Just Continue That Thought...

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus from his book, The Way of the Warrior (p. 6). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) It seems that worry and fear don’t go with peace. Erwin says, “Jesus tells us, ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.’ (John 14:27) With simplicity and wisdom, he cuts between the two things that steal our peace, for the greatest enemies of the peace within are worry and fear.” He goes on, “All around me I find troubled hearts—men and women drowning in worry. We have become so adept at worrying that we have created an endless number of names to describe the nuances. Whether we use the language of stress or anxiety or find ourselves in the depths of depression or despair, worry is the source of so much of our hearts’ troubles. Worry projects a negative view of the world around us. Worry projects a negative future. Worry is an act of faith. It is a deep-seated belief...

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus from his book, The Way of the Warrior (p. 1). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) That is so true, isn’t it? Erwin says, “The warrior is not ready for battle until they have come to know peace. For all the wars that have ever been waged from the beginning of time were first born in a person’s heart. We have a history of war because our souls are at war. We have conflicts because our hearts are conflicted. Every war, every conflict, every act of violence exists because our souls rage. Our only hope for peace is to win the battle within. Every war against another is a war that never should have been fought. It should have been won long before. It should have been won from within. This is our first battle. The war to end all wars is the battle for the human heart. This is the war we must win. To know peace is the way of the warrior.” He goes on, “It is impossible to...

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus from his book, The Way of the Warrior (p. xiv). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) Our lives can be in such turmoil, but peace is possible.   It really is. Erwin says, “The struggle is real. The battle lines have been drawn, and it is a battle for our souls. I chose the language of The Way of the Warrior not because I desire to romanticize war but because I hope to help us find a pathway to peace. This war must be won one person at a time, one heart at a time, one life at a time. “This, by the way, is the way of Jesus. This is how he came to bring peace on earth. While others hoped he would call out an army, incite a rebellion, and use his power to topple an empire, he chose a different way. He did not surrender to the status quo nor succumb to the inevitable rule of oppressive powers. He had absolute confidence that his revolution would prevail. He knew the...