WHAT'S YOUR PEACE SYMBOL?

by Janet Chester Bly

Copyright 2008

In that day the wolf and the lamb will lie down together, and the leopard and goats will be at peace. Calves and fat cattle will be safe among lions, and a little child shall lead them all. Isaiah 11:6

That's a startling, true picture of what heaven will be like. The New Earth that God has planned for all His children. I can hardly wait.

STANDING ON THE PROMISES

by Janet Chester Bly

Copyright 2008

When do you get personal peace when you feel like you've gone into free fall after a bungy jump?

Peace comes when you know...

what to do next

when to speak

what to say

where to go

why you’re here

but especially...

whom to trust to land you in a safe place.

The kind of trust of really deep down in your gut kind of certainty that this one will pull you through.

It’s called faith.

Have you discovered your own promises from God...for comfort? For help? For peace? The sort of assurances that penetrate past your doubts? Every bit of unbelief? 

He’s got words meant straight from His heart to yours. Find them. Listen to them. Allow them to permeate deep within until you know He will not withhold any good thing from you.

When’s the last time you’ve claimed promise verses for yourself and those you love? Below you’ll find a few samples to examine.

Note the context.

Detect what comes before and after too.

Pay attention to any pre-conditions to be met.

Memorize the key ones.

Every good thing the Lord had promised them came true. (Joshua 21:45 TLB)

Psalm 4:8 - promise of sleep and safety.

Psalm 29:11 - promise of strength and peace.

Psalm 55:16-19 - assurance of deliverance from threats of harm.

Psalm 119:165 - promise of great peace.

Psalm 121 - promise of help, protection and watchful care.

Isaiah 26:3 - promise of perfect peace.

Isaiah 32:17 - promise of peace, quietness and confidence.

Isaiah 33:6 - promise of salvation, wisdom and knowledge.

Isaiah 54:10 - promise of peace, no matter what.

Proverbs 16:7 - promise of peace with enemies.

Matthew 6:33,34 - promise of provision of every need on this day.

Matthew 7:7-11 - promise of answered prayer and good gifts.

Matthew 11:28-30 - promise of rest for the weary.

John 16:33 - promise of peace and coping with world’s troubles.

Romans 5:1,2 - promise of peace with God through faith in Jesus.

What particular promise do you trust in today?

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ONE WAY TO FIGHT FEAR OF FLYING

Janet Chester Bly

Copyright©2008

My first rides in a plane did a number on me. I get very spiritual walking past a cockpit. I pray for the pilot, co-pilot, flight attendants, and each of the passengers. . .for alertness and protection. 

After all, if they stay safe, so do I.

“Lord, there might be a bomb on here.”

“I will be with you,” he says.

“Lord, that guy over there looks like he could be a hijacker.”

“I will be with you.”

“Lord, what if this huge bucket of bolts and metal dips for the ground at umpteen miles an hour?”

“Then, I’ll carry you in my arms straight to my home, where there’s no bomb, no hijackers, and no need for planes.”

One time I fashioned a fear-breaker course of sorts. I forced myself to walk back and forth across a nearby highway overpass. This helped me face my worst fear scenario – height with movement beneath. . .or getting close to edgy space with potential to fall.

A friend held my hand and kept saying, “Don’t look down. Keep your eyes on that building on the other side.”

I did it for a season, with firm determination. And it helped some. But I’ve got no plans to hang glide or bungee jump anytime soon.

Sometimes the biggest leap of faith is to trust God’s outstretched arms. . .that he'll catch you, carry you, keep you.

Strengthen the weak hands, 

and make firm the feeble knees. 

Say to those who are fearful-hearted, 

‘Be strong, do not fear!’  

(Isaiah 35:3,4 NKJV)

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What action have you initiated to take the edge off a phobia or fear?

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Free download of "31 Days To Win The Fight For Personal Peace" available on our website: http://BlyBooks.com/articles.htm/ 

WRANGLE ONE WORRY

Janet Chester Bly

Copyright©2008

It seems unreasonable to not be full of concern. . .most every day. There’s so much wrong in the world and it’s in our face. . .most all the time. But we can release the brain-breaking burden, at least some part of it.

You and I can’t take on everyone’s problems. Not even of those we love most. But there’s also the fears and frets within, as well as pressures without.  

Here’s something to do today: part with one peace blocker. Refuse to take it back. Give up what dams up the rivers of sparkling, living streams of peace and calm inside you.

Consider whether you lack peace because you. . .like to be in control and you aren’t. . .haven’t been grateful for all that’s good and right in your world for a long time. . .tend to judge and be critical and it comes back to harangue you.

Friend Gail sings a lilting soprano so lovely that she’s often asked to perform at public events. But she tends to decline, much to everyone’s loss. “I can’t bear to sing solos in front of anyone but those close to me,” she explains. “It’s terrifying. It's like I've hung a 'no singing' sign on the home wall of my heart.”

During a weekend retreat, something the speaker said helped her realize: “I’m very critical of others who sing, since I’ve had a lot of voice training.” She concluded that her harsh assessments of others tumbled over to the sounds of self-critic in her own ear. “I assume the same kind of treatment from those who listen to me.”

Gail began by being gracious to herself and lifting her voice to God and for his glory. That got her attention on the right focus. Now her singing’s more than a trained talent. It’s a spiritual gift.

How have you wrangled a worry or blocked a peace buster lately?

"I will make peace your governor and righteousness your ruler" (Isaiah 60:17b NIV).

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