“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. Be glad and rejoice because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:10-12)
 
Persecution can come in a variety of forms a snarky comment, broken relationship, physical or emotional abuse. We all have felt the pain of these if we had young children, we might get snarky comments more than we would want. There are many who are persecuted for outrageous things that they have said or done. However, we do not give them a reward instead, we might frown upon them. In difficult moments when people fail to understand why we choose to live a certain way and uphold values that are different from them that are beneficial and wise based on God’s standard we can face persecution.

When you start making new habits that are good for you and line up to with different values people start to notice. The friends that you had before even question who you are and start ridiculing you since “you changed” or there is something different about you that they do not understand the reason behind it. You are hated because your life goes against the grain of what society says based on what God says is right. We feel the pain when our old friends no longer want to spend time with us because of the new habits that formed within us because of Jesus. We feel the sting.

​It doesn’t mean that it doesn’t hurt when we are rejected but, we can have hope and comfort knowing that God will provide for us and be there for us even when we are mistreated. It is through our faith in Jesus that we can stand firm in difficult times.
 
Heavenly Father, help us to stand firm in our faith even in difficult times even in the face of criticism, rejection, or cruelty. Help us not to avoid in doing good but, lean into your faithfulness.
 
Walking with you,
Stacy Watkins

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9)
 
How well do you handle conflict? It is always an awkward interview question. Most people just reply I just walk away. Do you just walk away, or do you try and face it head on and come up with a resolution? For many of us who do not like conflict we agonize over it for a while and think of all the possible scenarios for the situation. Some of us would probably prefer cleaning a crocodile’s teeth with a mini toothbrush than deal with some situations that involve conflict. It could be intimidating to enter a situation that would involve a disagreement or tension between two people but, we are called to not just walk away from situations or turn a blind eye but, to enter disputes to make peace.

Peace does not come naturally, and it does not come easily it takes hard work. Peace involves sacrifice. To obtain peace a person must insert themselves into uncomfortable situations and strive for reconciliation communally and personally. Reconciliation happens through Jesus who restores us to a right relationship with God. Those who have been changed by God seek others to also be changed by God in order that others may know God and be called “blessed” by Him.

True peace is only found within a relationship with Jesus. There are moments when there is an illusion of peace in the middle of chaos when we take time to walk in nature, being with people who care about us, or practicing mindfulness. These are temporary moments of peace not sincere peace true peace only comes from Jesus. When we give our hearts to Jesus’ peace that cannot be measured flows throughout us to become peacemakers to others.
           
Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus the Prince of Peace to be an example to everyone may we be agents of change under your direction.

Walking with you,
Stacy Watkins

“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful.”
(John 14:27)
                 
Swings on playgrounds are fun; you can feel high in the air when you are swinging forward or backward. Once you get going on a swing it takes a moment to stop. We can apply Newtons law of motion on figuring out how to stop, keep going faster, and getting the initial push off the ground. When there is no force upon the swing it sits at rest. Our lives can feel like the swing that it is going in one direction and progressing, or we are swinging backwards and going even further away from the direction of where we want to be. In the middle is where the swing rests. There is no force moving it forward or backwards it is just there at peace.

There is a lot that is always happening in the world which propels us forward into changing for the good or going backwards and making wrong choices that can harm us. There are few things in this world that can give us peace. We may say a quiet afternoon strolling the beach or hikes near our favorite lake, gives us peace but this peace is only temporary. Complete peace is found within Jesus. Jesus brings peace that unites friends, family, and even strangers, and even contentment in all the areas of our lives. There is a restoration of an imbalance and Jesus brings us into a new harmony.

Jesus Christ came as the Prince of Peace this does not mean that there is an automatic peace in our lives, and everything will be made exactly how we envision it. Our hearts will know a new type of peace that brings us harmony even in our troubles. We must believe in Jesus and surrender our lives to Christ actively choosing to follow God living under his wisdom and direction.
 
Jesus, thank you that no matter our circumstances are at the time and the difficulties I see before me that you bring peace.
 
Walking with you,
Stacy Watkins