~Message of the Week: Keeping the Peace~

A while back I once wrote about how faith is like a muscle. You have to keep exercising it to keep it strong and keep it going. You can't just sit back and relax, expecting God to do it all! He will, you just have to give back to Him in a loving way and giving Him your all. Only THEN will He grant you your prayers, as long as you do it for Him and ONLY Him!

Now, most of you maybe some of you are starting off the school year this year. Some starting college, some going back. Some going back to your high school, some starting high school. Whoever you are, you know that the summer was either fun...or a big waste of time because you couldn't find that perfect summer job or that job consumed your time from friends!

From my experience, the summer was always a lazy time for me to sleep in and chill. It got to a point where that's basically all I did, then after I quit my job, there was nothing much to do but wait. I expected God to take care of it, without any effort whatsoever from me. It began to consume me and soon I ignored God. I was depressed and neglected people I loved. Soon it was a wake up call when I thought I wouldn't go to college and almost lost an important person!

Then I realized I had to kick my effort back into gear. Not only physically by waking up before noon, but also spiritually. I began to read my Bible again and pray and focus more on God. I put my trust in Him once again and things started to look up. When the school year started for college, I was hanging by a thread, but I also did daily Bible verses and wrote out my thoughts in a journal before class. That helped a lot, and soon everything was taken care of.

Everybody is different and everybody practices their faith in a different way. Sometimes we lose that way and get caught up in watching TV, being busy at work or just hanging out. This school or college year, try to make the rest of the summer something to start off your school year with so it will boost your self esteem! Like reading your favorite book then getting into a habit of also reading your Bible along with your book.

If you're a writer, write about your summer and how you could make it funner next year! Then write about what God's been saying. Or if you're an artist, draw what your heart feels, musical people, write a song about how God has been working in your life. If you're not sure where to start, just pray and know He has everything under control. Keep that faith in practice and exercise physically and spiritually.

In Isaiah 26:3 it says: "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You."

To me that says that God will keep you in peace and keep you going as long as you trust in Him. So as the school year goes on along with a job and homework, make sure to always practice that faith, even if you have 10 minutes to spare, read, pray, write, sing, do whatever gift God gave you to praise Him and glorify Him because He loves you! Good luck in all you do and God bless!!!

By : Kaiya Raven