The Official Writing Challenge
BACK TO
CHALLENGE
MAIN
INSTRUCTIONS
how it works
submission rules
guidelines for
choosing a level
ENTRIES
submit your entry
read current entries
read past entries
challenge winners
Our Daily Devotional HERE
Place it on your site or
receive it daily by email.


TRUST JESUS TODAY

  • Share
  • how it works
  • Submit
Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Peacemakers (08/15/24)
A Garden or Battlefield
Tension and chaos seem to be the order of our world today. Peace falls into the category of an after thought. Two major conflicts headline the news. Russia wants to take Ukraine back under its authority, and Palestine wants to annihilate Israel.

These situations are completely out of our control. It is up to our elected officials to try to bring about peace. We can only pray for a peaceful settlement in both situations.

What is the level of peace in America? Sexual immorality is becoming more accepted. People are afraid to step out of their house because of the upsurge in crime. Hatred runs deep with racism and anti-Semitism on display daily. America is a divided nation. Politicians point to the other party for the demise. They cry only their party is capable of rescuing the United States from its current circumstances. Yet, when they speak, they slander and fire accusations at each other and lie about what they have or have not done. I turn the TV off and scratch my head scared that these are our leaders.

But what am I doing to bring about peace? When I find myself becoming agitated over some little situations that crop up. When my wife prepares dinner late. This means I will be doing dishes and cleaning up later than I want. My wife and our great grand daughter, (whom we are raising), are bickering back and forth over something insignificant.

Wanting to escape these situations my mind drifts into the past and brings up some of my past mistakes. I play the mind game. What if I said this or did this instead of what I said or did? Or I jump into the future and get anxious over something that has not even happened.

When I get this far, I must ask myself what is my relationship with God right now? I already know the answer. It is time to pull in the reins on my thoughts. I know who I am. I believe in an Almighty God. I am His child. Jesus is my Savior. I have His Spirit indwelling in me whose job is to mold me into the man God wants me to be and that is like Jesus. So, in all I do, I must have the mindset as Christ Jesus. When going through a tough situation, I want to remember Who is inside of me is greater than what is outside of me.

Only Jesus can provide me with real peace. Isaiah 26:3 it is written, “He will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusts in You.” To have that peace, we must keep God foremost in our minds. It is a challenge. I must remember; I am a child of a great God. Get out of His way and let Him fight the battles and trust Him with the outcome.

When I am not sure what to do, I ask Him to lead me where to go or what to say. I learn to trust God and build my faith in Him by surrendering all to Him. As my faith builds, I will have more peace in my life. I can then share this peace with others.

How do I obtain peace and keep it? Pray, study the Word, and listen to what Paul tells us in Romans to be transform by the renewing of our mind. With a renewed mind, I look at the world and people in it with a new perspective. I allow the Holy Spirit to transform me from the way the world thinks to what Paul wrote in Philippians…think on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy. These are the character traits of our God.

Peace starts in the heart. God judges me by what is in my heart. I want the peace of God, but more importantly, I want peace with God. To be obedient by walking and living in His ways. Solomon wrote in Proverbs 4:23, “Above all else guard your heart for it is the well spring of life.” With a guarded heart, we can walk in peace with God and be the peacemaker He wants us to be. I must remind myself that I want my heart to be a garden and not a battlefield.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
This article has been read 261 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Terry R A Eissfeldt 
08/23/24
So much truth here!
Thank you
Blessings
Marlene Custer 
08/28/24
I think you could get a couple of devotionals out of this.