We live in a world where our culture is training our hearts and minds to become reaction and defensive, rather than hopeful and possible. Anxiety and busyness seem to be the new norms and as Christ Followers, we are struggling to fight against this and it's exhausting to be met with unrealistic expectations of hustle to achieve and believe. There is not a place you can go in person or online where you won't come up against a debate, challenge, news alert of tragedy or massive hurt. It feels like the entire world is suffocating and our air is shrinking with it. The only place of refuge and strength is the place our soul rests, in prayer. God knew this world would be challenging, no wonder He instructs us to seek first His Kingdom and never forsake gathering together. We need each other in the Body.
What a weird place we find ourselves in, looking back how far we have come, forward at unimaginable virtual worlds, we aren't even sure are safe as we sit bewildered in the now, of fear and doubt, and yet still, the desire for peace, knowing greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world but our minds wonder how it's possible. Our souls feel anxious, in the prosperity of panic, depleted of peace.
What's sad is our children are stuck in the middle between our training them up in the way they should go and the worlds' reality of hopelessness. Our kids feel clueless and confused. I can't blame them, so are most of us adults!
This world of pressure and expectations, void of peace, leads us into anxious decision making and busyness. As parents, as church members, how much more diligent and zealous we must then be to shine our light and lead with love in a world so desperate for it. Our prayer time is the real battleground.
Friends, we are set apart for such a time as these! It takes great strength to resist following the crowds of hustle and expectations to keep-up with the presumed norm! We won't conform to what the world whispers is the best way and instead choose to be in it as we seek first the Kingdom agenda and life we have been called to. The Way is our Way.
So what does our peaceful "pushing back" look like?
It looks like leading with consistent love, peace, grace, mercy. It looks like honoring and respecting those around us regardless of agreement. It means asking, praying and waiting for God's direction before we move. Pushing back against the norm means we stand alone in some places, understanding we stand winthin an army in Heavenly Places.
We have the choice to choose panic or peace, chaos or Christ. We wake up every day with the choice to be consumed by all the negative things and allow fear to take root, or we choose faith, hope and love which produces life and leads us towards blessings and Our Father’s heart.
When we wait on God's direction and provision, we shall be renewed...because He is faithful, steadfast, a Promise Keeper, Able, Mighty King, Ruler over All, All Knowing, Just, Prince of Peace, the Great I Am. He holds everything together when it looks like it's falling apart, including you!
Let's Go in Peace.
"but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31
Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:1, 6-9
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This is how YOU get to hug my HEART back!
Heart Hugs and Blessings,
Michele
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