A Heart At Peace

A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. – (Proverbs 14:30, NIV)

Peace of mind makes the body healthy, but jealousy is like a cancer. – (Proverbs 14:30, ERV)

A tender, tranquil heart will make you healthy, but jealousy can make you sick. – (Proverbs 14:30, TPT)

The heart is at peace when we recognize all of the reasons we have to be grateful. A grateful heart is healthy and happy, thus at peace, no matter the circumstances. However, when we start looking at what others have and make comparisons, jealousy has room to rise and rot our hearts and attitudes. Rather than envy, we ought to be happy for those around us who have what we desire. The heart becomes sick when seeped in wanting what we do not have, yet joy comes to us as we give thanks for all that we do have. God is good and gracious, and we need not allow comparison to steal our peace. We are loved, valued and provided for just as we are, and He grows in us and through us more of what He intended, as we depend on and trust in Him. May we ever seek peace from our Provider, for it is in Him that we find health, happiness and peace.

To understand peace,

Requires gratitude;

All thanks be to God,

Through love, we’re pursued.

Let not jealousy,

Rise up, find a place;

It kills thankfulness,

Dismisses God’s grace.

May we choose seek peace,

By seeking the Lord;

All thanks be to God,

Who loves and adores.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that we can know true peace as we recognize that gratitude grows peace within us. Thank You that You show us how to protect our hearts and the peace You provide. Forgive us for the times that we have envied those around us. Show us how to celebrate the blessings granted to others and to give all thanks to You for the provision in our lives. Lead us to love those around us in ways that extend Your peace to all. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we praise You for Your overwhelming peace that surpasses understanding, and depend on You to celebrate others rather than envy what others have. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. – Psalm 118:1

No Matter What Comes

What began as a vengeful act of jealousy by his brothers, led to thirteen years of training and preparation for Joseph to become second in command over all of Egypt. His brothers sold him into slavery, he was purchased and made a servant, honored, falsely accused, imprisoned, honored as a model prisoner, recognized as a faithful servant of God, and finally, was given opportunity to put his faith into action, which resulted in Joseph being elevated to second in command of the whole country. Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.” – (Genesis 31:39-40)

 

Despite the dismal and dire circumstances, Joseph chose to rise up and represent God as a faithful servant in each situation. He worked not unto himself nor for mere man, but worked as though he were serving God Himself. Joseph was faithful with little, and faithful with much. He listened to the Lord in all things, and walked in obedience, even in through the toughest of trials. In God’s perfect timing, Joseph was brought into the position that the Lord had prepared for him. May we patiently persevere as Joseph did, trusting the Lord will use our every trial as training. Let our hearts be prepared, so that we may hear His every word, and be ever ready for His next step for our lives.

 

No matter what comes,

choose to seek the Lord;

even in trials,

His grace He’ll afford.

For the hardest times,

are often the source;

that the Lord uses,

to direct our course.

The things that we learn,

while storms around rage;

stretch us and grow us,

a coming of age.

We learn how to trust,

to cling to the Lord;

to hear and obey,

walk in one accord.

With patience hold fast,

have faith in His word;

may our lives make clear,

the truth we have heard.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are faithful and present, no matter what comes our way. Thank You that though we may not enjoy times of trial and testing, they are seasons that You use for growing us closer to You. Forgive us for our lack of faith and perseverance when times are tough, and grant us Your strength and stamina to rise up in every circumstance, so that our faithfulness unto You is evident. Teach us to trust You more, so that our attitude will be like Joseph’s, no matter what comes our way. Lead us to love others, just as You choose to completely love each of us, right where we are. May many come into a lasting relationship with You, Lord God, as the truth of who You are is made known. Be glorified, as we are faithful unto You in all things and at all times, by Your strength. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad. – 1 Chronicles 16:31

Obeying God First

In this increasingly “go with what feels good” culture, it is essential to not only be aware of what God deems right and wrong, but to also be in a close relationship with Him, so that we are able to hear His still small voice as He speaks to us, individually, about what is and is not permissible for us.  There are some things that the Bible clearly defines as right and wrong.  Yet there are other areas, that are a bit muddy.  These are the places where it is paramount to pursue Christ for answers, rather than just going with whatever society says is good.

