Jehovah Shalom - The Lord Our Peace Ep. 8
In this Episode we will talk about how emotions should not lead our decisions as we learn how David almost let his anger for what he thought was an injustice lead him down a bad path. Diana allowed her emotions to lead her down a bad path.What started out as a few minor mis-turns that could have been corrected with wiser decisions and godly counsel, turned into decades of a wasted life. Her own life. But how do we stop the insanity?
To keep doing the same thing over and over, and somehow are expecting a different result. Maybe the answer has something to do with our secret weapon? Come listen and find out!
Diana’s Notes
Hey, Everybody!!! Welcome to Heartfelt Conversations with Diana.
At the ages of 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20; I was living a life of rebellion. I was wanting justice, and I was very confused by who I thought God should be (Who I envisioned God to be) and what I was being taught in church. I needed a relationship and I was being fed religion and the confusion came out as rebellion. I was rebelling against abuse, neglect. I was rebellious because my soul was wounded. I needed help, guidance, advice, but the right kind of advice and guidance. I needed something no human was capable of - and instead of receiving the right information I was given bad information. Any advice you get without first coming from the wisdom only God can provide, I would take that to be bad information. It might come from a place of good intentions, but that person's life experience and own bias is within that advice. There is no other person who loves you enough to put you above everything!
We are picking up from last week where we left off getting ready to look at a big ole pickle David was about to get himself and his men in.
David almost let his anger for what he thought was an injustice, lead him down a bad path. I allowed my emotions and feelings to unsettle my soul and my spirit and lead me down a bad path.
What started out as a few minor mis-turns that could have been easily corrected with wiser decisions and godly counsel, turned into decades of a wasted life in complete turmoil. My life.
But how do we stop the insanity? I am sure you know what the definition of insanity is: To keep doing the same thing expecting a different result.
Today I would like to introduce you to the name of God that has the power to impact your life in the most beautiful way.
Meet Jehovah Shalom: The Lord Our Peace
Without wisdom, discernment, love and absolute, resolute ,trust in the Lord there is no room for peace to be at home.
We will always try to fix things our way, if we don’t trust GOD completely
Proverbs 3:5-8 in the NIV Translation:
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.
This is how The Contemporary English Version reads:
Proverbs 3:5-8:
With all your heart you must trust the LORD and not your own judgment. Always let Him lead you, and He will clear the road for you to follow. Don’t ever think that you are wise enough, but respect the LORD and stay away from evil.
Our emotions, our feelings and the influence of other people's emotions and the state of the world's emotions can cause us to make poor decisions. Maybe ones that feel good or make us feel in power, but we are deceiving ourselves and falling right into the enemies trap if we rely on our own wisdom and not fully lean on God’s wisdom. To do anything else will always be foolish.
Do you want to have peace in your life and know you are making the right choices?
Learn to follow the Lord. Just like it said in the Contemporary English Version.
Always let - (keyword) - l e t, let Him lead you, and what happens when you allow God to lead your life? He will clear the road for you to follow.
Do you often feel like your life is in turbulence, there is a disturbance in the force. LOL Anxiety, strife, stress. A lot of us live in a constant state of hypertension, but there is a way to have peace in your life. A way to face trials and struggles, failures, disappointments, hurts, rejection, without losing peace. Inner peace that can only come and be sustained through faith, trust and confidence that God is in control. He may be working quietly behind the scenes, and it feels like He is nowhere to be found, that He has abandoned you. But that is where TRUST comes in. The enemy wants you off balance so you can’t rely on your feelings, emotions, you must learn to follow and trust your faith, not in the world, not in other people, not in yourself, but in God.
Settle it with yourself right now - God IS in control. Trust Him and then learn to live the life He has for you. Which does not include constant stress and worry.
Jesus Himself, The Word made flesh, came to give us this kind of peace.
John 1:14 in the scriptures tells us:
“And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.”
