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Here are 3 things that I've found to be essential in my walk with God and why.
As I sit here and write this, I am reminded of a once favorite childhood song of mine. Can you guess it? “This joy I have, the world didn’t give it to me. This joy I have, the world didn’t give it to me. The world didn’t give it, and the world can’t take it away!” Singing this song in my room this morning really got me thinking, ‘wow the Lord has indeed given me some things that the world could never take away. How do I know? Because through tests and trials, they have managed to stay within my heart, no matter how dark things get in the world. I want to share with you the most essential, intangible things that you should ask God for more of.
LOVE
Make no mistake, God is a God of love. From the beginning, everything He has done has been an open representation of how expansive and deep his heart is for us. Imagine feeling the hurt from your children going against your will, in a major way, and then out of love still deciding to provide for them because your love is too deep for just a mistake. This is what God did for Adam and Eve in the Garden. Despite their disobedience, the Lord still clothed them and provided for them in another land.
Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them. -Genesis 3:21
Look around you, there is so much pain, sorrow, and perversion going on in the world today. It is vital that we, as believers, bring our Father’s heart down and provide more love to those people who need it most. Love isn’t just for other people though- it’s also for you. Especially on those days when you criticize yourself the most or accept less than what you deserve. Love benefits us all.
PEACE
Oh, how far too often do we find ourselves yelling, whether in our heads or out loud, for more peace! I mean peace is literally a hot commodity for everyone- young & old. True peace puts this inexplainable stillness over your mind and body, and it is as if no one could penetrate that little peaceful bubble of yours. It’s such a good thing that we serve the God of Peace.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you -Philippians 4:7,9
Peace, defined as tranquility - freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions, is one way that we can fulfill the Biblical instruction of guarding our hearts. When at home, it can be tough to manage everything on your plate, especially if you have kids/family to take care of. While in these situations, take some much needed time to yourself to just gather your thoughts and ask the Lord to provide you with peace in your mind and heart. I personally find peace and comfort in just going for a drive, even when I have nowhere specific to go.
The peace of God is like the sole of your shoe. The sole was made to provide support and comfort to your foot. When walking, you don’t tend to spend your time worrying about the uncomfortableness of the ground under your feet, do you? Not as long as you have your shoes on. Put on God’s peace over you every morning, just like you put on your shoes before you walk out the door. His peace provides support and comfort to your mind and heart!
JOY
There is nothing like being filled with joy deep down in your heart! Joy is not an emotion that you can fake. You can smile and pretend to be happy, but joy is a gift from God that transcends every single part of your body. You can feel the goodness within your heart when you have joy.
From January through all of February, I went through a pretty tough time. I was hit with sickness back to back. I had a cold, two viruses, an ear infection, and the flu. I literally got to the point where I was in tears crying to God because I just wanted to have at least one week that I wasn't sick. Imagine not even asking God to heal you anymore but just asking Him to only allow you to have a break. God was not the cause of those sicknesses at all, but I still cried out to Him for some relief. Towards the end of January, I laid down on the couch and just began to open my heart to Him. I was feeling better during that time, and I just wanted to sit with the Lord and hear Him. I remember feeling His presence come over me, and all I said was, “Lord, thank you for coming to see about me.” I knew that God was, of course, always with me, but during that time, I felt alone because my body was just so weak and sick.
I will never forget His response.
He said to me, “I never left.”
It was at that moment that I felt so much joy rise up inside of me because I was instantly comforted and relieved by His sweet words. He turned my sorrows into joy!
If you take nothing else from this, at least take this with you. God gives us good gifts. No, they are not like shiny toys or objects that can be seen, but here’s the best part about that: they can’t be stolen or damaged! No person on this Earth can walk into your home and take your love, peace, or joy unless you willingly give it to them. To be honest, even if you give it away for that moment, the Lord is a God of abundance and all you have to do is seek Him and ask Him to fill you up with more! I challenge you today to sit with the Lord and ask Him to give you more love, peace, and joy within your heart. I promise it will change your life!
God bless.
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