The Joy of Knowing You
The Peace of Trusting You
The Assurance Because of You

The Joy of Knowing You:
Seeking approval of others can be an ominous task.  What if we say the wrong thing, act a wrong way, will they still like me, will I get the promotion.  A talk show host sent a reporter onto the street to question passerby's if they had a family fight over the recent Christmas holiday, almost everyone said that they had. 

Once we know Christ the Spirit reveals to us the "futility of pettiness".  Why do we spend so much time and energy on so many inconsequential things? Jesus says I will keep you, I am the same, yesterday, today and forever.  I will never leave you, I will never forsake you.  When we know this, when this becomes a part of us, we can have confidence that who we are matters and that what we are is secure in the creator of the universe.  The little things (petty) become just that.

Romans 8 14 - 17    14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to son ship and by him we cry, “Abba, (Daddy) Father.” 16  The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

The Peace of Trusting You:

We are told in Scripture to do the best we can each and every day.  When we get stressed and things get too big to handle is when our very best seems to not be enough.  Perceived expectations at work, socially, in relationships even put on us by us, these can be greater than we could ever hope to bare.  They crush us and weigh us down.  The expectation is not the problem the perception is.

Jesus said my Peace I leave with you.  Notice He is LEAVING it with us.  He is not taking it with him because, guess what, HE NEVER EVER LEAVES ! ! !  The peace the world offers is temporal at best.  It lasts as long as everyone agrees or the power that enforces it remains.  The world's peace is a state of existence, God's peace is a gift that is always available.  The question is, will you accept it and then rest (trust) in it?

John 14: 25-27  25  “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26  But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

The Assurance Because of You:

Value, Self Worth, by what yardstick do we value ourselves?  Sociologically we know the answer to this question is arbitrary.  Where we live, what our culture values all dictate how valuable we perceive ourselves. The following is a web page that lists in order the 10 countries where obese women are considered the Pinnacle of female attractiveness.  http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-countries-celebrating-female-obesity.php

If the standard is so fickle and our perception so subjective what can we trust.  Our value is in knowing that tomorrow we will be better (closer) than today.  My value is not based on my extraordinary efforts and how those efforts are perceived by others, my value is based on how I am valued by the Father.

How can I lose hope when the One who first loved me has a future for me that I can't even BEGIN to imagine.  All my tomorrows will be better than my todays and yesterdays.  Those aren't my thoughts, those are God's truths.

Phil 1: 3-10  3  I thank my God every time I remember you. 4  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6  being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
7  It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8  God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
9  And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10  so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.