Jesus never was rude to those in need. The hurting, the lowly and oppressed. He came to give them life, hope, healing, respect, deliverance. And when we learn to follow the footsteps of Jesus, because He leads us closer to the Father, we will find like we discussed in Episode 3: Jehovah Rohi - The Lord My Shepherd He leads us beside calm waters. He directs our steps because we choose to follow Him as He Shepherds us along our journey. Even when the lions and bears come, even when the storms come and the boat feels like it is sinking, we can not let there be a disturbance in our spirit. We must KNOW that God IS in control and we learn to trust by following.
He leads, we follow. So simple, but we hate it, we fight against it! And I get it!
But I could bang my head into the wall now about how pigheaded I really was and didn’t need to be. God does not want to rule you, change you, lord over you. You will find He can help you to be the best you you can be with inner peace and strength that comes ironically,when we surrender and realize Who is actually in charge and learn to rest in Him.
We will find peace when we stop wrestling against God. Jesus tells us in
John 14 verse 1
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled, Trust in God and trust also in Me” . That is when we will find peace. When we trust God to be God and we don’t make our way, we follow the right way. We follow Jesus
When we fight God, we are fighting against our own good, joy, fulfillment, internal peace, Hakuna Matata kinda life. Ain’t no worries, for the rest of our days. Borrowing from Lion King. LOL
Jesus goes on to say , reading from the NLT John 14:27
“I AM leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world can not give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
When do we become troubled or afraid? Agitated, frustrated, surrender the peace Jesus died to give us??? We lose it, surrender it, when we turn to anything other than God for the supply. There is absolutely nothing in this world that will bring you long lasting eternal peace, other than trusting the Creator of the World Who is Jehovah Shalom, The Lord Our Peace. He is Peace.
The Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6 in the AMP Bible:
For to us a Child shall be born, to us a Son shall be given; And the government shall be upon His shoulder, And His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Proverbs 3:5-8 are instructions to all of us, not some of us. Every person should seek for and receive their wisdom from God which will produce the Peace of God in us, but only if we are rooted in Him. Don’t ever think you or another person will ever be wise enough.
There are a lot of things that the Great Bible Heroes of the old testament did that can twist our brains today. God can almost seem hypocritical in that these people are considered great, so then sin must be okay because God used them to do good things, mighty miraculous things for Him. Right? Wrong! God is not okay with sin. He was never okay with any of the sin the people He worked through committed. And oftentimes when we study the full history and story of the person , we will frequently see where they missed out on a great blessing God wanted for them but their sin against God prevented it. God still loved them, still worked through them, but there is always a consequence to our sin. To our actions against God. That is what sin is. Against God and His way of being and doing.
David had learned to follow the wisdom of God and learned to rely on God for all his needs, wisdom, discernment, provision, protection, counsel - David sought God for instruction as a young boy and when David followed God’s wisdom to direct his steps, he would be spared going off on the wrong direction away from God. Just like us, David didn’t always do the right thing. He was still a human, a person who had emotions and feelings. Pride, arrogance, self-centeredness, these are emotions that can lead to sin when we let them trip us up rather than following God’s path that He already smoothed out for us.
But we have to be wise and not lean on our own understanding, we have to have steadfast patience and endurance giving God time to work out all the kinks and we have to have trust in Him and place our confidence in Him and learn to be at peace internally. We rush into things sometimes, and I don’t know about you all, but just about every time I make a hurried, rushed decision while my emotions are in control, is when I usually make the worst decisions.
There were about 15 years I believe from the time Samuel anointed David to be king and when David actually became king.
2 Samuel 5:4 reads:
David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in all.
I am not sure what the exact age David was when Samuel anointed him to be king, but some believe he was around 13-15 years of age, and maybe about 15 or so, when his dad, Jesse, sent him to the battle line to bring supplies when king Saul and his brothers were being taunted by Goliath.
But a lot happened to David in between the time Samuel anointed him to be the next king , and the day David actually became king.
