“I sought the Lord, and he answered me and rescued me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:4)
 
Some people might say that there is nothing to fear. President Roosevelt in his inaugural address even stated, “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” The phrase was used to inspire and invoke confidence spurring individuals into action. The vision that everyone can conquer their fears. We are all afraid of something spiders lurking in corners, the dark, receiving negative test results, or even the future.

Many of our fears are situations that have not happened yet but could be a possibility. When we think of fears in the future, we start planning what to do. No matter how much we plan it does not get rid of our fears. The only true rescue comes from seeking the Lord. We can bring our fears to the Lord for he hears us and will answer. God is our ultimate rescuer, and we can seek him during all things.
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Seek the Lord he is waiting to hear from you and deliver you from your fears. You do not have to everything together to come before God. God isn’t waiting for you to have your life together. He just wants us. To love you and cherish you as his son or daughter.
 
Heavenly Father, may we continue to seek you in times of desperation and when life is good. God, we thank you that we can always come to you.
 
Walking with you,
Stacy Watkins

“When Peter came to himself, he said, 'Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s grasp and from all that the Jewish people expected.'” (Acts 12:11)

It sounds funny to expect the unexpected because honestly, how can we expect the unexpected it is not the desired outcome it is what we would not consider happening. No one expected for someone to rewrite the alphabet song because singing the ABCs was too difficult but, it happened. No one expects to get a flat tire while driving on the road but, it happens.

When we pray often, we pray for what we expect will happen but, God is the God of the possible and can make the unexpected happen. We are not called to live predictable lives that are naturally possible. Many of us love what is predictable we know exactly what we can get, what we will find, what is there. However, we are called to an invitation to more. We are called to expect the unexpected when God is involved. When we pray to God, he can do things that we are not able to do for ourselves.

​We know what others can do for us but, underestimate what God wants to do for us. God is a God of surprises. He loves to do things we can’t predict or see coming. We cannot predict what God is going to do, and we never will be able to do so. He thinks, plans, and operates on a level all by Himself. Because of whom he is he will always do what we do not expect. God loves us and wants the best for each one of us.
 
Heavenly Father, Lord, may we not put expectations on what you can do in our lives. May we embrace the unexpected in our lives.
 
Walking with you,
Stacy Watkins

“Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable – if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy – dwell on these things.”  (Philippians 4:8)
 
Tik Tok is full of people always getting into confrontations and arguing about topics that take place within society, body count, science, is Jesus real. They want people to admit that their way of thinking is wrong. This only brings conflict neither side becomes closer at having a relationship or even building rapport. They tend to view everything one way and leave no room for any differences this does not make room for peace.

​The idea for solving for peace can happen in many forms we might need to add something into our lives to gain peace and sometimes we need to remove something out of our life to gain peace. Many times, we focus on what we must remove and get bogged down. This can lead to resentment and not actually creating peace within our lives. When we only observe what we must remove we forget that we have capabilities to accomplish our own goals to create peace within our lives. We might have old items in our storage units that we can sale, can pick up hours cleaning houses and workspaces, or even working various events because we have free time. Both removing negative habits or items we do not need and working within our strengths give us ways we can solve for peace within our lives.

Though removing and working within our strengths creates a way for peace ultimate peace is found in Jesus. Jesus brings us inner peace a sense of calm amongst all the struggles that happen within our life. Not only not does Jesus bring inner peace but, we have peace with God. Through faith in Jesus, believers are forgiven and made righteous in the eyes of God.
 
Heavenly Father, we thank you for Jesus who is our ultimate peace. God help us to solve for peace within our lives and look to you for guidance in what we can do in our situations.
 
Walking with you,
Stacy
                 

“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

“So then, let us pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another. “(Romans 14:19)
 
The past few months have been filled with whose policy is right or wrong. There have been people getting into fights because they want a particular candidate to win. Some friends no longer talk to each because of viewpoints of government policies. However, it is not about right or wrong but what builds another person up and promotes peace.

To build something there must be a firm foundation for many of us it involves who we are this is formed by our world view. Our world view encompasses how the world works based on our background from growing up and our lived experiences. During our lifetime we might face injustices: racial, poverty, healthcare, immigration it matters how we respond. There are ways we can contribute to aid to fight against these injustices we do not need to wait four years for an election year. The focus should be towards peace and bringing people together.

Often, many individuals think they have nothing to contribute but, we all have gifts and talents. Our talents may be different from someone else but, that is the beauty of community we can all contribute by bringing something different to the table.  What promotes peace is working together for a common good. Jesus is known as the Prince of Peace he is the ultimate promoter of providing peace so that we might come into a right relationship with God.  

Not only are we to promote peace build another person up. This can be done by small and large gestures such as having a conversation, smiling, and even saying an encouraging word.

Heavenly Father, thank you for Jesus who is the ultimate idea of peace, during the next few days may we seek to promote peace and build one another up even when times are hard.
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Praying for you,
Stacy Watkins