Peace, serenity is the good soil where wisdom can grow

 Daniel 4:27, “‘King Nebuchadnezzar, please accept my advice. Stop sinning and do what is right. Break from your wicked past and be merciful to the poor. Perhaps then you will continue to prosper.’

• He like many of don't listen and experience Terror the absence of God's grace in our lives
• LORD says... "I have removed my protection and peace from them. I have taken away my unfailing love and my mercy." Jer 16:5

I've been seeing the importance of personal holiness. To have integrity with the Lord. Yesterday at SALT and Light Today we read Matthew 5:3-11 after I searched Be Holy and purchased Top 7 classics on Holiness. Verse 8 jumped at me, "God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God."

• you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses (Acts 1:8)

Purity Described: "Now may the God of peace— who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood— may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him.    All glory to him forever and ever! Amen." - Heb 13:20-21

God grant me the serenity (Peace), to accept the things I can't change (your will, your way, your people), the courage (power) to change the things I can (witness your work in me) - and the wisdom to know the difference.

• When we take God's word (seed) in our heart it produces everything when it grows up, but it only grows up in good soil. I need to pay attention, how I listen. I need to ask God for wisdom and cultivate the Spirit's work in my heart, like the wise virgins. 
• Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life. Rev 22:14

Step 6 (Repent): So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. - 2 Timothy 2:22 (ESV)

Step 7 (Follow): But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. - Galatians 5:22-25 (ESV)

Enjoying Bill Johnson teaching

Reasons Why You Might Struggle to Hear God’s Voice

How a Lack of Wisdom Will Hold You Hostage

He Enables What He Commands

When we trust God with our whole lives, he gives us heavenly peace no matter what our circumstance.

"Peace from God our Father...let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts...to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace... And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Rom 1:7, Col 3:15,Rom 8:6, Phil 4:7"

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A heart that knows God, is truthfully surrendered before him (Jer 4:3-22)

 Jer 4:3-22

Key verses;

This is what the Lord says..."Plow up the hard ground of your hearts! Do not waste your good seed among thorns. My people are foolish and do not know me,” says the Lord... (Jer 4:3,22)

A) God's heart change is required, pride and power must be surrendered. (Jer 4:1-9)

4:3-4) LORD says, "Plow up the hard ground of your hearts! Don't waste good seed among thorns, surrender pride, power - change heart before the LORD or bear unquenchable fire of anger for sin.

• Today, God's word is living and active (Heb 4:7,12),Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective (James 5:16). 
• The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. Luke 8:14
• But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. Luke 8:15
• I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Ezekiel 36:26-27

5-9) Shout, broadcast, signal - terrible destruction upon you, land, devastated, ruined, LORD's anger brings mourning, broken heart

Application: When Jesus says forgive and bless don't curse - do you put it into action? This is retention, persevering and producing. What evidence in your relationships 

B) God's people deceived about peace, on the road of destruction without Him. (Jer 4:10-22)

10-12) Jeremiah confused, "People deceived by God's promised peace, but sword, burning wind - no breeze for winnowing grain, blast - destruction

• Jesus, “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword... (like Jesus) take your cross and follow, find life in Christ and lose it for his sake. (Matthew 10:34,38-39)
• Apostles given authority; cast out unclean spirits, heal every disease/affliction (even Judas) - Matt 10:1-4)
• Apostles sent to lost sheep of Israel, proclaim 'Kingdom of Heaven is near', no money, worthy house, peace/ else worse than Sodom/Gomorrah (Matt 10:5-15)
• Apostles persecuted like sheep among wolves, wise serpents, innocent as doves, Spirit of Father speaks through you, family's against each other for Jesus' name sake, (Matt 10:16-22)
• Apostle misunderstood like Jesus, run out and perceived as 'Lord of dung/flies', Servant isn't greater than master (Matthew 10:23-25, John 15:18-21)
• Apostle fearless of men, valued by God. Reveal/proclaim, abiding in/given to God (Matt 10: 26-33, John 15, Romans 12)
• Jesus taught to live life with God on purpose (Matt 16:25-27, Job 27:8)
  