The bible tells us in the first verse of 1 Samuel 25 that Samuel died and the whole country came to his funeral. During this time when Samuel had died,once again David found himself on the run from king Saul, who wanted David dead. And there was a wealthy man named Nabal, who was getting ready to shear his sheep,it was sheep shearing time and Nabal was gonna (make some more money) David and his men were hiding from Saul near the flock and apparently had been looking out for this mans shepherds and sheep while they were hiding,so David sent some of his men to this wealthy man to let them know they had been watching over his interest.My opinion is that David, once being a young shepherd himself knew the dangers of being out in the wilderness trying to protect a flock of sheep against predators. But David and his men were low on supplies and since they had been watching over this wealthy man’s income basically, David figured the dude would share a little. Be neighborly and such. 🙂
Reading from 1 Samuel 25:4- in the Message Bible beginning with verse 4
David, out in the backcountry, heard that Nabal was shearing his sheep and sent ten of his young men off with these instructions:
Go to Carmel and approach Nabal. Greet him in my name. “peace ! Life and peace to you. Peace to your household, peace to everyone here! I heard that it’s sheep-shearing time. Here’s the point: When your shepherds were camped near us we didn’t take advantage of them. They didn’t lose a thing all the time they were with us in Carmel. Ask your young men- they’ll tell you. What I’m asking is that you be generous with my men- share the feast! Give whatever your heart tells you to your servants and to me, David your son -”
So David’s men went and delivered this message to Nabal and this is his response to David -
Picking back up in verse 9… Nabal tore into them. “Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? The country is full of runaway servants these days. Do you think I am going to take good bread and wine and meat freshly butchered for my sheep shearers and give it to men I’ve never laid eyes on? Who knows where they’ve come from.
Nabal was selfish and full of pride and arrogance. God does not like it when we treat people unfairly. God is a God of Mercy, but He is a God of Justice as well. God is not selfish. He did not even withhold His Own Son from us. He has spared nothing, so who do we think we are to treat people disrespectfully, with no human compassion or concern?
If you would like a little peace in your life, maybe start with learning how to be a peacemaker, “bringer”, bring it! Bring peace.
David brought peace to Nabal and Even though Nabal rejected David’s peace, God saw it. God saw the motive of David’s heart and knew David was “asking” in peace and later God had David’s back for his humility and obedience.
So the men that David had sent in “peace” came back to him and told him how insulting Nabal was to them and David, and that made David angry. His pride was injured, he must have felt some embarrassment to have told his men to go to Nabal making a humble request knowing that God had anointed him to be king one day, and you are hiding from the king you are to replace and that king wants you dead. You are tired, weary, hungry, supplies are low. You have been trying to do the right thing and not take matters into your own hands and trust God with His timing and now this! This man wants to insult God’s future king and not even give them a bite to eat. He had to be furious! Outraged! And he almost got himself into a bad situation because he allowed his emotions to direct his steps. This is the pickle David almost got himself into.
Listen to 1 Samuel 25: verses 12 and 13
David’s men got out of there and went back and told David what he had said, David said, “Strap on your swords!” They all strapped on their swords, David and his men, and set out four hundred of them. Two hundred stayed behind to guard the camp.
David told his men to gird up, to strap on their swords. He was ready to kick somebody’s butt, and if he couldn’t go after Saul then it might as well be this little twirp. HAHA, Okay, that would be my thinking.
David had been disrespected and basically spit on so he was a little riled up. I wanted justice in my life, but I did it the wrong way, and when we allow our feelings and attitude to influence us, we end up living without peace and not having justice but revenge. Both belong to the Lord. Vengeance is His and Justice is Who He is.
David, who was hiding for his life, came in “peace”. That is what we should be seeking. If we would all get our attitude in line with God’s heart for every person, then we could actually live in peace. But people are greedy, prideful, arrogant which is why we can not look to our own wisdom for justice. We are flawed and corrupt by life’s experience and our own moral code.
Let’s be honest, how many of us have had a bad day, created an atmosphere of edginess and uncomfortableness because we were angry over an injustice or what we felt was an injustice and everybody around us was going to know we were not happy!! The minute our emotions and feelings rule and take over,is the minute we lose the ability to seek God’s wisdom and we lose our peace. We create a storm in our own spirit.
