Live in Peace

As the world learns to cope with COVID and the lifestyle changes that have been brought on by this pandemic; the stress, fear, anger and lack of peace incurred by the shutdowns, isolation, economy and everyday life circumstances are evident everywhere we turn. All around we can see the influence of moral degradation and its results when society attempts to live without God and His Truth. There is a movement under way to remove God and our Savior Jesus Christ from everyday life and replace His truth with a culture of entitlement, self-reliance and carnal indulgence. As this spiritual war continues to progress, we see satan’s effectiveness in convincing society that God’s truth is outdated or impractical for today’s times. When God is removed from everyday life, then we also see His protections and blessings begin to be lifted and what’s remaining, left to the evil and sin of this world and its ruler, satan. Whether that is government, households, places of business or even schools, if God is not invited, He will respect the decision of those individuals and not be involved. I believe this correlates to what we are seeing within society and the evil and violence increasing on a regular basis.

Picture by Sherry Childers

I started this blog by identifying the stress on society as a gauge to where we are as a nation. Historically the United States has seen difficult times and through each event, whether that has been war, pandemics, economic depressions or social disorders, this nation has persevered and continued to remain vigilant as “One Nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all”. My concern with this time in relation to the past is the declining lack of commitment and focus society has for our Source, God Almighty. Historically the United States has based their existence, their principles, on God’s Truth, but as we have seen, the nation is beginning to pull away from God’s truths and live an unfounded fleshly existence.

Gallup reported in March of 2021 that “US church membership was 73% when Gallup first measured it in 1937 and remained near 70% for the next six decades, before beginning a steady decline around the turn of the 21st century.” Membership numbers dropped to 50% by 2018, and in 2020 slipped to 47%. I believe there is a direct correlation to the evil we are experiencing in this nation and world and the lack of devotion and commitment by society for the One and only God and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

As I prayed for clarity and discernment for this message, it became clear there is a spiritual root grounded in fear that continues to be a cause for some of the disruptions and health conditions we are experiencing or seeing in society as a whole. We see it all around and we may even be experiencing it ourselves within our very own souls. The culprit I am referring to is anger. Anger is a spiritual stronghold based in fear that anchors deep within a person’s soul. Anger left to its own convictions not only causes emotional and physical unrest for the person affected by this stronghold, but can, and most generally does affect the family, workplace and environment all around that individual.

In the Bible you find many scriptures outlining the effects of anger and its results if it is not recognized and dealt with from a biblical perspective. Ecclesiastes 7:9 states, “Do not be quick in your spirit to be angry, for irritation settles in the bosoms of fools.” I do believe there are times to be angry as Jesus became angry in the temple against the money changers, but I also know the Bible states to not allow anger to cause you to sin. Anger as with any other emotion must be tempered and managed and not allowed to run free. Please note, managing anger is not suppressing it, but instead identifying, repenting and releasing those deep-down emotions and feelings that are the source of a person’s anger.

To identify the underlying source of anger, I encourage you to start in prayer. Open your heart, soul and mind to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and allow Him to uncover what is truly disrupting your soul. Once identified, through a dedication to prayer and the study of God’s word, be open and allow Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit to restore and transform your heart and soul from the inside out. A true spiritual awakening and transformation of your heart and soul will release you from the spiritual stronghold of anger and replace that stronghold with the peace and joy of Jesus Christ and our eternal Kingdom. I want to encourage you to be strong and honest in your evaluation of the core reasons for your anger and be persistent in prayer and repentance to remove those strongholds from your life. In some cases, this may take time, dedication and perseverance to overcome, but we know as outlined in scripture, in Christ we are overcomers and by the power of His Blood and in His name all strongholds are released and the believer made whole.

Today I want to encourage you to be mindful of your feelings and in Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit do not allow anger to become a core pillar within your soul that hinders your spiritual growth and keeps you from becoming the person God created you to be. If we look around, there are plenty of reasons to become angry and remain angry. God knew we would struggle with anger and through His inspiration, many verses in the Bible instruct us to not allow anger to take hold of who we are or be an expressive emotion that causes us to sin or regret what was said or how we acted.

As Christians, transformed into the likeness of Christ, we are instructed to show God’s unconditional love. Love is best defined within 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

As you notice, within these verses anger is addressed and again we are instructed to not easily be angered. In God’s anointing of love we are able to find a peace and tranquility that supersedes anything that is occurring around us. A peace that brings a heavenly perspective to our daily walk while showing Christ in our actions and words. When you live in a predetermined state of unconditional love, you are able to find a release that I believe not only allows space in your heart so you may grow closer to God through Jesus Christ, but it releases you from spiritual strongholds binding your soul that hinder your growth in Christ mentally, physically and spiritually.

In conclusion let’s look at James 1:19-20, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God.” As we know, our objective, the reason we are on this earth is to be the light to those around us, a difference that shows God’s love and freedom from the strongholds of this world. In being obedient to God’s word, one area we are instructed to be conscious of is the emotion of anger and not allow this stronghold to be a hinderance for God’s desire to work through us. God desires to lift us up, encouraging our spirits and developing us into His righteousness that His kingdom may be evident in who we are and how we act. We are Christ’s ambassadors to be the light and resemble a better way to not only live, but live victoriously and as the over comer God created us to be.

Be blessed and may Holy Spirit strengthen you, encourage you and release you from any fleshly or carnal hinderances that keep you from living the life God created you to live!

Shalom!