Last Friday waves of emotion hit me fairly hard, and I basically hit a brick wall and fell apart. It takes alot for me to admit this, as I have a tendency to put on the mask of 'life is good'. As I was sitting in my truck, listening to KLove, a verse came on which spoke volumes to me. I could hear God speaking. He does not give us anything we cannot handle, and regardless of our circumstances, He will equip us with what we need.
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."
2 Timothy 1:7
Later that afternoon our neighbor called inviting me to go with her to an Extraordinary Women's Conference. Her church group had an extra ticket for the weekend, and she immediately knew it could bless me. I had already promised hubby that I would do something else with him. I began to cry, feeling God speaking to me again. I spoke with hubby, and he encouraged me to go.
And so I went.
It was amazing!
One of the speakers, Angela Thomas, shared about Peace Theology. It was as if God had written her words 'just for me'. I was so incredibly moved by the Holy Spirit. I fevrently took notes, prayed, cried, prayed some more and praised our AWESOME GOD!
Here are the Principles of Peace Theology, followed by my thoughts and notes.
I. God is Peace.
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I Thessalonians 5:23
II. God sent His own Son to be Prince of Peace.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
III. Followers of Christ.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 14:27
IV. Connected to Jesus to have peace.
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other.
John 15:1-17
V. Spirit of God produces peace in us.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:6-7
VI. Deep, abiding peace from God is almost unexplainable.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4-7
VII. One day we will live in peace forever.
Those who walk uprightly enter into peace;
they find rest as they lie in death.
Isaiah 57:2
Changing for good, takes away our fear of change. With peace, we have a fresh look full of passion. We have to ask ourselves, “Do I look more like Jesus? Am I willing to change my attitude and disposition?” When we are full of peace, we are more rested. We know God has us, and we are taken care of. When we lay our head on our pillow at night, we go to sleep, and wake fully rested, in Him. We believe God gives us a Holy calm like none other. With peace, we believe in Him for the past, the present and the future. A woman of peace is full of God’s peace.
Peace makes us pleasant to be with. When others are struggling, and not acting in peace, turn your head and say “Lord, they need a Savior.” Do not feed into the negativity of this world. Christ gives us eyes to see and forebear. Use them!
A woman of peace thinks clearly. She knows she has been delivered. Her thoughts are not clouded by the many voices of the world or her past. She has done away with anxiety and fear. The woman of peace knows that God holds the victory, and it is to Christ she belongs!
Sin is rejected with a clear mind when we are at peace. Bitterness is laid down; it is gone and finished. When life meets us with brokenness, let go of the bitterness. A woman of peace walks full in the power of God and His peace.
Peaceful women reject negativity, and lay it down. When we have a spirit of everything being wrong, we are tearing ourselves down. Guard your hearts against negativity; taste and see the peace and faithfulness of Christ.
We need eyes to see and hearts to feel. The Lord has swung wide open the doors to the feast for us to continually fill ourselves on the peace and goodness of Christ.
Live in the peace of God, remaining connected to Christ always. No matter where you come from, or what you are going through, the Truth of God is the same for us Always! He is waiting for us, with arms open wide. Follow hard after Christ, and taste and see the peace He brings!
Change Me, O Lord, to be a better woman, a woman of peace.
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