David came in peace expecting to find a reasonable man who would be thankful for the extra protection over his own livelihood, but instead of returning peace and gratitude back to David, Nabal was not a reasonable man. He was not a man of good character. The message bible tells us in 1 Samuel 25: 3 that Nabal’s name meant fool. And that he was brutish and mean. The CEV translation says he was rough and mean.
Next week we will talk about Nabal’s wife Abigail and the fate of poor Nabal.
In the meantime, let’s slow down our pace in life just a smidge, take in a deep breath, breathe out and let a little peace settle into your stiff, edgy body. Why, so we can actually enjoy each day and not live for the weekend. So to speak. This is the only life you have, so make a choice to not be grumpy or touchy or distracted. Be in your day. Be glad you have this day to live and find something to be grateful about.
Seek after the kind of peace only Jesus has to offer. Don’t let your feathers get ruffled today. Start today with a grateful heart and let gratitude be our guide for the day.
Let’s seek the Jesus kinda peace: God brought me to this verse a few years ago when I was really hurting and wanted justice. I wanted to voice my hurt and seek to let someone know how deeply they had wounded me, broke my trust; and in my prayers seeking God’s wisdom and help to control my feelings so that I did not strap on my sword, like David, God gave me
1 Peter 2:23
When He was insulted ( he being Jesus) When He was insulted, He did not answer back with an insult; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but placed His hopes in God, the Righteous Judge.
We don’t have to be rude and selfish and hard and try to get revenge and trade peace and joy for anger and a bad attitude.
Let’s ask God to help us not be Nabal’s anymore in being stingy, rude, cruel or seek revenge in the name of justice. But rather - Let’s choose to be kind, generous, thoughtful, caring people who look to share what God has blessed us with. If you have extra things, maybe give it to a neighbor or coworker who is in need of something you have. If you are blessed financially and are aware of a family who could use help with food, or rent, or heat. Share. We don’t have to do everything for everyone, David did not tell Nabal or suggest to Nabal that they deserved half of all his goods, he asked whatever was in his heart to give. Ask God, what is in my heart to give. Time, friendship, a smile, a prayer. There is something we can all contribute to the community of people. Of life. In our churches, in our schools, places of employment, family, neighborhoods.
Let’s not be influenced by this self-centered, self-focused world and be stingy, small, greedy, self-important. Angry, cruel, hardened, people, like Nabal. Like I could have continued to be. I made foolish decisions that created a lot of turmoil not only in my life but everyone around me. My children. My family.
We need to learn how to be a people, individuals, young and old, rich and poor, strong, weak, black, red, yellow, white, every shape, size, degree, decree or pedigree; whatever our lot is in this world - we all need to be seeking God, His Kingdom. Receiving Jesus as our Savior and the Holy Spirit as our Helper, Comforter, Counselor, Advisor, Life Coach! Did you know if Jesus is your Savior you have a lifetime coach living on the inside of you.
John 14:26 in the AMP Bible reads:
But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor-Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name (in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf), He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything I have told you.
You see, God does not expect us to behave the way we should on our own, living by the Kingdom of God is a new way of thinking and believing. That is why He is patient, gracious and merciful towards us. And He gave us a secret weapon Satan does not want us to know about. The Holy Spirit
The bible tells us that once Samuel anointed David to be king the Spirit of the Lord was on him.
1 Samuel 16:13 in the NIV reads:
So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David.
God’s Spirit was with David, guiding, leading, directing. David was not perfect, but God is. Don’t try to do life without God. If you want to have some peace in your life. To know that when injustice comes, people take advantage of you, are rude, hurtful, damaging. When you are in survival mode just to get through the week, just know that you can learn how to have a spirit-led, peace filled life, even in the midst of bumpy roads and low supplies. God will always provide when we let go of our emotions and stop being led by them.
Romans 8:31-32 says
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
This secret weapon, this life coach of yours ( or can be yours), has the exact same power as the power that raised Jesus from the dead, the power of God! Jesus defeated the chains of sin and eternal death once and for all! ONCE AND FOR FOREVER. FOR ALL OF TIME.
Romans 8: 11 says:
The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead - He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living in you.
