P.E.A.C.E.

Several years ago I came up with the acronym P.E.A.C.E while trying to find a simple way to create a mission statement for my life.  I was about 10 years sober and had just gone through a very painful (self-induced) experience that led to a mental, physical and spiritual relapse.  I was feeling bankrupt all over again except this time I wasn’t using (going insane and not using creates a whole new level of craziness).  I was dipping in and out of paranoia and my “control freak” personality had overtaken me.  After calling my sponsor and attending lots of AA meetings I was able to get back on track. 

Somewhere I had forgotten the seriousness of the disease of addiction.  What I also realized after surviving this experience was  the fact that I was not utilizing the Holy Spirit as God intended. I had accepted Jesus for the 3rd and final time back in August of 1987 but it took me 10 years and this “crazy episode” to really understand what a personal relationship with Jesus and the free gift of the Holy Spirit could and should do for a person’s life.  I was so busy with “my life” I was simply asking God to keep me sober another day.  He kept me sober but I was on the verge of insanity in all other aspects of my life.  After getting through this experience I thought what if I took God along in everything I do?  Being sober was very important but what about everything else? 

Long story short…I came up with the acromym P.E.A.C.E.  Every day I ask the Holy Spirit to fuel my Plans, Effort, Attitude, Community interaction and things I need to do to have Energy.  In essence I want everything I do guided by God through his Spirit who lives in me.  Living this way hasn’t necessarily made life easier but my life is much more PEACEFUL today and that is the way God wants it to be. If you aren’t at PEACE today try giving P.E.A.C.E. a chance. 

P.E.A.C.E.

2 comments on “P.E.A.C.E.

  1. Reed Sevitts on

    Thank you for the explanation of P.E.A.C.E. Jay. I was wondering what it stood for.
    I have found that being in the word daily, and having personal time with Jesus behind a closed door really fortifies that strength that the Holy Spirit blesses me with. But the thing that really cranked up the P.E.A.C.E. of my mind was knowing that if it was focused on His will and not about mine, the blessing was exponentially greater.
    We are not to be nurtured like a ripe bunch of grapes so we are all fat and juicey with blessings alone. We are to be continuously rung out and squeezed so that the rich juice can provide to others living water through us, like Christ’s shed blood did for us all.
    Keep up the good works man. You are annoited and a blessing to many.

    Reed

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