PEACE? Be Blameless.

 The Bible offers a rich perspective on "peace of mind," portraying it as a deep and abiding state of heart and soul that comes from trusting in God and aligning with His will. Here are some key insights from Scripture:

1. Peace Through Trusting in God
   Isaiah 26:3 says, "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you." This verse reveals that peace of mind is a result of unwavering trust in God. It speaks to the idea that God's presence, protection, and promises are sufficient to bring stability, regardless of external circumstances.

2. Jesus, the Source of Peace
   Jesus offers His peace to His followers, a peace that transcends worldly understanding. In John 14:27, He says, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid." This peace is unique—it’s internal and eternal, rooted in the assurance of His love, presence, and eternal purpose.

3. Guarding Your Heart and Mind
   Philippians 4:6-7 provides a pathway to peace: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Here, peace of mind is linked to surrendering anxieties to God through prayer and gratitude. It’s a protective peace that "guards" our inner being, maintaining calm in the midst of life's storms.

4. Setting Your Mind on Spiritual Things
   In Romans 8:6, Paul explains, "The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace." This verse highlights that peace comes from focusing on God’s Spirit rather than on worldly concerns. When we allow the Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts and priorities, we experience life and peace.

5. Jesus as Our Peace with God
   Peace of mind is also rooted in our restored relationship with God. Through Jesus, we have peace with God, as described in Romans 5:1: "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." This peace is foundational—it means we are no longer separated from God because of sin, but are reconciled, and that relationship provides a deep, abiding peace.

6. Casting Your Cares
   1 Peter 5:7 encourages believers to "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." This verse reminds us that God’s care allows us to release our worries, entrusting them to His faithful provision and compassionate oversight, which brings peace of mind.

The Bible teaches that peace of mind is a gift from God, available through trusting Him, aligning with His Spirit, and accepting Jesus' offer of peace. It is not a fleeting or superficial peace but one that surpasses understanding, sustaining us through challenges and drawing us closer to God’s heart and purpose.

The "Peace of God":

Guards our hearts and minds by acting as a spiritual protection over our thoughts and emotions, helping us to stay anchored in God’s truth, love, and faithfulness. In Philippians 4:7, Paul explains that "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." This peace is beyond human comprehension and is both powerful and purposeful, offering a few distinct ways of "guarding" us:

1. Guarding Against Anxiety and Fear
   God's peace counters anxiety, fear, and worry by grounding us in His sovereignty and provision. When we fully surrender our worries to God, believing that He is in control, His peace settles our hearts. Rather than allowing fearful thoughts to dominate, this peace helps us to focus on God’s promises, trusting Him even when circumstances are uncertain.

2. Strengthening Confidence in God’s Presence
   Knowing that God's presence is with us creates an assurance that goes beyond the visible. Isaiah 41:10 reminds us, "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God." This divine presence provides security, reinforcing our hearts and minds against doubts or insecurities. It’s the realization that we are never alone and that God’s peace surrounds us like a shield.

3. Creating Clarity Amid Chaos
   When life's situations become overwhelming, God’s peace enables us to think clearly and make sound decisions. In James 1:5, we’re told that God provides wisdom to those who ask without doubting. His peace provides a calm center, helping us approach challenges from a place of faith rather than from the turmoil of worry. By staying in His peace, we can discern His guidance more easily, moving forward with clarity and purpose.

4. Guarding Us from Negative Influences
   The peace of God helps filter out influences that can lead our minds away from God’s truth. In 2 Corinthians 10:5, Paul speaks about "taking captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." With God's peace, we’re less vulnerable to thoughts of despair, doubt, or temptation that seek to pull us from His presence. This peace strengthens our resolve to dwell on what is pure, noble, and praiseworthy, as encouraged in Philippians 4:8.

5. Deepening Trust and Dependence
   When we experience God's peace, it reminds us of our dependence on Him rather than on our own strength or solutions. This cultivates a mindset of humility, drawing us into a deeper trust and radical dependence on His wisdom and power. In Proverbs 3:5-6, we’re called to "trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." His peace affirms that, as we acknowledge Him, He will direct our paths, guarding us from self-reliance and the turmoil it can bring.

6. Healing from Wounds of the Past
   God's peace can heal emotional wounds and guard us against reopening them by constantly reminding us of His forgiveness and grace. Psalm 147:3 says, "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." With this peace, we are reminded of our new identity in Christ, protected from self-condemnation, and freed to move forward without being weighed down by past hurts.

