Faithbase

Hey faith-based family blessings to you today. I hope you're doing well. Just want to give a word of encouragement. I don't know about you but if I'm really honest I would have to say that I've been pretty stressed lately. I've given things a little bit more authority and power over my joy level, my hope level, my peace level than I should and I feel like the Lord lovingly reminded me of truths that he shared with me in the past and one of them is a verse in Colossians chapter three. It's verse 15 and Paul wrote it while he was in the prison. Obviously it's one of the prison epistles and he says let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts and that word rule is actually it's a Greek word that is the word we get our word umpire. Can you visualize that? Like an umpire calling a play safe. Someone's out. It's a strike ball. It's a foul. So the umpire gets to decide and I say that to say let the peace of Christ rule in your heart. So let the peace of Christ be the one that determines if something is a big deal. Something's worthy of your attention, worthy of giving it much authority in your life. I've just learned from getting upset too much and from the Lord's tenderness and friends speaking hope into me. Sometimes there's just so much power and just saying that's just not a very big deal. Maybe you might need to say that today. I've realized I should have been saying that a little more often recently. Still want to be responsible and steward things well but I needed to say well it's just not a big deal. I remember when we were living on the mission field and my car would break down constantly. I finally learned to say well it's just not a big deal. It's just a car and so in eternal perspective just know the Lord loves you so much. Jesus says my peace I give to you but there's also a sense of partnering with it. When Paul says let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. So would your hearts be filled with peace hope and joy today. Would you have freedom to say it's just not a very big deal and would you know that his peace is offered to you and it is a peace that transcends all understanding. Blessings and love to you today. Hope the Lord encourages you and refreshes you and points you to himself.