Let Peace Answer Your Door
Have you ever had someone knock on your front door and you don’t want to answer it? Whatever your reason, you have made up your mind not to open the door. So, what does it mean to let “PEACE answer your door?” When fear, anxiousness, worries and other concerns are knocking at your mind’s door, you have a choice. You can ignore it, but those toxic guests will stay there; you can answer it out of fear, and now those toxic guests walk right in and consume your mind and soul; or you can answer it with the confidence of PEACE. What happens then? PEACE will override those negative guests and they will go away!
LET’S EXPLORE YOUR PEACE!
What does PEACE mean to you? Do you struggle with keeping PEACE present in your life? PEACE in your life doesn’t mean you won’t have troubles and concerns. Allowing PEACE to be present in your life is what gives you emotional stability when the storms come.
For instance, you have probably heard the phrase, “PEACE in the eye of the storm.” In fact, the eye of the hurricane is a great example of how life can be crazy around us, but in our mind and soul, we are content with PEACE. It has been said that the eye of the hurricane is the calmest part. “The eye is so calm because the now strong surface winds that converge towards the center never reach it.”
We must protect our PEACE just like we protect other areas of our life. If someone came to the front door of your home and pushed their way in and said they were going to take over your home, room by room, you would say, “NOT.” When we let worries and the cares of this world take up too much time and space in our mind, we are letting go of PEACE. Before we know it, we feel sad or oppressed, discouraged, anxious, etc. Just like you would guard your house, you must guard your PEACE.
One of my favorite passages is in Colossians 3:15 (AMPC):
And let the PEACE (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that PEACEful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].
PEACE is the umpire over your heart. It is guarding it, protecting it and helping you maintain balance so that you and PEACE work together. If PEACE is not the umpire of your heart, something else will take its place. You may not be perfect in establishing PEACE every day, but you can practice it until it becomes more of a habit.
An umpire in sports is defined as “an official who watches a game or match closely to enforce the rules and arbitrate on matters arising from the play.” We all know that life is not fair, however, PEACE is like the umpire who is watching over those matters that concern you.
You may be struggling this holiday season with co-parenting issues, navigating the path as a single parent, facing a challenging divorce process or you are just taking on too much at this time and you are losing your PEACE. Does that sound like you?
Here are some simple tips to get your PEACE back.
Turn off the noise. Sometimes we need to turn off the TV or other sources that are bringing fear and other toxic feelings into our life.
Music. Play music that brings PEACE and calmness to you. If you feel stress rising, put on the music. Dance to the music. Movement will shake off those feelings!
Purposeful Peace. Decide today that PEACE will be the umpire of your heart. Each morning say, “PEACE run rampant in my life and my home.”
Choose to have FUN and LAUGH!
Volunteer or find a way to help others. This will take the focus off you and put it on someone else. You will feel so grateful that you were able to share your PEACE.
When stress or other emotions are stealing your PEACE, ask yourself a question. “Why am I down?” “Why am I worried?” You may discover that an earlier conversation left you feeling down or perhaps an email you received left you unsettled. Now you know the answer so you can get back to PEACE.