7. Allowing Joy and Gratitude to Flourish
   When our hearts and minds are guarded by God’s peace, we can experience and express gratitude and joy, even amid difficulties. As Paul wrote in Philippians 4:4-6, rejoicing and presenting our needs to God with thanksgiving are linked to the peace that follows. God’s peace allows us to stay joyful, knowing our lives are in His hands.

In summary, God’s peace acts as a divine fortress over our hearts and minds, keeping us rooted in faith, protecting us from harmful thoughts and emotions, and allowing us to live in the freedom and assurance of His love. This peace empowers us to live confidently, despite challenges, by continually turning our focus to God and His promises.

God’s Strategic Will:

God’s Strategic Will for all born-again believers is to walk in the fullness of His guidance, provision, and care, rooted in trust and dependence on Him. This reflects the purpose of our relationship with God: to live in a way that reveals His Kingdom by being fully aligned with His will.

1. His Guidance
   God's guidance is available as we seek His wisdom and follow the lead of the Holy Spirit. Proverbs 3:5-6 calls us to "trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." In this trust, God makes our paths straight, guiding us in the steps we should take. He desires us to live in constant communion with Him, allowing Him to lead us in decisions, actions, and perspectives that align with His heart and purpose.

2. His Provision
   God’s provision includes not only material needs but also spiritual resources, such as strength, wisdom, and peace. Philippians 4:19 reminds us that "God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." Walking in His provision means we don’t strive out of fear or self-sufficiency but instead rely on His guidance and faithfulness, knowing that He cares for us and is able to supply everything we need to accomplish His will.

3. His Care
   God’s care is His constant, attentive, and compassionate presence with us. 1 Peter 5:7 invites believers to "cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." This care is both gentle and strong, assuring us that we are never alone or neglected. Living in His care enables us to face life’s challenges with a heart at rest, knowing that our Heavenly Father is actively involved in our lives.

By trusting in God, we learn to radically depend on Him, which allows us to experience His fullness in every area of our lives. Through this relationship, we become a living testament of His Kingdom—demonstrating that life in Christ is transformative, peaceful, and joy-filled, drawing others to see His love and grace.

Faith that "Saves, Transforms, and Actuates” us:

This journey into the fullness of God’s guidance, provision, and care happens by faith—a faith that not only saves us but also transforms and actuates us to live out our identity in Christ:

1. Faith that Saves
   Saving faith is the foundation of our relationship with God. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." This faith reconciles us to God through Jesus, restoring our broken relationship with Him and giving us new life. It’s the starting point, the gift that brings us from death to life in Christ.

2. Faith that Transforms
   This faith goes beyond salvation to become a transforming power in our lives. Romans 12:2 calls us to "be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Through this faith, God works in us by the Holy Spirit to reshape our thoughts, desires, and behaviors to reflect Christ’s character. It’s a daily process where we learn to surrender our will and trust God’s Spirit to cultivate love, joy, peace, patience, and all the fruits of His Spirit within us. This transformation enables us to think, act, and love as Christ did, reflecting His heart and mind.

3. Faith that Actuates
   Faith that actuates is faith that empowers us to live out God’s purpose with boldness and obedience. James 2:17 tells us, "faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." This faith moves us to take steps of obedience, to act on what God has called us to, and to serve others as His representatives. Actuating faith is the driving force that allows us to live as overcomers, facing challenges with courage, carrying out His will, and manifesting His Kingdom on earth.

Together, these aspects of faith—saving, transforming, and actuating—create a holistic journey of walking with God. We are not merely saved to wait passively but saved to grow, to be transformed, and to walk actively in the fullness of His guidance, provision, and care. By living out this faith, we become the "Fully Actualized Kingdom Saints" He calls us to be, rooted in trust and empowered to reveal His love and truth to the world.

Be Blameless:

When Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery. " Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”  She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” (John 8:10-11)

This profound statement, "Neither do I condemn you; now go sin no more" encapsulates God's Strategic Will for all who receive His forgiveness. It is a call to walk uprightly in righteousness, a transformation that can only be achieved through God's empowering grace. Jesus' words to the woman caught in adultery aptly capture the essence of God's grace and truth. His forgiveness restores us, simultaneously presenting a compelling call to a new and transformed way of living.

When Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more” , He extended grace to her, releasing her from condemnation while calling her to leave her old ways behind. 

This exchange illustrates a few critical elements of God’s will for every believer:

1. Grace That Forgives and Releases
   Jesus’ statement, “Neither do I condemn you,” embodies the grace that forgives all who come to Him with a repentant heart. It reminds us that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). This forgiveness isn’t based on our worthiness but on God’s mercy, and it frees us from the guilt and penalty of sin. Forgiveness is foundational, but it’s also an invitation to begin a new, empowered life.

