How To Live

The enemy will do everything to keep you from that place of peace, the place of sitting in His presence.  

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There is so much going on around us in our world and in our personal lives.  We have fear of disease, sickness, times of uncertainty, and one’s who are searching for the truth in so many matters. We could go on and on with expressing family issues, but where do we go to be clear-minded?  Hallmark movies offer great comfort and escape, but when the movie ends, the unsettledness still remains. 

Where do we go then?  We go to the place of peace–alone with God; and to His Word which is filled with promises.  Stay in this place for a while!  

Peter tells us “The end of all things is near.  Therefore, be clear-minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.”  (1 Peter 4: 7)  

How do we get to that place of being clear-minded?  Getting still is one step, but there’s a step higher we are being called to.  We position ourselves in that place of safety and peace, in the secret place with God.  

Intentionally, sit down, put on some soft music, open your Bible and watch God’s peace settle over you.  To become clear-minded we have to keep clear of those things that will sabotage that,  

For example, if we want to become level-headed we stop hanging with dingbats!  If our mind is filled with fear or we are rattled and not controlled in our emotions, finding that time to pray will be difficult.  Believe me, the enemy will do everything to keep you from that place of peace, the place of sitting in His presence.  

Another way to live in the way of peace is to “Love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins.”  (1 Peter 4: 8)

  • Loving each other deeply will not allow us to have any unfinished business with anyone.  
  • Having unfinished business will rob us of our peace.

Walking in this kind of love is above all other kinds of love.  This type of love, agape, comes from only our Lord.  That’s why we must position ourselves in that place of oneness with our God, so He can refresh us and wash away all of the things that cling to us, all the debris.  

Living Through Suffering 

In this world, we will suffer.  There will be things we encounter that will come to steal our joy, our peace and our strength, and even our witness.  

If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.  (1 Peter 4: 14)  

(Shared from 1 Peter 4, Modified)

Living In The Place of Prayer

This was the cry and message that Jeremiah got from King Zedekiah, brought to him from the priest Zephaniah, asking, “Please pray to the Lord our God for us.”  (Jeremiah 37: 3)  

  • Notice all the warfare that follows his assignment to pray.  

Jeremiah prays for the King and starts to leave the city but when he reaches the Benjamin Gate the captain of the guard arrests him saying, “You are deserting to the Babylonians.”  (Jeremiah 37: 13)  He was not!

  • The enemy likes to falsely accuse.  

Jeremiah tries to tell him he was not fleeing to Babylon, but the guard would not listen to him.  They were angry so he was beaten and imprisoned.  

  • Doing the Lord’s will often brings setbacks.

The king sends for Jeremiah and asks if he inquired of the Lord for him?  Jeremiah honestly says, “Yes, you will be handed over to the King of Babylon.”  (Jeremiah 37: 17b)  Before the guards take him to the previous prison, he asks King Zedekiah if he could be transferred to another place to be imprisoned.  So the king gives orders to send him to the courtyard of the guard, a different place.  While there, Jeremiah is given bread to eat from the bakers each and every day.  

  • Jesus, the Bread of Life will sustain us, even in times of captivity and waiting.

Living Through Obedience

There are times that our suffering makes no sense at all.  We’ve served God, we’ve lived closely with Him, we’ve been obedient in all things, yet suffering still comes.  During these times run into the arms of our God.  Don’t run from him, run to Him!  

Jeremiah still running into the arms of his God is now lowered into a water-free, muddy cistern, to which he sank down deep.  

  • Being in mud and in danger of sinking, gives God an opportunity to still pull us out.  

An official in the royal palace gets word that Jeremiah is in deep mud within a cistern so he sends word for men to pull him up and out.  Men were sent to Jeremiah with ropes and old rags tied together to pull him out. 

  • Sometimes filthy rags are used to bring forth a rescue.  Let God choose how and when.
  • Our lives, before Jesus, were like filthy rags thrown out.  
  • Only God takes the dirty and delivers the clean.     

After he is rescued, the king sends for Jeremiah, once again, to hear the word of the Lord for him.  He says, “If you surrender your life will be spared and this city will not be burned and you and your family will live.  Obey the Lord by doing what I tell you.  Then it will go well with you, and your life will be spared.”  (Jeremiah 38: 17, 20)  He warns the king to keep the conversation private or he will die.  

(Shared from Jeremiah 37-38, Modified)

Remember To Live In The Place Of Victory

The Psalmist desires to remember the days in Zion and his deep love of that place.  He says, “By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion.  There on the poplars we had hung our harps, for there our captors asked for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”  (Psalm 137: 1-3)  

  • God uses the places of suffering, where we have lived, to become a place of remembrance, the place where songs of joy were in our midst.  

We get to always choose which place we live in!

 

 

 


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About the Author

Mary Beth Pecora, a faithful wife, mother, grandmother, friend, worshiper and servant leader, who loves life and loves people. More importantly, she passionately loves God and the fullness of who He is! For twenty-three years she has served in leadership positions within the ministry of Aglow International. Currently, she and her husband serve at The Secret Place--A Psalm 91 Ministry. It's a place for individual folks to come, be exhorted and prayed for, while being ushered to ministry stations within the room. They continue to serve monthly in the Prayer Room at their home church that they have been a part of for almost forty years. In April of 2022 they both received their Ministry License and were Ordained in May of 2023. She delights in encouraging folks of all ages within various walks of life. Her love of writing is now her passion, which led her to publish two books, "Restoration Explosion In The New Year," and "Navigating The Mysteries Of God." Above all that’s been accomplished and concluded, the BEST thing to her is knowing her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is her everything—her very best friend. Visit: Mybelovedsvoice.com