13-15) enemy hurricane speed, doom /Jerusalem cleanse your heart, be saved don't harbor evil thoughts destruction

• Doctrine of Election is God's irrevocable call for everyone (Genesis 25:23)

16-18) warn nations, Jerusalem enemy against Judah, 'for my people rebelled against LORD' actions/punishments' bitter/ piercing to heart 

19-21) My heart pain, heard trumpets blast, waves of destruction, battle flags

• For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart. Heb 4:12
• Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! (Hebrews 12:25 NLT).
• For God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it (Job 33:14 NLT)

22) My people are foolish, don't know me says the LORD, stupid, no understanding, cleaver enough to do wrong, no idea how to do right!

Application: Many people don't realize their lack of belief doesn't remove them from God's plan for humanity. As Christians our hearts are broken, we speak yet find few hearers. Yet we believe God is close to the broken hearted and able to heal the hardest heart. The apostle Paul was a Christian Killer who ended up receiving apostleship to the gentiles that includes me. We'll all see clearly some day, in time and eternity.  

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Free will is characterized by wisdom and response-ability

We all suffer from a "sincere delusion," meaning we make up our minds about what's true and possible. We lock into a personal state of mind, a personality. Over the years, I've developed a personal reality that every day is a gift, new and full of possibility and promise. Today is the best day ever, and I'm excited to see, hear and experience everything about it.  

• Prepared: My quiet time with the Lord is fresh, and I learn something new. I'm pruned, cleansed, fed, and ready to go where he sends me. I'm like a sponge that's been soaked in fresh water and can be carried a little distance to be squeezed into a dry container of another who is wilted. 
• Positioned: I answer calls with a genuine attitude of "how can I help you." 
• Skippy: I have a "pep-in-my-step," my heart sings, "I-love-you" to my Lord, my wife, and my life. If Kim hears me, she'll reply, "I-love-you-too."
• Flowing: The routine chores bring joy; I'm privileged to see and know the following action to take. 
• Bright: I feel "on," and I want others to know that I care; by the fruit of my life. What I produce in the people around me, what you can see in me.

You could say my "Sincere delusion" stems from a high level of security. Yet, I can be honest when I'm not feeling well. This week my friend Frank  died suddenly I had a big test coming up that was difficult, and several family responsibilities kept me from proper studying and preparation. I have mounting pressures at work and big hopes for the future. 

In Chapter 3 of the Serenity Principle (Thought the creator of our Universe), there is a great picture;

Our consciousness views external events through our personalized thought system (brain). Inside our personal filter is "belief, memories, concepts, and ideas." As we look at the outside world, our brain starts to create things about it through "perception, emotional response, behavior or action, the reaction of others or changes in the situation." These reinforce our beliefs and are stored as memories and become personal biases (concepts), yet they also have the power to bring new ideas. 

William James once said: "Genius...means little more than the faculty of perceiving in an unhabitual way."

Have you ever had a "serious" problem that had you so worried, confused, and full of negative emotions that you couldn't figure it out? After getting away from your problem-perhaps through a good night's sleep or a visit with a close friend - suddenly you had an insight. the solution seemed obvious. This is an example of wisdom at work. 

Paradoxically, when we momentarily forget our problems or release our grip on negative thinking, our view shifts to a higher, more objective perspective. Consider this analogy: if you focus on the smashed bug on the windshield of your car, you will definitely miss the scenery and likely have an accident. Wisdom is like looking through the windshield, not at it.

When people are attached to their thinking, they seldom have insights. Instead, they get bogged down in their problems, unable to tap their wisdom. Insights occur when the mind is quiet, not busy. 

Wisdom is a state of mind. We can't try to be wise - we already are, naturally. When we are in this state, we see life objectively and learn more quickly, without the interference of insecurity. We readily love and share intimacy with others. We communicate easily because we listen to others and to our hearts instead of depending upon a set of beliefs. 

