Godly Peace or Fleshly Relief?

Philippians 4:6-7

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God; and the PEACE of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your minds and hearts through Jesus Christ.

During a conversation with a friend, God said something that without a doubt I needed to hear. It was related to the peace of God. I think so many times it’s easy to interpret fleshly relief as Godly peace. A friend of mind was telling me how she was struggling with the decision to buy a house. She prayed about it for weeks but still felt anxious. After a few days she decided, “although it’s a great deal, I’m just not going to do it.” She felt such a “peace” with her decision. When she told this to another friend, he said something very insightful. Of course you feel “peace”. You just took your self out of a stressful situation.” It wasn’t’ peace it was relief. Sometimes God purposefully allows us to be in stressful situation because he wants us to find peace while we are IN it. Taking yourself out of situation that brings you stress is always going to bring you relief, that’s not proof that you are in Gods will. Sometimes God wants you to find Him in the storm not take you out of it. When an addict goes a number of days without using their substance of choice, they get extemely anxious their thoughts minds and actions become consumed. During that time if they use again, they are overwhelmed with a since of peace and relief. We wouldn’t dare say "it must have been Gods plan for them the use again, look at the peace they feeling right now". We know that this only made the problem worse. They are relieved because they are no longer struggling and fighting the battle that God has them in. Coming back in contact with something you were addicted to always makes you happy. (Temporarily)

Sometimes that perceived peace is really just fleshy relief, that shows you that you are no longer fighting the battle that God wants you to fight. Be careful! If you read the verse you’ll see that the peace of God is one the “surpasses all understanding”. It’s not one that’s necessarily logical. It’s one you feel even while you are in the midst of the storm.

Some of you may or may not know this but, this past summer I was without a job. During that time I was actually offered a job as a guidance counselor. My initial reaction was one of relief because, obviously, now I was able to pay my bills. But I didn’t take it. I wish I could say that I felt extreme peace about this decision but I didn’t at first. I just somehow knew it was what I should do. But the cool thing is that God actually eventually gave me a peace about NOT having a job. That made no sense. And I thought, man I’m so stupid. I’m about to turn down job in this economy where people would give anything to find work. I was anxious, but as I waited on the Lord, and honestly it wasn’t easy. It was extremely scary at times but eventually He gave me a peace that surpassed all understanding. It made no sense but I trusted HIM. Now I have the job of my dreams. So glad that God gave me the strength to stay the course and I didn’t just seek relief, I sought His Peace!

Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. ( The message)

Better Man

Proverbs 18:22 He who finds a wife, finds a good thing. And obtains favor for the Lord.

"There’s a light that cannot shine until, you come into my life and love reveals. You will be the one, the one for me. And I'll give you all I have to give, all the love, all the joy, my heart can give. Hoping you will share the same with me." Miki Howard

A year ago today, I had the privilege of being the best man in the wedding of my best friend. Gosh time flies. I remember my tweet that morning was “ Today I get to be the best man for a better man”. It has taken me a year to see what God was actually trying to show me through that statement. One of the things that Jul has definitely done is make William a better man. As close as him and i were, there was still a side of him that I had never seen until he married her. I realize that as bright as I attempt to shine my light now, there’s a light in me that’s going to shine even brighter when I find my wife. When I find the woman that God has for me, those of you who love me now, will love me even more, because you will finally get to see a better side of me that right now only she has the key to. After all these years of searching, I just realized what I was looking for. The one who is going to help me shine brighter and I will help her shine brighter. A godly woman who loves God more than she loves me. I’ll be a better man and you all will finally get to see a part of me that you don’t even know is there. Thanks William and Jul for the things you taught me. Happy Anniversary and I love you both very much. I’m counting down the days until I can tell my best man that I'm about to become a better man.

Real Men Reject Isolation

Proverbs 18:1 A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire. He rages against all wise judgement.

Again Solomon warns us of the dangers of trying to do things on our own. I know for myself there are areas where I desire to isolate myself. If I'm honest, the reason that I don't want advice, is the same reason mentioned in the proverb, I want to seek my "own desires". I don't want to be told I'm wrong, or be challenged in my thinking. In the second part of the verse, Solomon makes a point that I had never thought of. In essence, Isolation is the enemy of "wise judgement". When we isolate ourselves to seek our own desires, we're pretty much guaranteeing we're not using wise judgement. In other words, if you have a situation that you are hiding/keeping away from others because you don't want to be wrong, there's a greater chance that you are wrong. Think about it!!

"I have to figure this out"

Proverbs 11:14 Where there is no counsel the people will fall. But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

One of the traps that we fall into, especially us men, in this idea of "I have to figure this out". If you have a situation in your life where you are saying this to yourself, you are already in the wrong mindset. We are to seek the Lord and seek counsel. Find godly men, mentors, and friends in your life and ask them what they think and how they see things. Actually if you remember in Proverbs 3, we are told very specifically to "lean NOT to our own understanding". Stop trying to figure things out and seek the Lord, seek His guidance and wisdom and ask godly people, not just one but a multitude.

Do you remember, that cold day in December, leaving everything you knew behind?

