I was blessed for a short time a little while ago in striking up with a friendship with a woman of God who always amazed me by the way she stood “calm in every storm” that came her way. I found myself wanting what SHE had, which was complete faith in God and in His plan for her life. She truly through the storms of life, lived what she believed… This Sister in Christ believed in “governing herself and guarding her peace.” And quite honestly, I’m still wrapping my head around the lesson of “governing my peace” that Holy Spirit brought her into my life to teach me… None of us knew that God would call her home at the prime time of her life. She may have known it, but never once did she waiver in her faith, never once did it seem as though her peace was disturbed. Her death caught many of those who loved her by surprise, but the testimony of her faith and her love of God is one that has left quite a legacy. I’m still learning this lesson – how to “govern myself and guard my peace” especially when all is storming around me. Let me share what I’m learning…
Our peace in Christ is not one that should dissipate when the storms of life try to take us down. When you hit a situation in your life that causes “rough waters” and you feel as though you are teetering and tottering in your walk with Christ – do what Jesus did in Mark 4:39:
“I decree and declare this storm will halt in Jesus’ name! Peace be still!”
God has given us the authority to do so. We don’t always know when those gales and wind will make a sunny day in our lives stormy, but we KNOW the One who reigns ABOVE it all. This is something that I have to constantly remind myself in my walk with God. The battle around us is REAL, but my God IS greater. Our peace that we have comes from Him. Remember, one of Jesus’ titles is:
PRINCE OF PEACE
Somehow Rica through the short period of time I came to know her, held firmly on to the One Who Governed herself and guarded her peace – Jesus. Now I’m sure there were times when she faltered (as all of us do) but she kept her eyes on the Lord and even in the midst of trials and tribulations was able to hold her peace and give out advice to me and to her sisters based upon her strong faith in God and all He had brought her through. We need to learn to do the same. Ol’ Slewfoot does not keep “kid gloves” on his hands when he decides to slap us in our lives. There are many times when we don’t see those blows coming… But it is our faith that blocks his blows. Ephesians 6:10-18 talks about the spiritual armor we are told to put on:
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”
Governing yourself and guarding your peace involves knowing that we cannot do ANYTHING in and of ourselves, we are TOTALLY dependent upon God. You either believe that or you don’t. And you quickly LEARN in life how true that is when it slaps us with the reality of how fallen this world is. We NEED God. Thankfully our God is merciful, our God is patient, our God is forgiving, our God is long-suffering. Our God LOVES us beyond ANY kind of reason I could possibly give you… Rica shared her life experiences with those who were going through, her life testimony and things God had brought her through to bless those going through it themselves. This is something we ALL should do. There is always something to be thankful to God for – did you get up this morning? Praise God! Is your body healthy? Praise God! Do you have food in your belly? A roof over your head? Glory to God! That’s just to name a few. It is easy to think on things to be sorrowful about, we live in a fallen world – but the Bible tells us in Philippians 4:8 it tells us:
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Think about what God has brought you through and if God brings someone into your life who is struggling in that area that God brought you through – encourage them! Sometimes God allows us to experience things so that we can turn the right hand of fellowship behind us and share what we experienced, and how God brought us through with them! It’s called a “testimony” for a reason!
Rica’s legacy is one that is far reaching, even as you read this testimony right now. No one can take your peace from you unless you allow it. I pray that you will govern yourself in all that life brings your way and guard your peace as Jesus would have you do. I find this is a lesson that I am constantly having to remind myself to do, it is a continuous lesson in this journey of life. Rica is with the Prince of Peace Himself right now. Rica is without question, without doubt and with total joy as she is forever with the Savior of her soul. Here is the good news, if you have accepted Jesus as Savior, made Him Lord OVER your life, that is where peace abides – in Him, through Him and with Him. And it is a constant for ALL of us. Thank you Rica, I know you are resting in peace because you are with the Prince of Peace, but you always rested in life in peace – because you knew Him then as you know Him now. And the peace that you had (and have) you had at the moment you became His. Thanks be to God. He reigns.
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