Protecting Your Peace

If you're only going to enjoy your day if everything works out then you are setting yourself up to lose your peace. In your car you have a spare tire; even though you are expecting to arrive at your final destination with no incident you are prepared just in case. You've decided ahead if time to not sit on the side of the road and sulk just because you hit a pothole. Unexpected things pop up and you have to be prepared to deal with it so that you can move forward.

Give people room to be human. Your happiness is not someone else's responsibility. You have to be prepared.

When we go around offended and upset we are dishonoring God.

You give them relief from troubled times until a pit is dug to capture the wicked.

Psalms 94:13 NLT

Make up your mind to not let another person ruin your day. Don't get stuck arguing or being rude. You're in control, no one can make you unhappy without you allowing it.

Sometimes people have become poisoned and that poison naturally comes out. You overcome evil with good.

Be an eagle.

Joel promised to be on a morning show very early. He parked where he was told but the security guard made him move. She didn't realize her mistake until after the interview.

One day Jesus said to his disciples, "There will always be temptations to sin, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting!

Luke 17:1 NLT

Strong's Concordance

skandalon: a stick for bait (of a trap), generally a snare, a stumbling block, an offense

Original Word: σκάνδαλον, ου, τό
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: skandalon
Phonetic Spelling: (skan'-dal-on)
Definition: a stick for bait (of a trap), generally a snare, a stumbling block, an offense
Usage: a snare, stumbling-block, cause for error

Decide if the battle is worth fighting.

So the men of Israel said, "Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel; and it shall be that the man who kills him the king will enrich with great riches, will give him his daughter, and give his father's house exemption from  taxes in Israel."

I Samuel 17:25 NKJV

Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab's anger was aroused against David, and he said, "Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle." And David said, "What have I done now? Is there not a cause?" Then he turned from him toward another and said the same thing; and these people answered him as the first ones did.

I Samuel 17:25‭-‬30 NKJV

The battle with Goliath was worth fighting but battle with Eliab was not. 

It  is honorable for a man to stop striving, Since any fool can start a quarrel.

Proverbs 20:3 NKJV

When you're in agreement with people you are able to conquer more. This is especially true in marriage.

David prayed in advance that he'd be able to hold his toung when Eliab tried to bait him. David killed a lion and a bear so he was definitely able to take on his brother, but that wasn't his battle.

Set a guard, O Lord , over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.

Psalms 141:3 NKJV

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.

Psalms 23:5 NKJV

Are you fighting where you should be sitting?

Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works.

II Timothy 4:14 NKJV

https://bible.com/bible/114/2ti.4.14.NKJV

The battle is not mine,  it's the Lord's. 2 Chronicles 20:15

You have to be good at ignoring people.

But some rebels said, "How can this man save us?" So they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.

I Samuel 10:27 NKJV

Choose to stay in peace.

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Ephesians 6:11‭, ‬15 NKJV

Declaring Favor

Pastor Joel @ Lakewood Church

We release favor through our words. Things begin to change in the unseen realms.

Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.

Luke 2:52 NLT

It's about more than being positive but releasing your faith.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

Psalms 23:6 NKJV

When you know that you have favor you will approach even tough tasks with boldness. In Nehemiah 2 we see this where the prophet asked for everything he'd need. 

And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king's words that he had spoken to me. So they said, "Let us rise up and build." Then they set their hands to this good work.

Nehemiah 2:18 NKJV

In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:6 NKJV

In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].

PROVERBS 3:6 AMP

Ask the Lord for rain In the time of the latter rain. The Lord will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, Grass in the field for everyone.

Zechariah 10:1 NKJV

Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

I Peter 1:13 NKJV

The Messenger-Angel said, "Can't you tell?" "No, sir," I said. Then he said, "This is God 's Message to Zerubbabel: 'You can't force these things. They only come about through my Spirit,' says God -of-the-Angel-Armies. 'So, big mountain, who do you think you are? Next to Zerubbabel you're nothing but a molehill. He'll proceed to set the Cornerstone in place, accompanied by cheers: Yes! Yes! Do it!'"

Zechariah 4:5‭-‬7 MSG