What do you do with the different emotions and situations that confront you? Worry? Fear? Doubt? Insecurity? Jealousy? Unemployment? Layoffs? Downsizing? Depression (spiritual or financial)? Recession? Situations can only get worse as emotions knock you all over the place or get out of control.

The Apostle Paul has some good advice (from the previous article), in Colossians Chapter 3, verse 15: “Let the peace of God rule in your hearts ….”. When harmful emotions try to exert control over us or throw us into an emotional frenzy, we must choose to let God’s peace rise up from inside us to calm the emotions. How can the peace of God rise up from inside us, if it’s not there? I’m glad you asked.

Jesus assured us that He would give us His peace. In the Gospel of John, chapter 14, verse 27, He put it this way: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you … Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Number 1, He said He would leave His peace with you (us). AND, number 2, He would give it to you (us). Well. the Christmas season is fast approaching. Let me ask: What do you do when someone gives you a gift for Christmas? You receive it, open it, then use it, right? Well, here Jesus is giving us His peace. We need to receive it, ‘open’ it, and use it! To open it simply means to be reminded that we have been given this peace from Jesus, and knowing He has given His peace allows us to rest in that gift and put away all our efforts , frets, concerns, and emotions. His peace ‘rules’ in our hearts allowing us to be in control. More to follow …