His Signature Peace

For me, the first 10 minutes on a piece of stationary equipment like a treadmill or eliptical machine is like the first 100 miles of a road trip.

Slow.

Just as something shifts when the tripometer flips from 99 to 100, so too is there a momentum revolution when minute 9 vaults to minute 10.

I am aware that both measures trigger more of a change in attitude than behavior.

If you were to photograph me driving mile 99 of a trip, my behavioral posture would not appear measurably different from a shot of me cruising mile 101.

Likewise, you can’t cheat a treadmill (or Bella). It goes as fast as I set it and I have to work my body the same way to run minute 9 and 11.

The attitudinal delta intrigues me.

I sense it houses
breath,
hope,
peace,
and epiphany.

So what is it that changes my road trip mentality from, “We’re NEVER going to get there,” to, “We got this, we’re already 100 miles in!”

Or, “Oh, I’m so tired! Argh! This is hard, pant, pant, whine, pant,” to, “Oh yeah, I got this, I’m strong, No problem!”

Common to both initial phases is anxiety. What is underneath each endeavor is more than not wanting to do the unplesant or difficult, but not truly believing that I can.

And, of course, I can’t in my own strength.

Concert to both shifts is confidence that what is being attempted is also obtainable.

Peace is the fruit of confidence. The sweet nectar that drips honey and thick syrup certainty that God tabernacles with me:

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also you are called in one body; and be you thankful., (Colossians, 3:15).

This is the Peace God gives in Philippians 4:7: Then God’s peace, which goes far beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your hearts and minds in union with the Messiah Jesus.

The image of Peace as a guard of the heart is like an umpire behind hoomeplate. Peace is there to govern the calls and choices in our lives.

An historical allusion to Olympic games, the message here proclaims that God gives us the authority to act like the govenors of the Olympics as rulers our hearts.

We are to guard our hearts and protect them from the world, to preside in our hearts; sit as umpires there; to invite the indweeling of God’s own Spirit, that divine calm and peace to govern and control us.

We are Called to Peace,
liberation from anxiety,
freedom from agitations,
control of passions,
rest from tumult.

This is not the promise that we do not face anxiety, agitations, passion and tumult, but that through the Grace of God’s peace that transcends all understanding, we may heed His call among the white noise of those elements and be at rest to press into Him and acknowledge our need for His Merciful intercession.

I don’t know about you, but I am utterly dependent upon Him now (as ever) and need his intercession like CPR for for my transitional attitude.

More than ever, I seek
God’s favor,
His calm presence,
His harmony,
His signature peace,
His love song in my life.

As in Ephesians 4: 4-6

There is one body
and one Spirit—
just as you were called to one hope
when you were called—
one Lord,
one faith,
one baptism;
one God and Father of all,
who is over all and through all and in all.

Nothing better tills Peace and Order than gratitude for the mercies of God’s abundant garden.

 

I’ll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah!