Deeper Waters

  • The Fight For Peace Of Mind

    This week Remembrance Day ceremonies will be held all over Canada as our American friends honor Veteran’s Day. We live in some of the most peaceful places on the planet, but it didn’t just happen. Soldiers had to fight for us to experience the freedom that brings peace, much like you have to fight for peace of mind.

    Soul H2O Devotion

    The Fight The Fight For Peace Of MindFor Peace Of Mind

    A peaceful mind doesn’t just mysteriously happen, it will only be attained if you fight for it. Thankfully this conflict isn’t fought on the battlefield of combat but combatted in the battlefield of your mind. 

    I really think Philippians 4:6-8 is a great template for learning how to conquer in the battle for a peaceful mind, so let me remind you of what Paul said in Philippians 4:6-8.

    Philippians 4:7Don’t 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. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

    If you want peace in your life, you have to fight for peace in your mind first, before you deal with your problems.

    The first way to peace in your mind is to not worry about anything

    I bet you’re thinking, Seriously??? How can I do that? It’s unrealistic…If Paul was in my shoes, he’d worry…

    I just wonder, if it make any difference when I tell you that Paul was in prison when he wrote these verses? If you compare all of Paul’s writings, I think you’ll see how the book of Philippians, over the others, exudes joy, and he wrote it from a place of wrongful imprisonment. 

    So, how do you not worry about anything???  

    Follow the second way to peace in your mind – pray about everything!

    Turn fear into faith by disciplining your mind to pray, every time you worry.

    When you start to feel afraid your kids are going to get hurt riding their bikes, driving the car or dating that guy…Pray… Lord, I thank you for protecting my children.

    When you’re afraid of losing your job… Pray… Lord I thank you that this company is not my provider, You are. I look forward to seeing how you’ll provide for my needs.

    If you’re afraid of your marriage falling apart… Pray… Lord I bring my marriage to You right now. Fill us with a deep love for each other that will stand the tests of time.

    Turn fear and anxiety into catalysts for prayer.

    My theory is that the devil will clue in and realize he’s bringing on good things by causing you to fear and eventually he’ll give up… maybe??? Ya, as if!

    The third and last way to peace in your mind is to think on good things 

    And what is gooder than God? Nothing. 

    Put some worship music on, throw your hands up in the air and begin praising God. It won’t be long until your burdens are lifted, anxiety alleviated, and your heart healed. Then you’ll be in your right mind to deal with your problems.

    Does God’s peace make sense?   

    Not at all, it transcends Understanding and goes beyond human understanding

    • • Don’t worry about anything
    • • Pray about everything 
    • • Focus Your Thoughts on God.

    Then, tackle your problems.

    Rinse and Repeat.

    The fight for peace of mind is just that simple.

    Prayer

    Father… Thank you for giving me the mind of Christ with the ability to control my thoughts. I’m so grateful you provided a plan for peace of mind in your word. Please help me to not be anxious, pray more and think on Your goodness to keep the peace. In Jesus Name…Amen

    Drawing from the well

    Verses to help fill up your well.

    1. 1. Philippians 4:6-8
    2. 2. Isaiah 26:3
    3. 3. John 16:33
    4. 4. John 14:27

    Soul H2O Resources

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    #musicpic

    #musicpic SONG: 
    Peace Be Still by Hope Darst
    Youtube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsIpGiz3SfQ

    Soul H2O Spotify Playlist:     Online | On App

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    the peace project radio show
    The Peace Project | EP #86

    In Fight For Peace, Kay Wyma is back again, talking about her latest book, The Peace Project and how you can experience true peace on the Soul H2O Radio & Podcast show. 

    You can find today’s Show Notes at http://www.soulh2o.com/86

    Splash Online Event

    Snakes & Ladders  – Sometimes You’re Up, Sometimes You’re Down from the ‘Child-Like Faith’ Series is our November Online Splash event hosted by Sherry Stahl and the #SoulH2O Team. 

    Join us in the Soul H2O  Splash Facebook Group or sign up for Splash emails in the group and see us on Zoom.

    SOUL H2O SPLASH

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    Soul H2OIf you liked the refreshing in this #SoulH2O devotion, you’ll love my latest Soul H2O Devotional book: 40 Thirst Quenching Devotions for Women.


    DOWNLOAD THESE REFRESHING RESOURCES TO HELP QUENCH YOUR SPIRITUAL THIRST!

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  • Does God Care About Your Sex Life?

    In today’s Soul H2O Deeper Waters post, I dared to delve into the question, Does God Care About Your Sex Life? A hot topic in a sex-charged society and you might be surprised by what the Bible has to say.

    Normally, I send out short devotions, but sometimes I just have more to say about a topic and they might not follow the Soul H2O Devotions format. I will share these posts as Soul H2O Deeper Waters readings and hope they help you to dive in deep to God’s Word!

