Life Note 2. "The Beauty In His Peace"

The Beauty In His Peace

Every morning I'm awakened to the sound of birds chirping outside my window and the sun peeking through my curtains. Most days I just lay in bed and listen; some days there's one bird chirping, other days there are multiple birds chirping. Their sound is so freeing. Here and there I'll crack my curtain and just watch their interaction with one another and their free spirits bring joy to me. Knowing that God is responsible for even the smallest creatures and the joy and freedom they possess is amazing.

Quite often we get so wrapped up in the hustle and bustles of life that we find ourselves caged into mediocrity and never fully satisfied with the joy of just living. There's always an unmet need or want, so we do everything in our power to keep busy to obtain the finances to acquire our material needs. We're too busy to pay attention to what surrounds us, ultimately, blocking out those freeing moments in life.

Have you ever been so busy and so saturated into a schedule that you had to schedule a set time to cry because you're just that overwhelmed?

No?

That's not you?

Have you been too focused on a deadline, a project, your kids, or maybe even what's going on in someone else's life, that you forget that you have your own?

I urge you to allow yourself at least 30 minutes to acknowledge the life that's going on around you. Soak in the smell of the outdoors, let the sun beam on your skin, and open your ears to just listen. Listen to the different lives that are going on around you. Delve into the beauty of the moment and steal just a few moments of Gods peace.

The purity of Life can take you places if you allow it, or you can be too busy and let life pass you by. It's ok to slow down for a moment. There is beauty in his peace!

The first time I experienced Gods peace was the first time I realized I wasn't alone. I was in my new, barely furnished apartment and I had finally made the decision to stop beating myself up about abruptly moving out of my aunts home because of an offense I was too proud to forgive (that's another story, I'll tell you about it later).

I was sitting on my futon in my living room and it seemed like life itself just stopped. I heard nothing but silence. I lived in a small apartment complex and there were only four apartments, two upstairs and two downstairs, 3 of which were occupied (including mine). My upstairs neighbor had a dog, I had a dog (my princess Bella B.) and the house about 20 ft away from the complex had two; but there was still this inescapable silence.

I'm not too big on watching TV unless "my shows" are on, lol. You know we all have our shows. Well this day none of my shows were on and my TV was even off. I tried talking to Bella but it seemed as though, this day she just wanted to sleep -her personality is scary, ok. She gives me these side eyes as if to say "not right now, just leave me alone." -Yeah, she hit me with one of those looks.

So here I am in a barely furnished apartment, a futon away from being empty, no noise, just complete and utter silence. My phone was dry, my timelines on social media were empty, I mean my level of entertainment was experiencing a drought! I sat back and I started to feel all these negative thoughts flood my mind, I started to feel alone, I experienced so many emotions within a matter of minutes, and at one point I felt tears begin to roll down my cheeks. I was beginning to sink into a funk. Bills started to become my focus, living alone became the next, the thoughts of marriage soon followed and then I just stopped.

I reminded myself that I set aside a few scriptures to turn to when I felt these emotions come over me. I don't know about y'all but the devil finds joy in tormenting my mind... I've always struggled with "The battles of the mind", and Satan knew it. In the moment everything stopped I felt something, he tried to steal my peace before I had the opportunity to realize it was there.

I began to read my scriptures in my phone -I previously copied and paste them from my bible app to a note in my phone, this way even if I had forgotten the exact scriptures to reference, they would all be in one place waiting for me to read them and lean on his promise. As I read the birds began to chirp, and the sun seemed to beam a little brighter. I felt the warmth flow through my window.

It was in that moment that I realized I was never alone. That all along I had finally had the peace I prayed about on Sundays at the alter, the peace I praised The Lord for when I worshipped. I had it and because I had it, the devil came in and tried to steal it away.

1 Peter 5:7-8 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.

Bella woke up and scratched me on my legs to get my attention, my phone began to vibrate from the incoming text message from my boyfriend saying, "I'm on my way". The silence wasn't completely gone and neither was the peace in Gods presence, He was there. He carried me through yet another battle and fought for me all because I kept the faith and leaned on his word.

So now I appreciate my silent moments, I worship Him in these times. I may not always be in the environment where I can have a full out worship moment, but I'll stop to give Him thanks!

Philippians 4:7-9 And the peace of God, which surpasseth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Remember, there is always beauty in his peace!

Love,

ChelCy