2. A Call to Righteousness
   “Go and sin no more” reflects God’s will for us to live in righteousness. This call to holiness is impossible in our own strength, but God’s grace empowers us to break free from the bondage of sin and walk in His ways. Titus 2:11-12 says, “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age.” Grace, then, isn’t merely a covering but a transforming power that teaches and enables us to pursue a life of righteousness.

3. Dependence on God’s Transformative Power
   Just as the woman caught in adultery could not walk in righteousness on her own, we too, require God’s guidance, provision, and care to live blamelessly. This new life requires transformation—a process of heart and mind renewal through the Holy Spirit, who convicts, guides, and empowers us. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 explains, “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” Transformation is not instant perfection but a journey of yielding to the Spirit’s work within us.

4. Living in Grace That Sustains and Empowers
   Walking in God’s righteousness requires not only a moment of forgiveness but a continual reliance on His grace. This grace sustains us daily, helping us to resist sin and live in the freedom of God’s Spirit. As Paul shared in 2 Corinthians 12:9, God’s grace is “sufficient,” meaning it supplies all we need for life and godliness. It’s His ongoing provision and strength, not our own efforts, that enable us to fulfill His will.

In summary, Jesus’ words to the woman caught in adultery capture God’s heart for each of us: forgiveness and freedom to walk blamelessly. He calls us to holiness, and through His grace, He provides the transformation, guidance, and strength needed to live out that calling. This is the essence of a life lived in God’s Kingdom—saved, transformed, and empowered by His grace to reveal His love and righteousness to the world.

How often do you give God the opportunity to share His heart and mind with you, what He thinks, and how He feels about the things going on in and around you?

The Best Advice!

I think what Jesus told the woman caught in adultery when he said, "now go and sin no more," is the best advice anyone could be given. It is a call to all who have been forgiven to be “blameless.”

In John 8:11, Jesus tells the woman caught in adultery, "Neither do I condemn you," He follows with, Go, and from now on sin no more." This instruction is powerful, as it not only declares her forgiven but also sets a new standard for her life moving forward.

This directive can be seen as a call to live a life that aligns with God's will—a life of holiness and righteousness that reflects a change brought about by encountering Jesus. It emphasizes that forgiveness isn't just about absolution but also about a renewed commitment to living according to God’s principles. Thus, it suggests that those who are forgiven are called to pursue a blameless life as a response to the grace they have received.

The call to live a blameless life, as Jesus suggests, can feel daunting because, as humans, we are all prone to making mistakes and sinning—even with the best intentions.

The Bible acknowledges this human condition. For example, 1 John 1:8 says, "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." This passage underscores the ongoing struggle with sin that believers face. However, it also points to the grace available through Christ, as the next verse offers reassurance: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Trying and sometimes failing is a shared experience for those who are Born Again. It highlights the importance of grace, continuous repentance, and the Holy Spirit's role in sanctification—the process of being made holy over time. Rather than a demand for immediate perfection, Jesus' instruction to "go and sin no more" can be seen as an encouragement to pursue righteousness while relying on God’s strength and forgiveness when we fall short. This aligns with the idea of living a life dependent on God’s guidance and care, and being transformed by an ongoing relationship with Him through the Holy Spirit.

So, if we consider Jesus Christ our "Savior", by Grace. We should also consider Him "Lord" by that same grace. When we accept Him as Savior, acknowledging that it is by grace through faith that we are saved (Ephesians 2:8-9), we also recognize His sovereignty over our lives, thereby accepting Him as Lord.

The title "Lord" implies authority, leadership, and control. To call Jesus "Lord" is to submit to His will, obey His teachings, and align our lives according to His purposes. This is not just a declaration of belief but a commitment to action—it means actively seeking His guidance in all areas of life and striving to reflect His character.

This relationship of grace is reciprocal and dynamic. Just as we receive grace in salvation, we continue to depend on that grace to empower and enable us to live under His lordship. This understanding deeply connects with the idea of God’s Guidance, Provision and Care, and living out a radical dependence on Him.

By grace, He saves us. Through faith, we make Him Lord.

By grace, we are saved—this is entirely God's gift, not based on our works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). This saving grace is accessed through faith, an act of trust and surrender to Jesus as our Savior.

Making Jesus Lord of our lives is the natural progression of that faith. When we believe in Him, we not only trust Him for salvation but also commit to His lordship, which means acknowledging His authority, obeying His commands, and conforming our lives to His will. This act of making Jesus Lord is both a decision and a process. It starts with a decision to give Him control but continues as a daily process of yielding to the Holy Spirit, who helps us to live according to God's ways.This concept also aligns with the Biblical principle that faith without works is dead (James 2:17). The faith that saves us is also supposed to transform us, leading to a life that evidences His lordship through our actions, decisions, and interactions. This transformative journey is underpinned by grace, enabling us to grow in Christ-likeness and to live out our calling in the kingdom of God effectively.