    Downloadable Soul H2O Journal Pages help you dive deeper into God’s Word with the teaching segment, devotions or Deeper Waters posts.  You can find them HERE.

    Sex Life

    Does God Care About Your Sex Life?

    February is deemed the month of love.  Last week we celebrated Galentine’s Day on the Soul H2O Radio & Podcast Show, In The Soul H2O Splash and on the Soul H2O Blog.  I encouraged you to share some love with your Gal Pals.

    This week, many of us are still celebrating since much of Canada and parts of the US was in lockdown on Valentine’s Day.  You’re finally allowed to have that romantic dinner out. But what does romance and Christianity have to do with each other?  I mean, Does God Care About Your Sexuality?

    Before you dismiss this question and hope that I’ll move on from it, think about God’s dialogue with Adam and Eve in the garden, soon after the fall.

    The Trick

    In Genesis 3 we read how Satan tricked Adam and Eve into disobeying the one rule God gave them.

    Satan told them that the immediate reaction to eating the forbidden fruit would be a freedom from death and to be like God… which they already were, and to know the difference between good and evil, making them believe they would become better; but since Satan is a liar, Adam and Eve’s experience didn’t go as advertised to them.

    The Effects of The Fall

    Scripture shows us how Adam and Eve were left struggling with guilt over their choice to rebel against God’s direction. For the first time, human beings felt shame.  This crippling emotion triggered that fight, flight or freeze response in Adam and Eve to run away and hide from God in the forest.

    Shame caused them to want to hide their bodies.  Genesis records that shame over their nakedness was an, immediate response to sin. In this effort to right their wrong in some way, “they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.  (GN 3:7)

    The Reckless Love of God

    I want you to pay close attention to God’s response to their answer when, true to His character, He searches them out. God calls out, “hā-’ā-ḏām”, the term he used for both Adam and Eve until Adam gave his wife a separate name after their fall. In Genesis 3:20 Adam called her Chavvah (ḥaw-wāh), or Eve as we say in English.

    {If you want to learn more about this, listen to Soul H2O Radio & Podcast Show EP#31 We Rule with Amanda Benckhowsen) https://soulh2o.com/31/

    God calls out to both of them,

    “hā-’ā-ḏām”, Where are you?”
    Genesis 3:9

    Adam responds,

    “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”
    Genesis 3:10

    To which God asks:

    Who told you that you were naked?
    Genesis 3:11

    What God Didn’t Say

    God didn’t scold them by saying, “You bad people, you can’t hide from me.” Or “Well it’s about time you put some clothes on!”and He didn’t say, “I’m glad you covered yourself, your bodies are shameful!” NO. He didn’t.

    Before The Fall

    This might be awkward to some people listening to this show, but God was fine with Adam and Eve’s nakedness, and so were they… until sin entered the picture. 

    You see, before sin entered the world and messed everything up, God chose to start the world with a couple, sharing intimately in the garden, without shame.

    God created your sexuality to be expressed in passion, vulnerability, and intimacy. It’s how He designed you. 

    The most beautiful expression of your sexuality is to be a metaphor of the love relationship between Christ and His church. Not in any weird way, but a whole, holy union, a covenant of love, faithfulness and security, expressed through passion, vulnerability, and intimacy as the Songs of Solomon portray.  The love life of a Christian couple should resemble the romance of that book, not a lackluster, boring, or unemotional existence of two roommates.

    What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You

    But, if you don’t know God as a loving Father, Friend and Creator, you’ll have wrong mindsets towards your love life.  If you see God as an authoritative, punitive, killjoy with lots of rules, then you might tend to think of God’s viewpoint on our sexuality as, well, shameful.

    Shame around your body and sexuality, when expressed in healthy ways is not from God. Shame is from the devil, the one who starts the accusative self-talk that demeans, discourages and can defeat us, if we allow it to continue. 

    He Cares

    Know that God Does care about your sexuality. He created you and doesn’t condemn you. He doesn’t shame you.  God wants the best for you and any direction He gives in His Word is never to punish but protect you, sparing you from hurt, so you can live His best and life to the full!

    In His Grip,

    Sherry-heart-xoxo pink

    Related Soul H2O Radio & Podcast Episodes

    EP 57 | Does God Care About Your Sexuality?Sheila Gregoire

    Does God Care About Your Sexuality? features an interview with Author, Speaker and Blogger, Sheila Wray Gregoire. We’re talking about her latest book and hoping to help rescue Christians from warped views on their sexuality and regain a healthy Biblical perspective. 

    EP 31 |We Rule!  With Amanda W. Benckhuysen

    We Rule! features an interview with Amanda W. Benckhuysen discusses the equality of the sexes, as God originally intended.

    Read More