6 Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. 7 And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.--Philippians 4:6-7, AMPC

As we mature in Christ, we realize that many things that used to bother us are really no big deal, because the LORD is with us, and He is our sweet Satisfaction and Reward--no matter the circumstances!

Today, I'm having to sign a lease (to keep the rent from going up again!) for yet another year in the city, where we've rented for much longer than I'd thought we ever would. It's a nice enough place, with just the right amount of room for us (since our daughter went to college then got married), and convenient. Convenience is the main reason we moved here from the country years ago. 

This is disappointing to me in the natural, for I thought for sure we would have acquired a house and land of our own by now. 

Shame and regret and disappointment--even grief--used to attack me about such, for I'd been raised by parents who were raised in big families, worked hard, somehow never borrowed money, built a house of their own over 52 years ago, and paid it off quickly, while they paid cash for all their nice vehicles and everything else. They gave my brother and I a really good life materially. 

Really, though, this is no big deal.   I am blessed, and I know that millions (Billons?) of people would love to live in this place, even those who have huge mansions and lots of money!

I've had to learn--as Father God started teaching me over a decade ago--to "take the emotion out of it and just do it."

He has been working with me to reveal hurts and things that have held me back and caused negative reactions (which rarely help anyone or any situation, but usually only cause more stress and hurt), so I could confess them, forgive myself and others I'd been blaming (blame can be subtle, and can definitely defile relationships and erode trust), for not having "done better by now". 

While developing a relationship with the LORD--and working through the fact that He, Who knows all and sees all, and loves us all anyway, is not disappointed nor mad at me for not "doing better" by now--I've learned a lot about how He sees things.

I think this is the root of most of our performance pressure junk, concerning ourselves and others, and I think it actually goes through our bloodline back to Adam and Eve, where they (like I have, too many times. DUH on my part!) chose to believe a talking snake over the LORD God Who had created and blessed them, and provided all they needed for an abundant, wonderful life!  

I think the root of us feeling bad (or maybe it's just me!) about not meeting goals is fear that we are not good enough for God to love us. 

Yes, God is holy, and lives in unapproachable light! But that, my dear reader, is exactly why we need Jesus--because otherwise, we are eternally separated from Him, forever, and no "black hole" could ever compare with that!

The LORD knew we'd mess up. Thus the dangers of a free will. However, He also knew He'd have the ultimate Rescue Plan--Jesus, His one and only Son, to be born of a virgin, live as a human tempted in every way but without sin, to die on the cross for us over 2,000 years ago, shedding His pure blood and taking all the whippings and ridicule and pain and agony and sin debt that we should have paid for--but could not (John 3:14-17)! 

8 But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us. 9 Therefore, since we are now justified (acquitted, made righteous, and brought into right relationship with God) by Christ’s blood, how much more [certain is it that] we shall be saved by Him from the indignation and wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more [certain], now that we are reconciled, that we shall be saved (daily delivered from sin’s dominion) through His [resurrection] life. 11 Not only so, but we also rejoice and exultingly glory in God [in His love and perfection] through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom we have now received and enjoy [our] reconciliation.--Romans 5:9-11, AMPC

Hallelujah! He has been teaching me the truth, and helping me to think of things the way He does. There is great freedom and peace in that, and this is why He gives us His Word--so we can learn to let His Word wash our thinking (and talking and doing!), and have victorious, fruitful, peaceful, joyful lives of freedom, grace, and love!

31 So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples. 32 And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.--John 8:31-32, AMPC

A few months ago, I was sort of fretting that we still hadn't moved and that we weren't earning more money, etc. The LORD spoke to me by His Holy Spirit, and He sounded just slightly irritated, as He said to my heart, "Stop measuring success by what it looks like. You are in the world, but not of it!"

Hallelujah!

I had to repent for thinking like the carnal world, which measures success by looks and money and power (which are, the LORD pointed out to me a few years ago, what the enemy lost when he rebelled against the LORD and was immediately cast out of Heaven, from his position as one of the highest angels!

