Good will and forgiveness are like a tonic that flows through our body and works a healing miracle in every cell. There is a healing chemicalization that takes place in the body when we forgive. It seems to remove the acidic stuff in there, stabilize everything, and allow the good stuff to flow. In fact, removing all the nasty thoughts that eat us up inside seems to have a wonderful cleansing affect on the entire body. It is the peace that passes all understanding that God has for us. I have found the best way for me to do this is by letting go of the outer world and practicing the presence of God in my inner world. Some times I am very good at it, but I'm human.
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you, not as the world gives (it). Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27)
We don't have to allow the outer world to affect our inner peace. We can use our free will and choose to be still and know God. We can choose to deny the outer world access to our private inner world with God. Peace comes when we choose to use our free will with intention. I write these things to remind myself and hope it helps others too.
God gave us the power of choice. We can choose not to give the outer world any power over our inner world. Unshakable stability and faith can be developed by using our free will to practice the presence of God moment by moment every day. We can build up our faith muscles by exercising them the same way we build up our body muscles, by using them on a regular basis. I can testify to that, even though I am human and mess up. We can choose on a moment by moment basis using our free will what we allow into our private inner world with God. We can forgive ourselves when we mess up.
The chemicalization of our body can go either way. It can work for us or against us. Let me give an example. Can you imagine being in line at the deli counter at the local grocery store? Having taken a ticket with the number 42, you have now leaned back against another counter and are waiting to be called. The next thing you know, a loud woman steps up to the counter saying she is number 43 and that she is next. You jolt back to reality just in time to push forward and claim your spot in line showing the clerk that your ticket says number 42. The loud woman sarcastically comments with, "wake up, there are other people waiting in line." How rude she is, you think. Your blood boils a bit at the thought of this woman butting in line. You give the clerk your order, but somehow you forget to tell the clerk your complete order. You forget several things you were supposed to get. You keep thinking about the rude lady who butted in front of you. When you finish at the deli counter, you call your best friend and tell the story of the pushy woman who butted in front of you at the deli. When you get home you tell your spouse, your kids and later you tell your brother on the phone. Each time you feel upset as you relive the experience. By the time you go to bed, your stomach hurts and your body aches. You have allowed the outer world into your inner world and it has affected your peace. Your body has chemicalized in a bad way and you have literally made yourself feel sick.
But what if the whole event happened because you were day dreaming? Lets go back. Lets see, at the deli counter you took a ticket number 42, leaned back against a counter and started thinking about the great time you had on Saturday night when you and your spouse were out with friends. Your mind wandered and you don't remember how long you were day dreaming. Saturday night was a fun and pleasant evening and your thoughts about the evening had been enjoyable. You had not been paying attention. Did you miss the clerk calling number 42? Was there a lag time before the woman with number 43 stepped forward?
Lets rewrite the story. When the woman stepped up with number 43, you jolted back to reality. The woman says, "wake up, there are other people waiting." Your blood begins to boil and you think what a rude woman. But then you realize that this woman is the outside world and you use your free will and decide that she is not going to disturb your inner peace. You use your will power and choose to stay calm. Your thoughts flow back to the peaceful thoughts you were having about your pleasant evening on Saturday night.
All of sudden you feel great again. You give your order to the clerk and the whole incident is over. You denied the outer world access to your inner world by using your free will. You decided to maintain your peace. Your body did not chemicalize in a bad way, but continued to chemicalize in a good way because you continued to think about the fun evening you had on Saturday night. You never mentioned the deli incident to anyone, except to laugh about how you were day dreaming at the deli counter. When you went to bed, you felt good.
We can exercise our free will during every day at every small moment we have. We can choose peace for our self. By giving us free will, God has given us the power of choice and we can use that power with intention.
If you enjoyed reading this post, you may also enjoy reading Power in Surrender and The Kingdom Within. Peace and blessings to you, Terrie.
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