"We can speak peace to our hearts, because God hath spoken peace to us….O keep that peace, by looking up to Jesus Christ every moment."
George Whitefield
There is peace in a right relationship with YHWH. That is the witness I am called to walk each day. A walk of peace in spite of and despite the world that rages around me with so many manufactured distractions and insurmountable terrors. Among all those scary and spooky realities, I have peace in the Way of the Lord. Peace is a powerful witness.
Too often I allow the passions of the situations that surround me trouble my spirit. Too often I see the spirit of a situation begin to change my response. Too often I allow the pervasive spirit of this world to redirect my path. When I recognize those influences, I need to reflect on the peace that grows out of wisdom and experience in my walk with YHWH.
I am often overcome with a spirit to rush to action when I should pause and reflect. As I walk along this path I need more time to reflect and pause. I think we all need that moment of Selah. We all need that moment to pause and reflect on what The Lord is teaching at that moment. We need a moment to pause in His presence.
Maybe we wouldn’t rush to embrace the spirit of division as much. Maybe we wouldn’t rush to embrace the spirit of pride. Maybe we wouldn’t rush to embrace all the passions that surround us in this world that are meant to knock us out of alignment. Maybe, just maybe, I should instead pause in His presence.
And instead of rushing, through that pause and reflection, gently embrace the spirit of the Lord. Embrace the fruits of the Ruach HaKodesh. I am reminded to look back on the words in one of the finely crafted letters of instruction that, “. . . the fruit of the Spirit [Ruach] is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control: against such there is no law. And they that are Moshiach [Messiah]’s have crucified the flesh with the passions and lusts. If we live in the Spirit [Ruach], let us also walk in the Spirit [Ruach]. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another” (Galatians 5:22-26 NMV).
So, I am going to embrace love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control by finding the self-control to pause. Through that pause I will act in alignment with the love that I am commanded to have for my God and my neighbor that bears His image. There is joy that comes from aligning my thoughts, my nephesh, and my muchness to His peace. There will always be a long wait and a lot to suffer to help others BUT I will approach that endurance of character with the gentleness and goodness I receive from faith in the Lord. And being meek enough to know that all those character traits, all those abilities, all those gifts, come not from myself but from His grace.
Lord, help me to pause today. Help us all to take a moment in Your Presence before we get caught up in the wrong spirits.
Shavua tov. Shalom to your home. Bless your being. The reign of YHWH is now. Be a blessing to YHWH and others.