Do you have things in your life that need to be resurrected? Brought back to life.. Do you need to have new life breathed into your body? There is only one way to have true life and that is to be made alive in Christ. A new life. A new way of thinking and being and doing. Look at the world. Does it look stable and peaceful and reliable to you? In the midst of chaos and confusion, deceit and delusion, I chose to believe in the Creator of our world and to seek after His peace. With Jesus as our Savior , we can come to know, experience and have the kind of peace that only Jehovah Shalom can provide.
When we have Jesus, we receive the exact same Spirit that rose Him from the grave living and at work within us. That is powerful and in order to live life the way God desires for us to live, we have to get out of our heads and get into that same Spirit living in us. The power for the exact life you were created to live is in learning how to follow the Holy Spirit.
So as we wrap up today, if you are struggling to hold onto peace, to feel empowered, if you are edgy and ready to kick some butt to blow off steam, I suggest that you listen to some of my favorite songs I list each week on the website that help me get out of my head and focus on the greatness and goodness of God; or develop your own playlist.
This week, along with the normal few songs, I added a few of my “dance it off and be grateful” songs. These are when I am feeling blah, frumpy, off, edgy. I put these on and dance and praise the Lord until I get out of my head and remember I have a lot to be grateful for!
(Prayer of gratitude and peace taken from Hebrews 13:20-21, 25)
And now, may the God of Peace (Who is the Author and the Giver of peace), Who brought again from among the dead our Lord Jesus, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood (that sealed, ratified,) the everlasting agreement, Strengthen (complete, perfect) and make you what you ought to be and equip you with everything good that you may carry out His will; (while He Himself) works in you and accomplishes that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ ( the Messiah); to Whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Grace (God’s favor and spiritual blessing) be with you all. Amen.
Songs to inspire you
Kari Jobe - Keeper Of My Heart (Live)
Mighty to Save - Hillsong Worship
In Control - Hillsong Worship
Songs to dance to or fill up your joy with:
for KING & COUNTRY - joy. (Lyric Video) (4K)
Sanctus Real - Promises
Raise A Hallelujah (Official Lyric Video) - Bethel Music, Jonathan & Melissa Helser | VICTORY
Scriptures from this week's Podcast
Proverbs 3:5-8: Contemporary English Version
With all your heart you must trust the LORD and not your own judgment. Always let Him lead you, and He will clear the road for you to follow. Don’t ever think that you are wise enough, but respect the LORD and stay away from evil.
John 1:14:
“And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.”
John 14:1:
“ Don’t let your hearts be troubled, Trust in God and trust also in Me”
John 14:27 NLT:
“I AM leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world can not give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
Isaiah 9:6 AMP Bible:
For to us a Child shall be born, to us a Son shall be given; And the government shall be upon His shoulder, And His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
1 Peter 2:23:
When He was insulted ( he being Jesus) When He was insulted, He did not answer back with an insult; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but placed His hopes in God, the Righteous Judge.
John 14:26 AMP Bible:
But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor-Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name (in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf), He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything I have told you.
1 Samuel 16:13 NIV:
So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David.
Romans 8:31-32:
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
Romans 8:11:
The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead - He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living in you.
Hebrews 13:20-21, 25):
And now, may the God of Peace (Who is the Author and the Giver of peace), Who brought again from among the dead our Lord Jesus, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood (that sealed, ratified,) the everlasting agreement, Strengthen (complete, perfect) and make you what you ought to be and equip you with everything good that you may carry out His will; (while He Himself) works in you and accomplishes that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ ( the Messiah); to Whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Grace (God’s favor and spiritual blessing) be with you all. Amen.
* Hebrews 10: 36:
For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away and enjoy to the full what is promised.
Additional Resources
Diana’s Home Church:
Valley Family Church - Pastor’s Eric and Alexa Jones
www.valleyfamilychurch.org
Other recommended Jesus-centered churches who teach the True Word of God:
Elevation Church - Steven Furtick
https://elevationchurch.org/
Joseph Prince Ministries - Joseph Prince
https://www.josephprince.org/
Joyce Meyer Ministries
https://joycemeyer.org/