For those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires set their minds on and pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and seek those things which gratify the [Holy] Spirit.--Romans 8:5, AMPC

So, the LORD has been helping me with what the world calls a “paradigm shift”—learning to think differently about situations, about life. Hallelujah!

That is, of course, the whole reason we need the Word of God—to wash our souls (minds, free wills, emotions) from the cursed, dark, sensual, wrong thinking of the world, to be transformed by the freedom and light of true life in the Kingdom of God!

Hallelujah, our Daddy God (Who is our Father once we have chosen to admit we need a Savior and have believed in the blood of Jesus Christ His Son, shed on the cross over 2,000 years ago, which is the only way we can be truly born again and have a secure and Heavenly future!) continuously helps us to think like Him.

We are not born knowing how to be thankful. We have to learn that. God commands us to be thankful in His Word, but it is still a process, although He helps us.  However, especially in these crazy times, the more thankful we are, the happier we will be!

It works. I've proved it to myself! I used to be very unthankful (and the LORD calls being unthankful "unholy"! Yuck!)

He gives us strength and blesses us with peace.

He will help us to choose to be happy, thankful, and content. 

He is our Prince of Peace, and gives us true peace, that a big house and lots of land and money could never give us!

So let us rejoice, realize the things that had and may try to bug us are, compared to eternity and our glorious lives in Christ (and by the way, He is building each of us a magnificent mansion in Heaven!), the negatives are "no big deal"!

It may take a while to process the heavier ones, but Jesus is the One Who heals our broken hearts and helps us to rejoice again! He turns our mourning into dancing! I am living proof of that!)

Heaven and earth will perish and pass away, but My words will not perish or pass away.--Mark 13:31, AMPC

As I loved to be reminded, and as He spoke to my heart some time ago, "You never have to be afraid, for I am with you always." Hallelujah!

In addition, we are assured, as Genesis 50:20 and Romans 8:28 say, that our dear faithful, truly awesome Daddy God is working all things together for our best and His glory! 

²⁰ As for you, you thought evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring about that many people should be kept alive, as they are this day.--Genesis 50:20, AMPC

So, as the LORD has taught me, a house is not a home. Our homes are the lives we live in Jesus Christ our Savior and LORD and Best Friend Forever; and our lives that are blessed to have loving family and friends, and productive, positive work that brings us satisfaction while accomplishing something worthwhile. 

Hallelujah!

I know that my God has been so very faithful and good and gracious and merciful to me through the years--thus I'm alive and flourishing, and life gets better daily (Psalm 23:5; Ephesians 3:20)!

I also know that, when the time is right, my Father has an excellent house and land for my husband and myself.  We are slamming debt (which is wisdom for anyone, especially true Believers). 

We are faithful tithers and givers, and live according to His Word (which includes repenting and making changes in thoughts and behavior as His Spirit and Word convicts us!), and the core of our lives is to seek His Kingdom expanded.

We know, as we do Matthew 6:33--to seek first His Kingdom (His way of doing and thinking) and His righteousness--that all these things (including the right house and land, and at a supernatural deal!) will be added to us. So Hallelujah! Renting is no big deal. 

The big deal is that the Spirit of God is with us always, and that the awesome LORD of Heaven and earth cares for us, regards us, and allows us to experience Him, including partnering with Him to get His will done on earth.

No mere earthly thing or experience could ever compete with that! 

Listen to these amazingly encouraging words from the Word:

So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one. None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.--Romans 8:35,37--The Message

So, the LORD has been transforming me and helping me to choose to realize the bad junk is no big deal, and to focus on all the good! There is always so much good that He gives us every day! 

He will help us learn to be content and thankful, and then our lives will get richer in many ways--mostly, the priceless ones that money could never buy!

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]--John 16:33, AMPC

Through books, courses, presentations, service, prayer, worship, and more, Tonja and her husband live to exalt God. Her series for girls, P.O.W.E.R. GIRL ADVENTURES, is now out (books I-V), along with LEGACY; YOUR HOLY HEALTH: VISIONS OF THE KING, and more. See the "River Rain Creative" YT channel.