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New Year’s Resolutions… did you make any? Many of us want to make a new start, to make some kind of change for the good. We have an inherent desire for a sense of peace, and most of these changes are rooted in our desire for this peace.
For example, if we want to feel better physically, we might resolve to become more active. Being active keeps our bodies strong and also helps us feel better about ourselves. We feel better physically, we feel better emotionally, and we feel more at peace.
We may resolve to better handle the stress in our lives. If we google “healthy ways to deal with difficult emotions” we’ll find helpful tips from trustworthy resources. The first is to recognize that these emotions are valid. Taking care of our mental health will bring us the peace we’re longing for.
Christ is called ‘The Prince of Peace.’ It may surprise you to know that the word ‘peace’ appears in the Bible more often than the word ‘love’ does! As we travel through the months ahead, may all of us turn to Christ and see how we can invite His peace into any given situation. Start by being kind to yourself; talk to yourself and encourage yourself as you do the people you love. Read the New Testament and let His Word speak directly to you.
Let Him encourage you:
Listen to the words I speak to you, the encouraging words that come to your mind. Stop spinning your wheels on everything that’s going wrong. Look at what is going well, even the littlest things. Thank Me for them and I will put into your mind other good things that you’ve forgotten about.
You are bogged down. Open your hands, let go of what is burdening you, and accept My peace into your open hands. Look at all the people who love you, the people I have given to you to travel this road with you. Let My love and peace move from your hands into your heart and let it cover you.
My peace will get you through.
“The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!” – Numbers 6:26
“Lord, so often I feel dragged down. Help me open my heart to Your peace in every situation.”
Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2023 Gina Bedell Comments are always welcome!
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P.S.
Pray for peace in Ukraine, the Middle East, and around the world. Donate toward a cause that tugs at your heart. Take care of those around you; take care of our planet. Pray for the families around the globe whose lives have been torn apart by war and natural disasters.
Just chiming in. When you lack peace, ask Him for It and employ disciplines or practices that bring His Peace, like silence, listening or sitting with His True Presence inside a Catholic church. It's more difficult to expect peace in the world if you're not an instrument of peace. Bring peace. All peace is His and all Truth is His.
ReplyDeleteLove this, be kind to yourself, and then you can be kind/peaceful to others. Reminds me of Fr. Mark's advice: Start with yourself: It is easier to put on slippers than carpet the world.
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