“Let your gentleness be known to all men; the Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God—and the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:5-7

Representing Him

I’m privileged at my workplace to be a peacemaker. Sometimes people come into my office, out of the blue, and vehemently vent about others. It gets overwhelming. I don’t want their poison vomited all over me. But I know God has placed me there and I’m a “safe place” to express their hard day. I pray for wisdom as I know the Lord will guide me in His peace with the right words to calm and redirect their thoughts. He helps me to reason and see where the other person is coming from.  I pray I don’t take sides, but empathize and give right perspective, and not enter into the sin of gossip. It wears on me; in my mind I’m saying, “Really?” I pray the outcome points to God’s good, and His glory!

We are to be salt and light. I know sometimes by the looks on others’ faces, I’ve expressed myself harshly to get my point across. I know in my heart “the look” is from the Lord too. Whoops! I need to apologize and let it go. “Let (His) gentleness be made known to all.”

Day-to-day life stuff is hard. As I was typing the above verse, I first wrote “with” prayer and then re-read the verse; it actually says “by” prayer. Of course it is! Prayer is not just a thing I “use” when troubled or needy—it’s my lifeline! “By” prayer. It allows me to enter a different place: God’s thoughts and peace, His perspective and gentleness, above all the worldly stuff swirling around, praying with thanksgiving which gives the right attitude.

“Be my strong refuge to which I may resort continually. You have given the commandment to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress” (Psalm 71:3).

The Lord is our “vacation” we can resort to continually throughout our day, whatever happens. He has gone before us to be Salt and Light. We represent a much bigger purpose. God has given us the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, and guard our thoughts and words.

Each day is a gift given as we are privileged to share our Lord’s glory and peace with our needy world. We are not our own, we were brought with a price—the most precious thing in the universe: Jesus’ blood. The Son of God laid down His life, gave all, and suffered all, that we might live and know Him personally! Overwhelming Love.

“Lord, may we represent You well today because You are the way, the truth and the life. There’s no other way to live. In You only do we live and move and have our being. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”