Transformational Thought
A few years back I injured the rotator cuff in my shoulder resulting in pain that varied from chronic to acute. It really affected my daily life. Using that arm for most anything made things worse. Of course, I waited much too long before seeking medical attention. The doc told me the tendons in my shoulder were swollen and inflamed. After an injection to quiet the inflammation, and a little rest, all went back to normal.
I think it’s safe to say that most people, actually, let me say it with more strength, ALL people, are “the walking wounded” in the spiritual sense. Of course, the wounds and injuries vary in severity, but we all carry wounds around with us. And those wounds bring some degree of pain. We try to escape the pain in good and not-so-good ways, because we all are addicted to comfort and peace.
Unfortunately, our pain level often goes from bad to worse through the decisions and choices we make in our search for comfort. It’s the proverbial vicious downward cycle. Our pain, caused by new and old wounds, evokes emotions, which in turn distort our decision-making process. We then choke, and make another poor, knee jerk decision, and the cycle repeats. To go back to my shoulder injury, using my arm to engage in a pleasurable activity while the tendons were inflamed, added more pain.
The injection we need to stop this hurtful cycle is God’s peace. The promise of peace is abundant throughout The Holy Bible. An antonym for peace is uproar, a highly emotional state. And while emotions are critical to us (they act as a very effective warning system), they don’t help us to make good choices. Making decisions during times of high emotion only increases the inflammation and pain.
Today, reflect back on some decisions that you regret…what kind of emotions pushed your decision-making? How do you think your decision-making process would have gone if you had a powerful Peace in the midst of that event? In order to access His peace, you have to look in the right places. Seek and accept the peace promised by your Lord before you make any important decisions.
Prayer
Dear Father God, I am so thankful for Your power. I know, Lord, that the very same power that controls creation and raised Your Son from the dead is available to me. Infuse me, Father, with Your Holy Spirit, the Spirit that Jesus called the Great Comforter, so that I may experience peace through good weather as well as storms. I pray this in the name of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children say – AMEN!
The Truth
The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.
Psalm 29:11
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6,7