Continuation on ..."Peace of mind in a troubled world."

The battleground in our hearts..........

Though our souls long for God, our sinful natures rebel at His ways. Part of us yearns for God and part of us reaches for fleshly desires. Our hearts are a battleground of continual conflict. This inner struggle causes tension and excessive strain. Without God we are "like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt"(Isiah 57:20).

There can be no peace until all of life---mind, body, and spirit---are coordinated by the One who made us and understands us. He is not only master of the world but knows your life and mine from the beginning to the end. He was thinking of us when He came into the world"to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.(Luke 1:79).

As the Prince of Peace, He invites you to come to Him. "Come unto me, all that are heavy laden, and I will give you rest"(Matt. 11:28). When you come

to Him, you will find relief and relaxation in the freedom He gives. Your peace will be as a river(Isiah 48:18)--an active, sparkling peace that is refreshing and strong, a peace that passeth all understanding. (Phil. 4:7).

Will you come to Jesus casting your burden on Him? He says,"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you...Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid"(John 14:27).Faith and trust are the antidotes for fear and aanxiety. How restful it is to trust in the only God who is from everlasting to everlasting, to have a friend who never changes, whose love never dies. This Friend is ever thinking of us, ever caring for us. So why worry and fret? Learn to do as we read in 1 Peter 5:7, "Casting all your care upon Him' for He careth for you." There is peace when the battle is over, so why not surrender your ife to the Lord? Remember, if you trust, you don't worry and if you worry you are not trusting. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee"(Isiah 26:3).

Resentment is a poison that also robs your peace of mind. It leads to discouragement and hopeless confusion. It is hard to forgive those who have done you an injustice, but you must if you wish to be forgiven. "But if ye forgive NOT men their tresspasses, neither will your Father forgive your tresspasses"(Matt. 6:15). As faith is born in your heart, you are able to surrender your will. Instead of resentment and irritation, your heart is filled with love and mercy, and you experience an inner tranquility. When Jesus is reigning in your heart, you will truly love your enemies. Only through Christ's redeeming blood can this occur.

More next week.....

Love to all who read this blog.......

Terri