ll Timothy 1:7 “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity—of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear—but He has given us a spirit of power and of love and of calm and well balanced mind and discipline and self control.” (Amplified)

Just to recap our previous considerations from this Scripture : power allows us full access in opening the gift in its entirety; perfect love in all its brilliance is generated because of that power while at the same time it enables the power to be used in an affirming, productive, and God infused way.  

And that brings us to calm.  Some of the words the dictionary uses to define calm are  serene, tranquil, relaxed, unruffled, unperturbed, unflustered, even-tempered, composed, peace.

Calm which encompasses all the above nuances is enabled as a result of love.  Love provides an environment of quiet soil where calm can thrive and flourish.  It prepares our psyche, our hearts, and our emotions to be receptive to allowing a sense of calm, no matter the storm brewing around us. 

When we allow calmness to pervade our daily thoughts and actions we  become less volatile; we become more patient; we become less reactive; and we certainly become more Christ like.  Hey we even become more neighborly and likable which could certainly be an asset if one enjoys long term friendships!!!

The following passages (all from the Amplified translation) have some good advice.     

II Timothy 4:5: “As for you, be calm and cool and steady,…”

Psalm 94:13: “That You may grant him [power to calm himself and find] peace in the days of adversity,…”

Proverbs 14:30:  “A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the life and health of the body,…” 

I particularly love the above quote from Proverbs.  Truer words were never spoken.  Agitation, churning of the mind, turmoil, and fractiousness, accomplish nothing except unfavorable results.  At the worst they can bring on strokes, heart attacks, and other disastrous occurrences.  But even if the result of these mind sets is not that catastrophic it certainly damages our ability to deal with life, its upheavals and tumults with logic, temperance, and reasonableness.  A continuing life style of these negative attitudes of spirit make it impossible to achieve a positive outcome even personally much less when interacting with others.  Lack of calm can cause us to lash out at people and handle situations in a manner that is destructive to ourselves as well as others.  But as the Bible author says when we pursue calm we automatically engender healthier minds and hearts which usually lead to a healthier body.

Psalm 46:10 says “Be still and know that I am God.”  Calm your mind and become quiet before Him.  Make one of your top priority goals this week to maintain “a calm and undisturbed mind.”  Strive to develop this attribute as a life time pattern.  

Lonetta is available to speak at any of your church or Christian gatherings.  For further information please contact her through this site or on the “Contact” form at her website: livingbeforegodsface.com.

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