The power of peace...

"The day I understood everything, was the day I stopped trying to figure everything out. The day I knew peace was the day I let everything go." ~ C. JoyBell

As the wave meets the shore like a sweet kiss, the sun makes your skin feel alive with it's warmth. With your eyes closed you feel a type of peace settle over you, as you just lay there entirely vulnerable to the beauty that surrounds you. The mighty mountains surround you like secure arms of strength, with the backsplash of the most vivid colors as the sun goes down, only to give way to the magnificence of the night sky littered with the gems of the night.

Peace, how can one completely describe it in the way it deserves? I have personally found peace in the sound of crashing waves and also in the stillness of my home in the early hours of the morning before everyone gets up. I will try to the best my ability to allocate over the power of peace I have seen in my life.

"You cannot find peace by avoiding life." ~ Michael Cunningham

This quote really hits hard when I read it. Vacations are fun! Doing exciting things are reviving like going to the spa getting a massage and all. Ahhh so nice! Peace is so easy to find when everything is all peachy. The honest truth about life is that the vacation feeling wears off that next Monday. Your muscles get all tight ten minitues after the massage because someone cuts you off. And the excitement of new things fade.

Today I was at an appointemnet with my mom. As I was sitting there reading my book, the sound of singing drifted into the waiting room. I looked around me to see who the owner of the voice was. As I scanned the room I saw walking in from the hall, a janitor faithfully pushing his cart of cleaning necessities. He was singing a tune with so much joy that it was captivating. I couldn't help but smile. I was truly in awe of the peace and joy that filled this man that even though he had one of the least desirable job he was singing with joy.

My point is it's not a matter of what is going on around us or what we are going through that gives us peace or joy. It is the mindset that you accept and the things that you believe in your heart.

This nameless janitor that I wish I knew, has made an impact on my life. It isn't what we become or what we do that gives us success, it is living the fullest with what we got. As I was beaming with a contagous joy from this man, I leaned over to my mom and said "Now that is true success." I am all for being a high achiever and pursuing great and mighty things. But I am not too proud to say I admire the janitor with peace and joy he shows, rather than a name in lights with everything in the world.

There is a power when you are at peace with yourself, with Yahweh, and with life. How do we get there? By letting go of everything and holding onto nothing but what you can control. Which is the way you react to life.

20% is what happens 80% is how we react. Do we have much control over what we go through? Nope. We can learn how to live in peace with it though.

Does that mean make flower crowns, smell like Patchouli, and throw up peace signs everywhere? Haha I am not calling us to be hippies. I am saying that peace can be found in every moment that chaos, anxiety, fear, depression, negativity, and hurt can be found. Peace many times is like an extra in the grand movie of life. Always there but not ever really the main character. I am calling us to make it a main one, one that captures the room and inspires others.

Beloved I am still learning this but this man inspired me today. To make peace a priority, to flee away from all things that don't promote it. True peace is found in only one place, that is being lost in arms of the Prince of Peace. There is nothing like Him. Today if you feel everything but peace I encourage you to go to the place that it can be found. The presence of The King, there is such power found there. When you let all your cares and burdens fall at His feet. Taking up a peace that guards your heart and mind. That is the power of peace, nothing can steal it from you. Beware of the enemy's plan that will drain you of this power since he can't take it. Fill yourself with the truth of The Word that peace is a power on it's own.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 "Now may the Elohim of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Messiah Yeshua."

Yours truly

~Elysa