"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." Serenity is a prerequisite to the state of mind known as wisdom. - Joseph Bailey

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From insecurity to peace of mind (Serenity Principle)

 Years ago, I read the Serenity Principle by Joseph Bailey. Today I'm reminded of how insecurity leads to anxiety and the common thread all people have; reaching the next level but still 'wanting.' Anxiety is the leading "mental illness" in the world, surpassing "depression." 

The book talks about getting well, instead of coping with illness. It teaches principles of Psychology of Mind based on these premises: 1) the mind is the creator of reality; 2) consciousness and thought work together to create our experience; 3) we have the power to control thought. By understanding the principles of thought, separate realities, levels of consciousness, and emotions, we are empowered to create sane and serene lives. 

The book is categorized as an evidence-based alternative to self-help. However, it offers a means for self-discovery. It advocates that you are your own teacher. The words and concepts in the book help you listen to yourself better, and as you read, you'll listen to what your own life teaches you and see if The Serenity Principle makes sense. 

I've enjoyed over 25 years of freedom from debilitating anxiety and addiction. Serenity is immunity to all addictions, characterized by feelings of tranquility, gratitude, contentment, affection for others, and deep inner peace. When people are serene, they don't need to fulfill their desires to feel complete. Addiction is the innocent attempt to find completion in a substance or situation. In fact, it can only be found within. The antidote for addiction is serenity, a spiritual awakening, and a changed level of consciousness. 

When serenity is 'lost,' we desire to regain it. That desire is quickened by the stress of adversity and physical or emotional problems. Applying the principles of Psychology of Mind, shows a clear map to regain serenity in every situation without devouring yourself and your loved ones. When we understand the principles of how to realize serenity we can easily regain it. 

How? 

1) Be open-minded to grow. Open-mindedness is the key to personal growth. Set aside fixed ideas, even ones that have helped you. Fixed ideas only block your ability to learn something deeper. 

2) Embrace humility to listen. Humility is the realization that "I can learn something new"  and opens the door to listening, which in this context means allowing the words to reach beyond the intellect. Call it intuition or inner intelligence. Listening can occur only when the mind is quiet. 

3) Experience Joy from righteousness. Jesus is the mediator of happiness (John 15:11; 17:13, 24–26), Happiness for your last moment of life

What is serenity?

It's our natural state of spiritual being, similar to our physical state of breathing and digesting food: GOD is our natural environment. In a healthy mental state all our emotions, thoughts, and behaviors act in unison; we experience harmonious interaction with our environment. 

The ramifications of living in a state of serenity are far-reaching and profound. Serenity changes every aspect of our lives. In the same way that a single match illuminates the darkness, a glimpse of serenity changes how we see every aspect of our existence. This is manifested in mature, harmonious human relationships. When we feel serene, we are more open, honest, respectful, and loving. No need for defensiveness or blame. We can see and appreciate the positive characteristics of others. When others are feeling insecure and behaving negatively, we can respond with compassion and patience. We feel no need to control them so that we can feel good. We see the best in others, a vision that allows them to realize their inner goodness. We are connected in love; mind, soul, heart, and strength. 

All this to say, I'd like to Continue expressing my thoughts on the Serenity Principle from a Biblical perspective. Because many still experience a cursed life; When God says NO!

My Essential Identity (who God says I am, in my own words)

I'm grateful to BSF for the Kingdom Divided series and previous lessons from the Solomon who was so wise yet fell away from the LORD. Solomon lost his commitment. It's his heart; he turned from God rather than to God.

The Lord was very angry with Solomon, for his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. He had warned Solomon specifically about worshiping other gods, but Solomon did not listen to the Lord’s command. 1 Kings 11:9-10: It's evil to refuse to follow the Lord completely (1 Kings 11:6, Mark 8:36)

Can blasphemy be forgiven?

I never knew you explained in parable of virgins (Matthew 7:23, Matthew 25:12)

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