peace

Being and Feeling are not the same

/ Karen Moxley / Leave a comment

We may feel lonely, depressed, or even anxious, at times, but there is a difference in being and feeling. And we have a helper within us at all times if we have accepted His free gift of salvation.

Webster’s definition of the verb be/am is “equal to.” It gives the example, “God is love.” I could use the example, I am a woman. However, the definition of feel is “to undergo a passive experience of” and “to have one’s sensibilities affected by,” as in to have one or all of our five senses affected by things/situations in our earthly environment or surroundings.

Would you agree that being equal to and feeling are absolutely NOT the same thing? I am not discrediting the way we feel because emotions are certainly real. However, God has overcome all forces of evil for us. He tells us in John 16:33 that He has overcome the world. He also tells us in Jeremiah 17:9 that the heart is deceitful above all things. Since our feelings change, they can be very deceiving. We have to be really careful and not let our heart be dictated by the physical world but only by the Holy Spirit who lives in us. Let us never forget that we have the presence of almighty God living within us who never changes and who has already defeated the darkness of this world. We are more than conquerors in Jesus Christ.

According to Priscilla Shirer in Discerning the Voice of God, “Every human being has a spirit,” which is “designed for relationship with God.” When we become Christ followers, The Holy Spirit, which is the third PERSON of the trinity, “takes up residence in [our] human spirit.” So, see, we have the power that raised Christ from the dead living within us. This power never changes and has overcome every evil force.

We are not anxiety even if we feel anxious. We are not depression. We are never alone. He is always with us, strengthening us, and loving us so very much. Remember God never changes and God lives inside of us as the Holy Spirit, our Helper, so we “take every thought captive to be obedient to Christ.” We have already won because of what He did for us on the cross over 2,000 years ago.

What I have Learned

/ Karen Moxley / Leave a comment

I have learned that Jesus is the only One who can satisfy every longing of my soul. No person can do this. No experience of this world can fulfill except being in the presence of God—the filling of His Holy Spirit. This is a peace that will never end. No thing in this world can ever satisfy. It always leads me to craving more.. BUT GOD can and will my portion be. He is my peace.

There is Power in the Name of Jesus

/ Karen Moxley / Leave a comment

“Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,” I spoke over and over from the back seat as my hands rested on my teenage daughter’s shoulders My husband, a seasoned law officer, drove us to the emergency room after my daughter woke up in a stupor and blinded from what we later found out was a migraine triggered by a viral infection. It was a WiLd RiDe to say the least. I had no words for my prayer. My baby was sick, couldn’t see, and we were going way too fast for my precarious driving style. The whisper of His name brought comfort and peace. Jesus heard my cry; my daughter’s sight was restored, and we arrived safely without harming anyone else.

There is power in our words. I believe there is super natural power in God’s word. If you know me, you know that I love family, home, and sunsets. I often walk around the farm I grew up on and pray over my loved ones’ homes using scripture, written on my heart from years of study, to pray over my loved ones and their homes. Some days I speak His words over my classroom and touch each desk before my students arrive for the day. There is just something about the name of Jesus. When words fail you, speak His name over and over. Let His peace envelope you in an indescribable way.

Surrender

/ Karen Moxley / 2 Comments

Self-confidence is overrated! Way overrated! This may sound like a very strange statement from a mom of three, grandmother, and seasoned middle school teacher, but it is true. We can do nothing without God. Can we even make our own hearts beat? No, the One who created us does! Who allowed us to awaken from slumber this morning? Who has blessed us with our cognitive abilities to reason?” The answer to these questions is certainly not us frail humans. For in Him we live, and move, and have our being.” (Acts 17:28)

“It is God that works in us, both to will and to do His good pleasure.

Phillippians 2:3

Before surrender, there must be humility, faith, and trust that God is more than able to meet your every need and use you for His honor and glory as He created us to do.

I was a total control freak for 44 years of my life, and I was miserable trying to take care of everything! 🙂 I was carrying so many loads that God never intended for me to carry. It took my then, 8 year old daughter being diagnosed with bone cancer, grueling chemotherapy, more surgeries and blood transfusions than I care to remember. We were told on two different occasions that she had relapsed according to those fear invoking scans every three months.

