Garden of Peace

Saturday, May 13, 2017

Garden of Peace

Scripture:

Matthew 5:9

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

Romans 12:18

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Hebrews 12:14

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

Romans 8:14

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

Luke 6:35

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.

James 3:16-18

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Devotional:

Olivia Chloe. This is the name that my mother searched and prayed for before I was born. It has a special meaning: Peace in Full Bloom. She loved calling me Full Blooming Peace.  I love this, and love that she put so much heart into the meaning of my name. I named my daughter Chloe Ruth, meaning Full Blooming Friend, to honor my mother and my paternal grandmother.

Sometimes, I feel like I live up to the name that my mother gave me. I bloom in the garden of my life with peace.

Other times….. well…. Not so much.

I’m thinking of someone. Funny, but I woke up thinking about her today, even before I began to study this scripture. We are acquaintances, and have regular encounters. I made efforts to reach out early in the days that she came into my circle, about three years ago. I was going through some very painful times then, and tried to share my struggles. Each time I made an effort to reach out I was met with pretense, and at times she would outright ignore what I said and walk away. However, in public she would have a huge smile and wave vigorously and call out…from a distance. Any time we would be close in proximity, again the shut down and glazed eyes. She has even given my children toys, and at times it has felt like a pat on my head. I don’t like her. It really bothers me. I can’t seem to forgive her easily. It is a real problem for me.

The interesting thing about all of this is that this woman is not even the real problem. She only represents the real problem. The real problem is where my heart is in relationship to God and others. She also represents a deeper wound that started when I was a little girl and was always the “new girl,” as my parents moved several times throughout our childhood due to financial challenges. As a natural introvert, making friends was always hard for me, and I perceived any rejection as proof of lies I already believed about myself that I was unworthy, unlovable, and unlikable.

So I can’t forgive this woman, because I can’t forgive the others, because I can’t forgive…God.

First, I want to state that I don’t intend to blow this out of proportion, and I can honestly say that God has given me this understanding over time to reveal to me my need for and dependence on Him. The goal of sharing this process and personal issue is to show how God leads us over time to open our hearts to seeing areas that need His healing. He can help us to trace the root if we give Him the chance. Once that root is exposed (I’m thinking of a little girl who hated me on the playground in first grade….), God can then begin to soften the soil around that root so that it can be safely removed. Following this uprooting, He is able to pour His healing balm over the freshly tilled soil of our hearts and we can begin to plant the seeds that will bloom the fruit of His Spirit.

All it takes is a willingness to let Him do this work.

I am willing, and I will pray with anyone else who wants to let God into an area that is raw, painful, and needs His touch. Please do send me a message if I can pray with out about something that you do not feel comfortable sharing, or comment here and we can all pray with you together.

As our families see us opening our hearts and being vulnerable with God, they will also begin to see changes in us that will produce fruit in our home. We will also be better equipped then to guide our children, and to come alongside our spouse. Let’s do some gardening, friends, so that we can bloom.

Prayer:

Father, You are an amazing God, and You are a wonderful gardener. I lift my heart to You and give You access to every area that needs tending. Please, Lord, remove this and any other roots that are getting in the way of a harvest of righteousness in my life. Protect me as I heal, and show me how to surrender and be vulnerable with You.

I lift my child(ren) to You today for Your tending as well. Uproot anything that is not of You. Be the One Who causes us to bloom and grow. I release any tendency to try to be the one who does the gardening.

I lift also (area of specific need) for Your healing touch. Grow, change, heal and deliver.

Seal our day with peace and joy.

In Jesus’ Name I pray, amen.