Peace

We Reap What We Sow

Are we ever guilty of planting one thing while expecting to reap something different?

Verse of the Day

“And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.”

‭‭James‬ ‭3:18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Today’s Devotional

How I choose to behave in this world will determine (in general terms) what I get out of this world.  If I “plant” anger, frustration, and bitterness- meaning I allow those things that take hold in the soil of my heart, I will likely begin to see reasons to continue to be angry, frustrated, and bitter.  Or…I can choose kindness, peace, and love.

I want to be a peacemaker.  But it does not come naturally for me.  I am opinionated and what my husband calls “fiery”.  It has taken a significant amount of spiritual work to reign my fiery nature in to a level that feels more appropriate.  I have to PAUSE a lot, so that I am able to respond instead of react.  And I am so far from perfect.

Take today, for example.  I was just in a mood today. Everything seemed to set me off.  And given that we are in the middle of some craziness in the world, with more things being uncertain than I can wrap my head around, there’s a lot to set a person off.  Today, I was not a peacemaker.  Not even close.  I didn’t lose my cool or yell at anyone, but I did not sow seeds of peace.  Therefore, based on today’s results, I should not expect a great harvest of righteousness from today’s efforts (or lack thereof). So what did I do wrong today?  My first mistake was allowing the circumstances in my home to derail my attitude.  Teenagers are, well, frustrating.  But they are also great.  So I should have chosen to focus on the great and not let the frustrating change my whole day’s outlook.  Why? Because the great will last and the frustrating is temporary.

So I’m writing to you today as an extremely flawed and ineffective peacemaker.  My antidote for that is to sit at the feet of Jesus and allow His love to wash over me.  To allow Him to remind me that I am loved in the middle of my imperfection.  I heard a song while I was having my quiet time that spoke to my heart.  (View the song video) The lyrics might speak to you also.

In my doubt, are You still enough 

When I fall, will You leave & walk away 

In the dark, will You light my way

When I’m lost, will you meet me here again?

All fear bows At the mention of Your name 

All anxiety is met with peace 

None contends to who you’ve always been

 Let my soul forever sing 

You are my Peace You are my joy 

You’re all I need 

My hope is in The risen King 

You are here, peace has settled in 

In Your arms, I remember who I am 

In Your love, I am welcomed in 

You are here, You have met me here again 

I know my flesh is weak, still, you have rescued me 

And now my soul will sing Jesus you are my king 

I give my life to you build it upon your truth 

With every part of me Jesus you are my King

So how do I plant the seeds of peace? I remember who I am in Jesus’s eyes, and where my peace actually comes from. It’s not mine to sow. So the closer I stay to the Prince of Peace, the more peace I will be able to sow. I remember Who is in control.  I choose to be useful to others. I choose to keep my opinions to myself.  I choose to see every other human on this planet as a beloved creation made by the Almighty God.  I treat others the way I would like to be treated.  And for me personally, I am not capable of doing any of those things without God’s help.

God, help me to lean in, stay close, and to sow Your peace in my life.

Journal Prompts

Answer only the questions that seem relevant to you today.

Are you naturally a peacemaker? If not, is it hard for you to sow peace? How can you lean in to the Prince of Peace today?  What seeds of peace can you sow in your life today?