Inner Peace

One of the tweets I recently read from Tenzin Palmo says this, "The answer lies within ourselves.  If we can't find peace and happiness there, it's not going to come from the outside"

The doors that influence our actions and behavior are through what we see, hear, understand and know.  The best measure of what we hear in this statement must therefore be measured by the infallible standard - The Bible!

Even better then the answer lies within:
1) The Word of God - John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you:not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 

2) My Faith Factor - I know whom I have believed - 2 Timothy 1: 12 ".... for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day" Paul says that he is persuaded that Jesus is able to keep his promise! Faith keeps our hope alive! Without faith we cannot please God - Hebrews 11:6

3) Words - show if you have inner peace - 2 Timothy 1:13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.  When hope seems to be gone hold on to wholesome words.  If you see success that is what you will get.  If you see a stumbling blocks you will see difficulties.  What you see is what you get.  Holding fast sound words means you are keeping your heart diligently focused on the object of your joy and happiness.

True joy does not depend on happenings but is a state of mind, tampered by God's Word - our standard, my faith factor - what I believe and words - which show what is deep in my heart.

Knowledge To Articulate Good

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7

Knowledge is information. You need knowledge to know how to do things.  It has been said that, "necessity is the mother of all inventions.  God gives you knowledge, that leads to know-how of solving your needs.

Knowledge is gained when you read the Bible, books, interact with people.  It is also gained from things, happenings, history, casual observations.

It is noteworthy that for knowledge to be useful it must be organized!  You must know what you know.  James 1:5 tells us to ask for wisdom. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him"   If the knowledge and wisdom you so desire is to come from God, then it must be articulated for doing good.  God does good and wants us to use our knowledge for good.  3 John 1:11 "Beloved follow not that which is evil, but that which is good.  He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil has not seen God."

Let this mind be in you...

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" - Philippians 2:5

The mind of Christ seeks to understand the point of the view of a other.  It is not cast on stone.  I am a Kenyan,  I have an African mindset - That was no choice of mine and so I have no apologies to make!  I come from a country that was was a colony of Britain - that is history.  In 1963 our country got independence from our colonizers.  Year 2013 we celebrated our 50 years Jubilee.  How that we are deemed to be free from colonial rule but in many fronts remain servants to a mindset that is not pleasing at all!  Our mind has to set with a higher mind.  What was the mind of Christ?

Firstly, the mind of Christ deals with possibilities. 
"But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible" Matthew 19:26
We are able to see through difficulties as breakthroughs.  Challenges as stepping stones. My mindset has to be that of a solutions provider.  Though we have political freedom and religious freedoms.  We are in bondage in many areas of our lives; thus I consciously must seek that mind that brings out possibilities for freedom!  Someone may say it is impossible but God says all things are possible. Paul tells us "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" Philippians 4:13

Secondly, the mind of Christ grows in love from immaturity to maturity!
"When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child:but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face:now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known" 1 Cor 13:11,12
 There is nothing wrong with a child behaving like a child BUT there is everything wrong when a grown-up man or woman behaves in a childish manner!  We grow from immature to mature, from darkness to light, from children to adults, from ignorance to enlightenment.  It is awkward to retrogress from maturity back into foolishness!  A believers mind that is set on growth does so tampered with love and humility.  Growing old is not an option but growing up is a choice - you and I must make a conscious choice to put away childish things and/or behavior! 

Lastly but not least.
The mind of Christ's yields in obedience for God's sake and not man!
"Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" Philippians 2:6-8
Christ has all power of the God-head.  Without him nothing that is would be in existence!  
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. John 1:3
Yet with all that power and all it's representation, made himself of no reputation, took the form of a servant and was obedient!

Such a mind is rare! Howbeit God is telling us it is possible to have it - Philippians 2:5!