There was a second part to this post.
I was supposed to pick a word. I couldn’t decide on one right away… I needed to think on it. At first I chose hope, then delight…then I finally settled on
PEACE
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Matthew 5:9
My all time favorite book, “A Beautiful Offering” has a chapter on peace…
“When you decide to live out what you believe. When you decide you want peace in your possession, then you will find out what that looks like & feels like. You begin to pray for God to give you peace. You incorporate peace in your relationships. You decide to respond differently. You speak in love. Act in tenderness. You imitate what you know about peace until it becomes a reality for your character & your life.”
It is so convicting. Dying to your desire. Dying to your flesh.
“He restores what has been broken & heals what has been wounded. I don’t have peace because I figured it all out. I have peace because I believe in Christ.”
I love the idea of imitating what I want to be until one day it just becomes who I truly am. I desire for God to give me peace that passes all understanding. I want a God-given peace that comes from Him living within me. I want to respond differently.
Wouldn’t the greatest honor of all to be told ” You must belong to Jesus, I see Jesus in you.” And most of all by the people that live with you, the ones who see the yuckiest of you.
Every morning of 2011, I desire to wake up & pray for peace. And hopefully along the way my imitation will become a reality. I want a lovely, peaceful offering to all that know me.
Amen, sister-friend. You have such a sweet heart.