This will be a unique and amazing adventure for me to write. And I hope that in some small way you will be touched as well. Please feel free to leave comments; I will respond as quickly as possible.
This month to peace will highlight various keys I’ve discovered–both external as well as internal. It will not be an exhaustive list, since peace is one of those bottomless topics, but they are tried and true ways I have found to achieve true and lasting peace.
I’ve wrestled with my 31 post ideas–trying to determine which one to start with. I had it narrowed down, but last night I received a strong impression to change directions and write about a completely different key than I had planned.
And so today, I present to you the first bright and shining key to lasting peace….
Becoming like the Master, Jesus Christ.
Will this bring peace? Matthew 11:29-30 contains the answer: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
This “rest” which He speaks about is the equivalent of the true peace we need. And how do we acquire it? By learning of Him and taking His yoke upon ourselves.
The learning of Him is the easy part. We can read the stories of His matchless example…
He was obedient as He went about His father’s business. He was a miracle worker as He turned water into wine and fed the 5000. He was a healer as He restored sight, health, and life. He was a teacher to the one, like the woman at the well, and to the multitudes like those on the Mount of Olives. He was forgiving to the woman taken in adultery. He was kind and compassionate when he wept with Martha. He was a servant when He washed His apostles’ feet. He was humble, submitting to the will of His Father when He took upon Himself the pain and the sins of all.
Learning we can do.
But taking His yoke upon us? Becoming like Him? His yoke is easy and His burden is light?
This may seem a little daunting, seeing as the Savior Himself said: “I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven, is perfect.” (3 Nephi 12:48)
And when we read this, we kind of think this exhortation may be out of our reach in this mortal lifetime. But is it? Maybe in the strictest sense of the word “perfect,” yes. But what if we look a little deeper?
We know that we are spirit sons and daughters of the Eternal God, which means that Divinity is woven into the threads of our very beings.
Which could mean that the seeds of every perfected Christlike attribute are planted, like little seeds in our souls.
Some of these seeds have already grown into strong healthy plants, and are operating nearly perfectly in our lives. Others, may just be tiny sprouts. Still others are lying dormant in the rich, fertile soil of our hearts, waiting for the right moment to break through and grow. So what if that moment is now?
What if we were to cast off the layers of doubt that say to become like the Savior is a nearly impossible endeavor? What if we were to simply believe?
Believe that underneath all our layers of the natural man and the trials and deception and fog, there is a brightly-lit spirit created by God Himself.
Believe that our spirits are powerful and pure and fully capable of taking the reigns.
Believe that the seeds of Christ are planted within us.
Believe that all we need to do is peel back the layers and let the Sunlight in. So the seeds can sprout and reach for the Light and grow.
Believe that maybe His yoke really is easy and His burden really is light. Because He has all power and grace to lift not only His side of the oxen yoke, but ours as well.
It could be possible.
We could find peace unto our souls as we uncover who we really are….
{To Consider: What quality of Christ have you had a hard time demonstrating? Is there one you have often brushed aside, assuming you would never be able to develop it? Look for this seed within you. Because it is there. It just needs His Light and His Living Water.}