As Proverbs 8 continues to give us fatherly wisdom, it's ironic that today is my father's birthday. For those who don't know my father was killed when I was 7 years old. He would have been 61 years old today. Such a crazy thought, since he was in his 30's the last time I saw him. It's weird to think that when my dad was my age, he only had a few years left. Gosh he was young. So much life left to live. One of the things that bothers me the most in life if that I don't know if he was a christian when he died.

Dear Daddy,

I know that when we get heaven the worship will never end, but I imagine there will come a time when I have will have to open my eyes, even if only for a moment. When I do I'll be looking for you. I pray that you made it and I hope you are proud of me. Love You.

I have to say that I am so grateful for my Heavenly Father. Although my earthly father wasn't there, HE's doing a great job of teaching me the things I need to know. Thanks for the wisdom.

Love You too!

If you have loved ones who don't know Jesus don't give, keep praying and talk to them.

Weakness

Well one point that Solomon (the writer of Proverbs) has made clear in the first 7 chapters in that man's weakness in women. Coming from someone who had hundreds of wives, he's definitely speaking from experience. In Chapter 7 again he warns us to be aware of the woman who seduces. Verse 5 "That they may keep you from the immoral woman, From the seductress who flatters with her words." I laughed in verse 7 when she encountered the "young man devoid of understanding" . Poor thing has no idea what's about to happen to him. Verses 21 and 22 " With her enticing speech she caused him to yield. With her flattering lips she seduced him. Immediately he went after her as a ox goes to slaughter."

Does Solomon hate women? Obviously not he surrounded himself with them. But he sure doesn't want his son to make the same mistakes he made. When I teach relationship classes in middle and high schools, I always warn them to beware of "The Game". The one where girls use sex to get love and guys use love to get sex. No one really wins that one because it usually turns into an unhealthy relationship.

Verse 26 "For she has cast down many wounded. And all who were slain by her were strong men." lol I've seen it a hundred times.

I got it, I got it

… I have hated instruction and my heart despised correction. I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined my ears to those who instructed me!

Proverbs 5:12-13

There are few things that I despise more than I despise correction. When I’m told that I’m doing something wrong whether its by God or man, something inside of me just burns and I want to resist it. I think as men we tend to lean towards the, I got it mentality. We would much rather figure it out than ask for help from others or even God at times. I once heard someone say “No man is an island”. We were not created to navigate through life alone without ever needing help or instruction. Last week in youth when Pastor Kent was answering questions, one of the kids asked “How does God talk to you?”. The answer was simple. Through His Word, By His Spirit and through others. I hope I’m listening. Are you?

Fatherly Advice

Here, my children, the instruction of a father, and give attention to know understanding. Proverbs 4:1

One of the verses that stuck out in my mind today was verse 26 “Ponder the path of your feet and let your ways be established” One way I translate this is “think about the path that you are on” So many times we just make decisions based on what we want to do right now, but we don’t consider the path we are on. Part of growing in wisdom and understanding is not only thinking about where you are now, but also considering where you are headed. The “do what I want now and think about the consequences later" mentality is not a biblical one. Doesn’t mean we don’t trust God. That’s why he sends us HIS Word and people to help us ponder this path. (See verse 1 of chapter 4) Dang it! #dontlikebeingconvicted. I also like the way this chapter calls wisdom "her". Oh btw another cool thing about this verse, our quarter backs name is in it. #goponder #gonoles

I don't understand

Thank you Lord for Proverbs 3 today. If you haven't read, it DO IT!! Normally I wouldn't even refer to Proverbs 3:5-6 because let's be honest. Everyone who's been a Christian for any length of time quotes that verse. But recently I've really been working on trusting HIM and not my own understanding. It's easier to trust HIM when I understand but when I don't understand that's when I want to panic. Verse 26 starts off saying "The Lord will be your confidence". Thank you Lord. I know I can come across as extremely confident at times but let me tell you that's not the case. I was recently in a situation where God asked me to say something and I was not confident at all. Actually I told HIM I didn't want to and to handle it without me. Needless to say, he won that argument. Well I was obedient (as far as I know) and it turned out like I thought (painful). Afterwards, I couldn't help but be upset with God. "See I told you, why did you make me do that?" Well when I read the first 4 chapters of proverbs this morning it all made sense. "My son (that's what he calls me) do not forget my law and let your heart keep my commands and if you do, even if it hurts at the time, you will have long life and peace." Then HE said " no matter how hard it is, never turn away from mercy and truth". He never said it would be easy or painless, just Trust HIM.

Wisdom

First of all this is not about to be anything insightful or deep. So if you came with high expectations, sorry. Maybe next time. :) I read Proverbs 2 today and I almost wanted to just keep going. It spoke to me so deeply. The first words of the chapter were "my son". As soon as I read that I knew God was talking directly to me. Doesn't mean He wasn't talking to you if you are a daughter. There are very specific areas of my life where I long for wisdom knowledge and understanding. It's exciting to know that these things come from the Lord. God is so good to me. I love it when He speaks. Let's keep searching for wisdom. Read Proverbs 3 tomorrow.