Love is........

I love the way The Message version conveys this verse of John 14:27 :

"I’m telling you these things while I’m still living with you. The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. I’m leaving you well and whole. That’s my parting gift to you. Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught."

It's very easy to loose this gift. Daily, the devil uses things and people to try to take this gift away from us. People say things to upset us whether they are in authority or not; People do things which may hurt us and even cause us to question ourselves and our convictions; Situations occur to disturb, distract and even intimidate us.

There are so many things which happen in this world with the one aim of taking away this peace that ONLY comes from God.

Thinking about this a lot and about things I have been discovering about myself, it makes a lot of sense that when my focus shifts from Jesus to man, I loose all of this. I no longer feel whole and well, I no longer feel at peace. Instead I feel this consistent need to meet expectations,gain approval and be a certain way. It's as though in my mind, what man thinks (especially those in authority), matters so much more than what the Word of God says.

It's the harsh reality I realise I have lived for a very long time, which has cost me so much, especially internally.

The closer we get to the end of times, the more conniving and swift the devil becomes. Notice how a lot of us find it hard to truly be ourselves and ask or seek for help when we need it? We feel afraid! Why? Because so and so thinks this of me and I don't want to loose my reputation.

Many of us who follow Christ, have lost this peace in life because we have become people focused rather than Jesus focused. I hope what I am trying to say is clear.

I remember moments when in church, the Pastor would mention problems I was facing and ask for those who would like to receive help from God to approach the altar and I will stand firm in my seat. Why? I was afraid of what everyone would think of me because I help out at church.

God opened my eyes to see that when I do this, I am no longer coming to the church for Jesus but instead just for the sake of it. This is because if I come with my sole attention and focus on Jesus, I forget about everything and everyone else and become a baby, a child before my saviour! 

This is the only way I can truly live in this peace He left us.