Acts five conveys the story of Peter and the apostles being arrested and jailed, simply for speaking the truth of what they had witnessed through the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Christ.  The Sadducees jealousy got the best of them, and they threw the men of faith in prison.  When brought to trial, the high priest asked them why they had gone against what they had been told (to stop teaching in His Name).  “Peter and the other apostles replied: ‘We must obey God rather than men!” – (Acts 5:29)

Though few of us face the fear of prison for sharing our faith, we do deal with social pressures to stay silent, and to go along with societal norms that directly disregard what God has spoken.  There is a delicate balance in loving others, yet speaking the truth in love.  We cannot go around shouting to people that they “must turn or burn“.  Rather, our charge is to live in such a way, that people are drawn unto us, and begin to ask questions as to why we are the way we are.  God will provide opportunities for truth to be told in His time.  He is tender and kind, and longs to draw people unto Himself.  May we be living examples of His love, and may we choose to obey God first, always.

In tune with You, Lord,

we shall hear the way;

to do as You ask,

to honor, obey.

We must truly seek,

to hear still small voice;

then choose to follow,

obedient choice.

Let not fear of men,

keep us from what’s true;

our final answer,

will be unto You.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that we have access to mighty examples of those who have faithfully followed You.  Thank You too, that You do not expect us to do this on our own, but You provide us all that we need, through Your word, and Your Holy Spirit.  Forgive us for folding to social pressures, or for staying silent when we were meant to speak.  Teach us to hear Your voice clearly, so that we may be Your voice to those who know You not.  Let our lives lived in love, speak volumes to all who are around us.  May many come to know Your goodness and Your grace, as they enter into a personal place of seeking Your face.  Be magnified, our great and mighty King.  Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.” – 2 Corinthians 1:3

When Dreams May Come

Joseph, son of Jacob, had a clear call upon his life from an early age.  He was given dreams that spoke to his heart, and made him aware that greater things were yet to come.  When he attempted to share what he had seen with his brothers, their jealousy got the best of them, and they plotted to kill him.  Fortunately, among them was a voice of reason, and they were instead, convinced to sell him to a band of merchants traveling past where they were watching their flocks.  (Genesis 37) 

Many of us, at that point, would have questioned the call we had heard on our lives, and perhaps would have sat down in defeat.  Not Joseph.  When he was purchased and placed in the home of Potiphar, an Egyptian official, Joseph served both household and home, as unto the Lord.  “Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant.  Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned.” (Genesis 39:4) God had blessed Joseph and given him success.  However, again, envy placed Joseph in a situation he did not deserve.  Potiphar’s promiscuous wife made advances toward Joseph, yet each time he refused.  Ultimately, she found way to accuse Joseph and get him sent to jail, despite his innocence.

Again, life’s circumstances could have stolen Joseph’s will to walk in the way of the Lord.  Not even prison deterred him.  Before long, Joseph had found favor in the eyes of the prison warden, and was made responsible for all that was done there.  God continued to prove Himself faithful, even in seemingly unfortunate circumstance.

God continued to bless Joseph’s faithfulness, and granted him the interpretation of dreams.  Ultimately, his ability to hear God, granted him the second highest position in all of Egypt.  Though it had been a long and weary road, the Lord had been faithful to remain present, and Joseph never doubted nor questioned His presence. (Genesis 40 and 41)

When dreams come to light,

let heart not be swayed;

His promise remains,

no matter delay.

Trust He is faithful,

despite where you are;

for He is present,

even when life’s hard.

Hold onto the hope,

that shall come to pass;

for what He has said,

will forever last.

Always He is good,

even when life’s not;

forge forward in faith,

with all that you’ve got.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the examples that You have given us in Your word.  Thank You that despite overwhelming circumstances – situations that would have broken most of us – You show us how You are forever faithful; that we must remain steadfast in our trust in You.  Thank You that You alone can take something so terrible as an individual sold into slavery by his own brothers, and turn it into a man of mighty faith who leads a nation in how to overcome a horrendous famine successfully.  Thank You that You can work ALL things for good for those who love You, even when it appears there is no possible good to be found.  Forgive us for our fears and our lack of long-suffering, and help us to faithfully endure all things, trusting above all – that You are with us and You are good.  May we love as we are loved by You, and may many come to know the saving grace that only You can give.  Let lives be changed and hearts be made new in You.  Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.