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May our God of hope, fill you with joy and peace as you trust Him. Through the power of the Spirit, you will experience God coming close to fulfill your expectations, so that you will have confidence in your future. Romans 15:13 (OGV – Old Guy Version)
I was driving on the left side of the road recently.
On a winding and twisting road; a narrow and pot-holed road. Up and down. I would look to my left. Hmmmmhhh, that is a cliff and no guardrail. To balance the situation, there were no guardrails on the right side either.
And I was driving on the left side of the road.
Peace and Joy! I have found them to be the guardrails of my hope. My future.
I ask myself, “Do I have peace?” Before a decision, after a decision, at the end of the day, during the day, and even while talking to someone, I ask, “Do I have peace? If not, why not?”
Joy is more emotive. Do I have anticipation? Do I look glum? Do I believe that I have the favor of the Lord? I believe Nehemiah 8:10 when it says, “The joy of the Lord is my strength!”
Peace. In making decisions, I find two paths. One of peace and another path that seems to have more opportunity, more beauty, more profit, but no peace. I have chosen both paths and now pray daily to walk only in peace. God’s presence is peace. Walk in His will and you will have His presence and His peace!
Do you have peace? It comes from walking the narrow path, making godly decisions. If you do not have peace, consider your recent decisions.
Joy. Recently I was oppressed by uncertainty; I overthink my life and can drift toward fear while considering my future. If I stay amidst my musings too long, I lose joy. Joy is God’s favor. I am called by God and I am a child of the King.
There is nothing to fear.
I thought, “I’m going to rejoice!” My moodiness lifted; I felt like singing and dancing! Yes, I felt like singing and dancing! But I can’t sing, and I can’t dance! And I was on a beach in my bathing suit… I constrained myself!
Peace and Joy, do you have them? Peace is sensing God’s presence before and after following God. Joy dances on a beach from making the right decision. Both can be lost through needless worry.
Fear is the weapon of our enemy today.
Today you need to shout, “The joy of the Lord is my strength!” God’s power, not yours. His Spirit, not your strength. Instantly, because of the Holy Spirit, joy can return. Through grace and repentance, peace is restored too.
I was driving on the left side of the road. Fortunately, on this island, everybody drives on the left side of the road. When you rent a car, there is a sign on the windshield (above the steering wheel) that reads, “Stay On the Left You Idiot!”
Following God can be discordant with your past. Peace and joy can be lost by doing something wrong and by not doing the “new” that God intends.
Whether or not you drive on the left side of the road, you will know that you are on the right road by the guardrails of peace and joy. Okay, for most of you reading this blog today…
Please, drive on the right side of the road! Figuratively and literally.