TODAY’S INSPIRATION: STOLEN! A PIECE OF MY PEACE

It has been a long time since I allowed the devil to rob me of my peace. Last week, he did just that. Not for a second, a minute, or an hour. But for a whole day! It’s not that he hadn’t attempted before, but I try to keep my focus on God and listen to the Holy Spirit instead of the enemies lies. I honestly don’t know when I let my guard down but I woke up that morning with a piece of my peace missing. It was like the enemy had stolen it in my sleep! I believe God’s angels watch over us while we sleep, so maybe it was my first thoughts that morning that the devil capitalized on. Instead of thanking God as I usually do when my eyes first open, I started thinking about what I was going through and how long would I have to go through it. The next thing I knew I was having a full-blown pity party. I invited the tears, pain, frustration, and the “why me” and “woe is me” families to the party. I can bet you the devil was having himself a ball, the life of the party! Thank God in the mist of all that, before he stole my entire peace, I called out to my lifeline, my God, and He prompted me to reach out to somebody. Thank God I did. Thank God for praying friends, friends who will let you cry and vent for hours without judgement. Afterwards I felt better but a piece of my peace was still missing.  
As I lay in bed that day, I shifted my focus to God, and I talked to my Savior. He assured me that He was with me on this journey. He knew about it before it came to pass, and He knows the outcome. He reminded me that weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. He reminded me that His grace is sufficient no matter the situation or circumstance. He reminded me of Romans 8:28, all things work together for those who love the Lord. He comforted me. My spirit lifted, the burden lessened, and my mind cleared. He replaced that missing piece of my peace. We need all the pieces for peace, it’s like a puzzle need all the pieces to be complete. I tell you God is good! He is too good to be a depressed, dejected, dispirited believer. Either we trust God, or we don’t!

When I woke the next morning, I was still on my journey, new day, same challenges. Nothing had changed except my focus was back where it should be, on God. Instead of a pity party, I was once again thanking and praising Jesus, in spite of. My pity party was now a praise party! I am not going to say it will never happen again, but I do know if I keep my gaze on God and just glance at my situation, it will be harder for the enemy to steal a piece of my peace. And I know the longer we stay in a pity party, the more likely he will steal more than a piece of our peace!
It was put in my spirit to share this because it may help someone keep their peace in the mist of challenges, trials, and tribulations. I am not saying that giving in to your feelings mean you do not have faith. I am saying we cannot let our feelings be bigger than our faith.  I’m not saying to disregard your feelings; pain, depression, frustration, fear, all those feelings are real. I am saying that the enemy knows they are real, he is the father of sin and feelings are his weapons. He will use them just like he uses all our weaknesses against us. But if we keep our focus on God, He will strengthen us. If the enemy does sneak in, the goal is to not stay at the pity-party, don’t give him time to steal all your peace instead of a piece of it! Call a praying friend! The enemy wants you to be excluded and ashamed for feeling how you feel. He can work your mind better that way. Don’t beat yourself up because you are having a bad day! However, give yourself a deadline to leave the pity-party. The longer you stay there, depression sets deeper in. And most importantly, put your focus back on God. Invite Him back in to help you through it. I promise you God will give you back the piece of peace the enemy stole. As a matter of fact the devil will flee, because he cannot dwell in the same place as our Lord!  
Love and Blessings…

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”  
(Romans 12:12)

“But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” (Romans 8:25)

“For his anger endureth but a moment, in his favor is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28)

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

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