I accepted Jesus as my Savior on my knees on the floor of my bedroom at 10 years old. I know I was saved, but I struggled with anxiety and depression. I finally surrendered all control and began totally to trust God. The surrender was again on the floor of a room. This time it was the restroom next to the scan room where I prayed every scan that the scans show no evidence of disease. Exhausted and laying on a cold and dirty floor crying, God told me that I was praying the wrong prayer. (No, I did not audibly hear His voice, but I sensed it in my spirit.) I knew I had to pray that whatever the scans showed, whatever happened that He was to be exalted-that all glory was due to Him-that He was in control! I thank God He showed me. I surrendered,. Lord, whatever those scans show, I will be faithful. I will accept. I will quit trying to manipulate the situation the way I want it to go. I will trust you, Father, and I do, and I pray that everyone will have the Peace of Jesus. What a gift it is! I am so thankful for what He has done for me so that peace, joy, and contentment are mine everyday no matter the circumstance. It is so freeing just to trust in Jesus.

We trust Him with our salvation, so why did I want to hang on to the little things in this life for so long.

Peace is a Person

/ Karen Moxley / Leave a comment

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

John 14:27

Yes, of course, He makes us dwell in safety; for he dwells within us all who have made Him Master of our lives. Don’t be double minded; let His peace rule in your hearts beginning today. Truly, make Him Lord and Savior of your life.

Indescribable peace is available to all who call Him Abba, Father. We are His, and He dwells within us. Having peace in all situations is to keep our minds steadfast on Him, our Creator. We cannot be divided in thought. As we trust in Him, He will not allow His children’s lives to fall to pieces. The opposite of peace is anxiety. In Greek anxiety is translated merimnao which means pieces; so let us be in one accord. Let’s keep our hearts and minds in the word for there is not greater blessing than peace.

Peace

/ Karen Moxley / Leave a comment

We celebrated Independence Day at the lake with family, and it was glorious, relaxing, and oh so peaceful. We had no Internet service, and I allowed my mind to “forget” the troubles of this world. I am back home, and my husband has on the news. Back to reality? Yes and No. I do not think that I was ever out of touch with reality. I just refuse to let my heart be troubled. In my lifetime, I have never seen a more troubled time in this country. We have sinned, and we must repent and turn to the Lord.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled neither let them be afraid.

John 14:27 ESV

Since I was taken from “my” classroom in mid March, I have experienced a gradual increase in the peace in my soul. I know this is God because when I take my eyes off Him I feel the blow of the storms all around me. I am so thankful that He who is in me is greater than he who is in the world. He quiets my soul and stills my spirit. Thank you, Jesus for making righteousness for me.

“…for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

1 John 4:4 ESV

I can only have complete peace because I know full well with every fiber of my being that He is in control, and he has promised me a plethora of everlasting peace. We find this peace in His word. I like to call it His love letter to me. I pray this type of peace never leaves my body.

Fighting is the opposite of peace in most of our minds, but actually we are called to “Christian Warfare.” In Ephesians 6, He tells us to “put on the whole armor of God so that [we] can stand against the schemes of the devil” (v. 11). Of course, we associate armor with fighting, but when we arm ourselves with the truth found in His Word, we will be victorious. He has already paid for this victory on the cross over 2,000 years ago. He knew us before we were formed in our mother’s womb. Therefore, the applied blood of Christ that has brought us righteousness will protect all who are His, and this good news of extraordinary peace from Jesus Christ is too good not to share. He gave us salvation through faith. While we stand in these promises, we must “pray at all times in the Spirit …. and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18)

“And because of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 1:3–31

It won’t always be easy, but he equips us with everything we need to stand ready to fight the evil one who He has already conquered. God bless you. I pray His peace will rule in your hearts today. I promise that to know Him is to love Him. He sure does love us! He died so that we could live in Heaven forever with Him.

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.”
Psalm 19:1