Our mind is a battlefield. We need to remember that we need to be mindful of what we are listening to, watching, and thinking about. This verse shares how we can experience peace. Our mind needs to be governed by the Spirit. This makes me think about the fruits of the Spirit- love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We need to watch what we think about. When we replay our old hurts, focus on ourselves, or wanting more, we are not at peace. To experience peace, we need to forgive and not constantly think about all the wrongs we have done or the wrongs people have done. 

This is something I am going to focus on this year. Some people like to focus on a word for the year, I think one word I would like to focus on this year is peace. I want to seek a closer relationship with Jesus. I want to start focusing my mind on things that are good, joyful, loving, peaceful, kind, and more. I want to enjoy the peace that only the Lord can give. He can give us peace and comfort when we are worried. He can give us peace and comfort when we are angry. He can give us peace and comfort during the hard times in our lives. 

 This is one of my favorite Bible verses. I want to encourage you to read this verse aloud. This verse is so powerful. As I read this verse, it is comforting to know that we can be forgiven. The Lord loves us so much that He is faithful to forgive. We need to confess our sins. Today and the past week have been eye opening for me. I have learned a lot about myself. I have learned how holding on to past sin and hurts has caused so much pain. I am so thankful that I don't have to live in pain. You don't have to live in pain either. It doesn't matter what sin you or I have committed in the past, once we confess this sin to Jesus and turn to Him, He is faithful and will forgive us. Remember all the promises in the Bible are true. 

 I plan to read these verses each morning to remember that I can have peace. My peace comes from Jesus my Lord. I can forgive others and myself. When I think about what others have done to me, I will remember this verse. If the Lord forgives me, then I need to forgive others.  If you would like a free Bible verse wall art of the verses, please join my free newsletter. Subscribers to my newsletter get a monthly encouragement and free resources.  

 This is a verse that I want to memorize this year. Close your eyes for just a moment and think about how the Lord has forgiven you. If you haven't felt His forgiveness, please know that He stands and knocks at the door. You can feel His peace and forgiveness. I use to think that when I messed up, I needed to do somehting to make up for it. I needed to do something to get people to like me again or make up for my mistakes. 

 It is comforting to know that I don't have to work to earn forgiveness. Jesus will forgive; all I need to do is ask and repent from what I am doing wrong. Since He forgives us, then we can forgive others. We can feel freedom, peace. This year, I am choosing to lay down my own sin, bad habits, and hurts. I am laying it in Jesus' hands. In Him, I can be set free. I don't have to hold onto my mistakes or the pain of what others have done to me. I can enjoy the peace of forgiveness. You can enjoy the peace of forgiveness, too. 

 In this verse, we can read about steps that the Lord shared with the nation of Israel. I think these steps are steps that we can learn from today. 

1.   humble themselves 

2.  pray and seek 

3.  turn from their wicked ways 

  After the His people have done these steps, He shares how He will forgive their sin and heal their land. This verse is comforting to know that He loves us. He loves us so much that when we are sinning, doing wrong, He wants us to seek Him. He wants to forgive us. Jesus is love. He wants a relationship with us. If you have not experienced the peace of a relationship with Jesus, you can call on His name today. It is easy as ABC. A- Admit that you are a sinner. B- Believe that Jesus was born of a virgin, He died for on the cross for everyone's sins, and three days later He came back to life. C-Confess Jesus as your Lord and Savior and choose each day to live for Him. Choose each day to grow closer to Him. 

  For this year, join me as we forgive ourselves and forgive others.  Join me as we forgive ourselves and others to feel the freedom and peace the Lord can give us as we walk with Him.