How often do you provide God the opportunity to share His Heart and Mind with you?

Psalms 139:17-18 NLT

“How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! 

I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! 

And when I wake up, you are still with me!”

Savior & Lord! By Grace, through Faith?

SAVIOR...

Colossians 2:6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you are saved through faith, and this not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

Romans 5:2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Romans 4:16 Because of this it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, for the promise being sure to all the seed, not to that which is of the law only, but also to that which is of the faith of Abraham,

1 Peter 1:5 They are for you, who through faith are kept safe by God's power for the salvation which is ready to be revealed at the end of time.

Romans 3:24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.


LORD...

Matthew 7:21  Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

James 1:22  Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.

Luke 6:46  "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and yet don't do what I tell you?

The Mind of Christ through the Holy Spirit

The Mind of Christ?

Perspective, insight, understanding, knowledge, wisdom, and ability, all through the Guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The Present Moment?: I call it the Here and Now.

The present moment is "where" and "when" we exist and have our being. Our understanding resides with our thoughts in the present moment. Our understanding is informed by our “perspective", which is derived from a combination of our five senses, our memory of the past that validates the present moment, and our ability to reason, which anticipates the future. Because of this, each individual has a “unique” and limited perspective.

Our perspective is limited by the laws of physics and the nature of our inertial frame, which is our physical body. This is why the truth of Proverbs chapter 3 verses 5 and 6 is so important to understand. And why being Spirit-led is an essential aspect of every believer’s walk.

If we are born again, we are conscious of the Holy Spirit’s presence. According to His will, the Holy Spirit “informs” our perspective and therefore increases our understanding so, if we trust and obey, we can participate in what He is doing in the present moment (Revealing the Kingdom).

The present moment, the here and now, is the only place where a child of God is led by the Spirit of God. It's where the Holy Spirit reminds us of His leading in the past: John 14:26. It is where He speaks prophetically to us about the future.  John 16:13

The present moment is the only place where we can exercise Biblical Faith as we trust and obey the Holy Spirit's leading in the here and now!

Jesus said, "I assure you: The Son is not able to do anything on His own, but only what He sees (present-tense), the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does these things in the same way. Jn 5:19

Jesus also said, “The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Jn 14:10

I Corinthians 12:4-7. “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.” 

Romans 12: 6-8. “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”
1 Peter 4:10-11. “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.”

Christian Mystics and Now!

I've enjoyed the books of several Christian "mystics". Andrew Murray, Watchman Nee, and A.W. Tozer. These are people that God gave spiritual eyes to see and spiritual ears to hear. And they shared God's heart and mind, how God felt, and what He thought to their generation.

Their asceticism was simple and did not bring glory to themselves. They knew God, and the things of the world had little appeal to them.

Now...
The mysteries of the believer's union with the Father through the Holy Spirit are being made clear to all of us.

Hebrews 8:11. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. 

Acts 2:17-18 ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.

Revelation 19:9. Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” 10. And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

1 Cor. 14:1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.

Faith is not...

trust, or belief, or confidence, or conviction, or credence, or reliance, or dependence, or optimism, or hopefulness, or hope, or expectation, or any attitude or principle you can put into practice.

John 5:39-40 You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, 40. yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (CEV) With all your heart you must trust the LORD and not your own judgment. 6. Always let him lead you, and he will clear the road for you to follow.

FAITH IS A RELATIONSHIP! With God the Father, by the Holy Spirit, because of the sacrifice His Son Jesus.

In this relationship, we grow in;  trust, belief, confidence, conviction, credence, reliance, dependence, optimism, hope, expectation, and anticipation.

God's Grace?

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
God's Guidance = God's Grace! "The path I should go, the steps I should take."

Okay, a relationship where God guides and I am expected to trust and obey. My problem is I have an expectation of result. I seem to remember a promise. It created a hope. I paid attention because of it.

So I listened and obeyed. Okay, I'll admit I may have been distracted. I may have paid less then attention. So the "promise"? He is Faithful. Okay. TRUST AND OBEY! The promise was given on the basis of... "By grace, through Faith"

This is the "Key" to PEACE!

John 14:27. "I am leaving you with a gift... peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid.

By Grace, through Faith...

It's not where you are at, it's how far you've come. It's not what you've been given, it's what you do with it.