Tag Archives: way of righteousness

I must make my peace with them to make peace with them!

Of what spirit am I?

If it be possible,
as much as lieth in you,
live peaceably with all men.”

Romans 12:18

In the world, the believer faces (or at times causes) conflict with others in the church or even in society in general.

Whether aggressor or target (no, that’s not the same as victim!), we Christians can change the trajectory of such encounters by choosing peace, meekness, and forgiveness.

Lord, teach us
to seek peace
by reconciliation
through deeds of kindness and love.

I agree with that prayer. But I want more than deeds! I want a meek spirit. I want a forgiving spirit. I want a peaceable, peacemaking spirit.

But my humanity gets in the way. So before I can use meekness and forgiveness to make peace, I need to embrace them. I need to quit fighting meekness and forgiveness. I need to join myself to them. I need to make my peace with both of them.

[Peace (1 Thessalonians 1:1)]
Spines or flowers — which am I?

Well, here’s a related something Continue reading →

Its preparations are from Him.

Sometimes (like these days) I look at God’s assignment and realize my heart is insufficient to it.

And that’s a very good thing. In fact, if my sense of insufficiency is only sometimes, that’s too bad.

This morning I read the first half of Proverbs 16 and found some very applicable gems:

“The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord” (1).

“Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established” (3).

“Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished” (5).

“A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps” (9).

[The Scriptures say in Proverbs 16:9 -- A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps]
Proverbs 16:9