Oh my wonderful Friends in Christ, another beautiful day is in the offing! And since we’re all alive to witness and experience its many joys and sorrows, let’s offer a heartfelt, ‘Thank you Lord!’ Now here’s an interesting quote from Mary Knowles. ‘Eat little at night, open your windows, drive out often, and look for the good in things and people…you will no longer be sad, or bored, or ill.’ Oh that’s excellent advice mih people! I agree with everything except eat little at night, because I’m a night owl and can’t stay up without some decent victuals. And I even opened my windows to day because it was fairly cool outside. The truth is Friends that nothing Mary says there is rocket science, just basic common sense; enjoying nature and taking a positive approach to life. We talk a lot about God but forget to enjoy the good and beautiful things He made especially for our pleasure, and our enthusiasm is further killed by the negative approach we take to life, always looking for the bad in both things and people. That is in effect a symptom of our lack of trust; first in ourselves, because we’re basically afraid that if we get too close, too soon, to certain things and people, we’ll get hurt. And secondly, it’s a lack of trust in Almighty God; not having enough faith in Him to lead and guide us safely, without too much pain and sorrow. Now that’s exactly where our Bit comes in my people. ‘Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on (sustained by) thee: because he trusteth in thee.’ That’s pure gospel Friends, pure gospel! If we get nothing else from the Good Book and all the religious hoopla out there, let’s make sure we get that. Write it indelibly in our hearts souls and minds. Oh Friends I’m chuckling because instead of writing minds just now, I wrote behinds. But that’s also a good place to write them, just in raised letters, for since we sit on them so much, we’d always be reminded. (smile) Anyway, we need that Bit carved into us because it’s the basic premise of our Christian faith; supreme trust in and constant communication with the Father through His Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. If we don’t have that strong foundation my brethren, then we’ll always struggle with the faith, always be searching, unsure and insecure. Like everything else in life, we too need proper foundations to build on, and that’s what our Bit helps us to do. Oh my people, that perfect peace of mind we’re talking about is such a wonderful state of mind and soul, that the scholars dub it thus: ‘This emphatic expression indicates a peace that goes beyond human comprehension,’ which brings us to Bruh Paul’s exhortation to the Philippians. ‘Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep (guard) your hearts and minds through Jesus.’ (Phil.4:6-7) However Friends, to do that, our minds must be ‘stayed on’ the Lord, which means leaning on God in complete surrender, total, unwavering confidence and security. That in turn breeds the trust we’re talking about. The scholars label that trust as ‘the ultimate expression of that confidence.’ And they also note, truthfully, that the object of our faith is also as important as our act of trust, which in this instance is the Lord God Jehovah. Oh my brethren, I doubt if any of us will ever experience that perfect level of peace here on earth in these evil, ungodly times, but it sure is a worthwhile goal to shoot for. And I can tell you, from personal experience, the more you mature in the faith, the greater or higher your level of peace becomes. And Friends, peace in your soul is such a wonderful exhilarating, relaxing, refreshing experience, all at the same time. It doesn’t mean you don’t have problems or concerns, but that the negatives in your life are not wearing you down, depressing and worrying you. As Isaiah says: ‘And the work of the righteous shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.’ (Is.32:17) Yes mih people, that’s what peace in our souls brings; ‘quietness and assurance for ever.’ You can’t beat that, especially in this mish-mash, confused, strife-torn, angry, resentful, greedy, selfish, ungodly world we now live in. Ah Friends, I know that it’s not easy to live righteously in this current world, and it might just get more difficult if we don’t reduce the enemy’s hold and power over it, but that’s exactly why we have faith and trust in the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, for He has promised to see us through this life safely, if we believe in Him. And it certainly does take a great mental leap of faith to let go, to surrender your all to an unseen Being, no matter how powerful they are. But the fruit of the Lord’s Word, His faithfully fulfilled Promises, His unconditional LOVE for us that culminated in His Son Jesus’ Sacrificial Death, His Mercy, Forgiveness, Salvation and Eternal Life are all there on plain view for us to see. So don’t be afraid to let go and put your total trust in the Lord God Jehovah. And although miracles can happen overnight, they usually don’t, because the whole faith and trust thing is a process of growth; gradual and maturing like a child growing up. So if you don’t see any real improvement at first, please don’t get worried and give up, since it’s often then that the Lord’s testing us to see if we really and truly believe and want to make Him our be all and end all. Till tomorrow then, God willing, when we’ll talk some more about that awesome, mountain moving topic of peace. Stand strong and relentless in the faith, and remember the Lord LOVES you unconditionally, and will never leave nor forsake those who sincerely seek Him. Much LOVE! … the Christian motto…NEVER GIVE UP…
SCRIP-BITS 