Finding Inner Peace Through Scripture -

There are a lot of people who ask me how it is that I have inner peace.

It’s a quietness, a belief that everything is going to be OK. One of the things I’ve spent most of my life doing, especially these last nine years at Family Coaching, is teaching people how to find that quietness so that they can walk through storms or chaos and still keep their footing. Finding inner peace is actually quite easy. It only takes a few minutes of your day to accomplish. Finding serenity, finding happiness and finding peace of mind can all be found in the quiet communion with God.

For me, finding inner peace is achieved through prayer, by kneeling beside my bed, sitting on the porch swing or sitting at the kitchen table with a hot cup of coffee and just being quite.

A lot of the time I write to help me reach that place. It’s an old technique that’s been practiced forever. I get a pen and a notebook and I start writing a letter to God. It’s not so much a journal but more of a conversation with God. The act of writing keeps my brain engaged and my heart peaceful.

I also recommend reading the Bible out loud.

It’s a magical book. Even though there are those who won’t like the Bible being referred as such, I feel it is a magical book full of wisdom and filled with ideas and stories of encouragement. It’s filled with the power of God, of who He is. It’s the story of Him. As you read it your mind and heart become quiet. Most people read books silently, the way the author intended. You read through them really quickly, your eyes moving lickity-split and you get the gist of the story. The Bible is not like that. It’s the only book I know of that’s made to be read out loud. It’s meant to be read slowly so that the reader can contemplate what they are reading. One of our tricks at Family Coaching is to just open the Bible to a random page and read a few lines.

As I do it now, I’ve opened it on Proverbs 1:20

Lady Wisdom goes out in the street and shouts. At the town center she makes her speech. 21 In the middle of the traffic she takes her stand. At the busiest corner she calls out: 22 “Simpletons! How long will you wallow in ignorance? Cynics! How long will you feed your cynicism? Idiots! How long will you refuse to learn? 23 About face! I can revise your life. Look, I’m ready to pour out my spirit on you; I’m ready to tell you all I know. 24 As it is, I’ve called, but you’ve turned a deaf ear; I’ve reached out to you, but you’ve ignored me.

As I open the Bible again I land on Psalm 97:1

God rules: there’s something to shout over! On the double, mainlands and islands – celebrate! 2 Bright clouds and storm clouds circle ’round him; Right and justice anchor his rule. 3 Fire blazes out before him, Flaming high up the craggy mountains. 4 His lightnings light up the world; Earth, wide-eyed, trembles in fear. 5 The mountains take one look at God And melt, melt like wax before earth’s Lord. 6 The heavens announce that he’ll set everything right, And everyone will see it happen – glorious!

It really is an amazing exercise. You never know what words of wisdom you will find when you just open the Bible.

In west Texas we have thunderstorms that are fantastic. The lightning is like a light show, it’s just runs across the sky. I know that lightning is electricity and that clouds are condensation, I know all the scientific facts. But, I also know that the storms come from somewhere.

When I read this book in the morning it connects me to a place of quiet reassurance, of knowing that things are ok. I know this is one of the reasons I’m in such good health. It’s because I spend my time being with the God I love so much, the God who loves me. I spend time with Him; writing, praying, asking for guidance. Then I watch Him move me forward in amazing ways. So, I invite you to sit down or kneel, to sit outside or at the kitchen table, whenever or wherever you feel is best. I prefer to sit outside early in the morning before the sun has come up. I like to listen to the birds chirping, announcing that the sun is about to rise. Did you know that? Did you know that birds keep chirping until the sun hits the horizon? At that moment they quite down as if to take pause while they notice the majesty of the sun. Then, they all start the concert again. It’s amazing. Be like the birds, notice and enjoy the quiet. Enjoy time by yourself. Learn how to be quiet, be still and let your heart be at rest and you will soon be finding inner peace.

What is a Christian? What is the definition of a Christian? Is a Christian someone who listens only to Christian music, or goes to church every Sunday?

To answer this question I must first a address the root of the word.

In my opinion ‘Christian’ is a bad word.

I often have this conversation with people about Christianity. We Christians have ruined the reputation of our leader. Instead I tell people that I’m a follower of Jesus. That I came from Nazareth, Texas and Jesus came from Nazareth near Galilee. I follow Him. I follow what He did. I follow how He lived. I teach as best I can of things that He taught. But I really think that Christians have soiled the reputation of the Creator of this world. We have pushed people away from ever finding out how much they are loved by Jesus and by His father who is also our Father.

I am amazed when I talk with others that people somehow think being a Christian makes you a small thinker, which is exactly the opposite of what Jesus taught. Jesus taught that you are to think large. You may ask what is a Christians world view? How should we think? How should we act? In my opinion it starts with believing in Christ.

In John 14: 12 Jesus says, “I tell you the truth. If you trust Me, believe in Me, you can do more than I am doing.”

I memorized it years ago because I couldn’t believe it. I love that! I love to be able to put my hand on someone and just because my hand is there they feel healing in their body. They feel reassurance. Their depression leaves them.

I think of Jesus as being fun, as enjoying life and showing people how to live big.

One of the first things Jesus did was to create really good wine.  The story says that they had been celebrating for days at a party and they ran out of wine. He told the people to get twelve huge barrels (similar in size to modern day oil barrels) and fill them full of water. Then He said to pour the water into their glasses. As the men who had filled the barrels were pouring the water into the glasses they saw the water change to wine. When the party goers tasted the wine they were astonished that the bad wine had been served before the good. They asked of Jesus “Why would you serve the best wine we’ve ever tasted now that we have been celebrating for days?” I believe it’s because Jesus liked to have fun. He loved to have a good time and have people around Him. He obviously had something to say.

Another story tells us of five thousand men, women and children who followed Jesus out into the countryside. He didn’t have port-a-potties. He didn’t have sound systems. He didn’t have any food. And yet they still followed Him because they wanted to hear what He had to say. I think about something like that happening today and I wonder who would be willing to follow?

I know that Christian is a bad word. So you will hear me say that I follow Jesus. I study Him. I learn how He did it. I learn what He did. I learn His attitude. The greatest thing I’ve learned is how to be a servant. How to get my lazy carcass up and go do something extra nice for someone else; whether it’s bringing someone a cup of coffee, preparing a snack for somebody or making one of my children breakfast in bed. Those little things say I’m a follower of Jesus.

I’m sorry that we’ve done that to His reputation. I hope you will discover the things I’m talking about, the Jesus who is amazing, who loves people a lot. He rescued me from the bottom of a slimy pit of puss and yuck and turned my life around. He forgave me, set me free.  It’s my wish that you will find this to be true; that you can follow Jesus. You don’t have to be like all the Christians that you see and hear about. You can be the follower.

So in the end when someone ask what is a Christian; I tell them a True Christian is a follower of Christ.

Psalms 100 explains how to reside in the throne room of God.

Pat reads the translation from The Message Bible as well as a quote from ‘God Chasers’ by Tommy Tenny:

“The farther you go into the throne room, the fewer your companions.”

Sometimes we hold onto the people or situations that enslave us which makes releasing anger all the more difficult.

What if we could just let go of our captives?

Pat reads a translation of Isaiah 58 from The Message Bible

Psalms 8 is a beautiful passage about what babies and children already know.

PS – The passage that momma found was from Psalms 8

If you haven’t already, I highly recommend getting a copy of The Message Bible. You can help this blog by purchasing one here:

Purchase Here