your good, not His!
Notice the phrase in the upper left hand corner of the picture. Post No Bills. Then notice, if you will, the guy is doing it anyway! His reasoning, “I know what’s best.”
This picture shows the reality of our world today, Christian or otherwise. We make choices based on what we feel or think is best. Think about it. How many times have we hung posters where we shouldn’t? Who made us God?
God created this world. Only He knows how to live within that world. Take your feelings and thoughts and do what Jesus did – clear everything through the Father. He indeed knows best.

Faith is not a religion or agreeing to a set of statements. It’s actually attempting to live out those statements wherever you go.
Biblical faith requires action steps to put what one says they believe into their daily choices. Until then, it’s simply a deed creed, which can only leave one feeling empty and hopeless. Therefore, why say you believe it, if it’s not working in the real world that you live?
Want a satisfying faith? Ask the Spirit to empower you today to act on the faith or one truth you say you believe. It will be one refreshing gulp.

What we think is important today, is more often than not, unimportant tomorrow.
I once saw a sign on a piece of property where a weed grew so high you couldn’t read what was on the sign. The owner needs to take out that giant weed if they ever want people to see whatever was on their sign.
This is a great illustration of the parable of the seed and the thorny soil. Jesus was planted in it, but the cares of everyday living, the lust for things other than Jesus and the pursuit of money beyond meeting needs choked the life out of the person. Weed thoughts choke out the fruit of peace, security, joy and love; all the while, blocking people from seeing Jesus.
It’s like the picture above where the weeds are overtaking the flowers! Let the Spirit pull out those weed thoughts by staying focused on the truths Jesus gives you each day in His Word. They will keep you in perfect peace and let the Prince of Peace shine brightly through you.

Don’t wonder why something didn’t happen, just go forward now.
There are times where it will appear that God is silent as to the why of what He’s told you to do. It’s a parent’s prerogative. He doesn’t have to tell us why as we may not understand it even if He did. The question is, “Will we trust Him to know what He’s doing even when we don’t?”
Know this, though. His ways, at times, are too magnificent for us to grasp. Thus, we may never know the why of something happening to us or what we’ve been asked to do. Without being crass, so what? We show our love for Jesus and the Father by going forward with what He’s told us to do, regardless of whether we ever know the why.
Our Father is perfect and is in total and complete love with us. Trust and go forward even if you don’t understand the whys.