Okay, I know…the title alone kinda makes you want to skim right past this one…I’m right there with ya!
I’m a great journey between bible studies1 this Fall. I love it when God weaves together parts of your spiritual journey in ways that you didn’t expect. I love the groups of women that I’m with and privileged to share life with them. And you know what, we really are all in this together. Different ages, backgrounds, upbringings, etc., but we are ALL on a journey to bring peace to all areas of our life.
The main thread through these studies has been ~ Peace! And the pursuit of it! Each study has gone about it in different ways, but the verses that have really had sirens blaring at me this week have been from Ephesians 4.
Ephesians 4:2-3, 25, 32 ~ “2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Let those sink in…..and enjoy the soak!
Pursuing peace will contaminate your life in all ways and it’s all in good ways! I want for you to be so full of God’s peace that you will become a magnet to those around you ~ let them see the joy in you that can only come from being in close relationship with Christ. But this can only happen if you allow God to show you the areas of your life that you need to surrender full access to the Lord, so that He can shape you into the Daughter that He has intended for you to be all along.
And here’s the great thing…you aren’t in this alone. You have the Great Comforter, the Holy Spirit, right there with you guiding you toward the right path. Borrowing a quote from one of the studies, “God will never convict unless He fully intends to empower.”2 I said to my ladies at bible study this morning, “Instead of being fearful or feeling defeated when God brings conviction to your heart, be excited! Yes ~ be excited that God is getting ready to bring some wonderful changes into your life that is only going to be for the better!” So I’m thrilled for you too as you read this. Take the plunge into the ocean of God’s grace as He restores you from the inside out to be in relationship with Him!
Blessings,
René
- The Armor of God by Priscilla Shirer and Conversation Peace: The Power of Transformed Speech by Mary Kassian.
- Shirer, Priscilla. “The Breastplate of Righteousness.” The Armor of God. 2015 ed. Nashville: LifeWay Church Resources, 2015. 90. Print.
Broken & Blessed~Adventures in Gratutide! 