The Power of Peace...

Greetings, Dear Friends!

Susie Larson here...

And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way.

With the year slowly drawing to a close, I find myself looking back over my shoulder, remembering moments of victory as well as defeat. I bring with me, into the coming year, lessons learned, skills honed, and a deeper understanding of what's been made available to us as Beloved ones of the Most High God.

One of the greatest insights I've gleaned from the battles I fought this past year, is how to thrive amidst those battles. Not that I do it right every time; but when I get it right, I know and feel and taste the Power Christ has made available to us who believe.

Give yourself a gift this holiday season. Let peace RULE in your heart. Go after peace. Seek peace and pursue it. Wrap your arms around peace and turn your back on worry, striving, anxiety, and anger.

When you make a peace a priority in your life, something Super-natural happens...

If you read this blog with any regularity, you know that I am in a season of being stretched far beyond what my 5'2" frame can handle.

God is growing the ministry and thus, growing me at the same time. And as you know, fruit-bearing growth doesn't come without a measure of pain, tension, and opposition.

At almost all of my speaking events, I have women reach out their arm as far as they can; then I tell them that the call on their lives is go great, so deep, so wide, that they can never accomplish it unless God intervenes.

He wants us out on a limb, in over our heads, and fully reliant on Him.

Well, I'm there.

It's not a comfortable place to be.

Every day I am faced with two choices:

1.) Do I try to carry something I can't even get my arms around? Outcome: stress, worry, anxiety, and sleeplessness

or...

2.) Do I turn my back on worry, take God's hand, and enjoy a moment-by-moment walk with Him on this unpredictable, life-changing journey? Outcome: intimacy with God, increased faith, unexplainable peace

Every time I've looked at my impossible task list or tried to face the devil's threats on my own, and then allowed my thoughts to take their natural course, I've been overcome by self-awareness and stress.

And yet...every time I have consciously turned my back on worry and made the choice to embrace peace instead, I have felt the kiss of Heaven. I can't explain it except to say that when I choose to embrace my Prince of Peace, I know that I've awakened the pleasure of God because I've chosen to trust Him more than my circumstances.

When Jesus came into the world, wrapped in a baby's body, He didn't come to a peaceful earth. He arrived amidst a time of harsh Roman rule and rigid traditions. He came when injustices took place on a daily basis. Just as they do today.

He came as the Prince of Peace because we needed one.

This isn't just a sweet thought scripted for a greeting card. Peace is our promise from God. It is part of our inheritance. Peace in us and on us will speak volumes to a stressed-out world.

I'm currently reading, Face to Face With God by Bill Johnson. I love what he says about peace:

"Peace is more than the absence of noise, conflict, and war. It is the presence of the One who exercises military authority over everything that is in conflict with His dominion. As we enjoy His order and calm, the powers of darkness are destroyed by His overwhelming magnificence."

Determine not to enter the hurryings of this holiday season.

Be at peace once more, oh my soul, for the Lord, the Lord has been good to you!

Now may the Lord of Peace Himself, give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you (2 Thessalonians 3:16).