Opions, trust, and peace

The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that. Proverbs 29:25

Each and every day this fear of opinion grips us, shapes us, and undermines our walk with Christ. I know, I’m not immune.

Are you?

Are you consumed by what others think of you? Or, is your concern the opinion of God? There is a world of difference. One is fearful… the other… peace; peace of mind.

Peace of mind proclaims confidence, a trust in God. Not the confidence of this world but a confidence in Christ. The confidence of this world leads to cruelty, arrogance, and selfishness. The confidence of Christ is very, very different. This confidence trusts in God while viewing the frailty of human nature. This confidence has mercy in the face of this frailty and desires to help, to hold, and to give. This confidence desires the opinion of God over that of others. This confidence is humble, broken-hearted, often quiet, tender, and merciful.

So how do I/we develop such a trust in God, how are we strengthen in God? Reading the Bible is a place to start. Often, for new believers it is good for them to start with the New Testament, the Proverbs, and the Psalms. Why read the Bible? Scripture reading sheds the light of God’s principles to our minds. We need heavenly principles flowing in our thoughts to counter-act the principles taught us in this world. We are soldiers and our warfare is spiritual. (Ephesians 6:12) Scripture is filled with the stories and testimonies of folks just like you and me who went before us to demonstrate God working in their lives. (Romans 15:4) Their stories are filled with men and women who knew that the opinions of others were faulty and that their own thinking was faulty at times as well. Learning this they turned to God’s Word and to prayer.

Learn to develop prayer. How do you pray when prayer seems so foreign? This and scripture reading is where trust begins. Can you type? Can you text? Can you hold a conversation with a friend, with family, or co-workers. Then you can pray. Prayer is not a formula, prayer is a conversation with God. Prayer is expressing your thanks, displaying your honor, and asking your Heavenly Father for help, for guidance, and for forgiveness. Prayer can occur anywhere and at any time, for prayer is a consciousness of God, a trust in God, a walk with God…

And having a consciousness of God brings peace; peace of mind and trust in God.

The opinions of others need consideration but they should never rob our hearts of the peace of God.