Compass...

"Let the peace of God rule in your hearts"

-Colossians 3:15

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We've all been there: we turn a corner, or take a step to the right or to the left, and suddenly, no peace.  Our internal umpire tugs on the reins in an attempt to reel us in.  At that point we have a choice (ah the double-edged sword of "choice"):

We can hit the pause button long enough to let God speak into the situation and correct our course,

or,

We can press through the un-ease and drown out the dinging alarm with a myriad of distractions, rationalizing away this harbinger of the heart entirely. 

My mom use to say, "If you feel like you're pushing string, Stop.".  When something we're doing feels forced, when we feel like we're suddenly slogging through mud or trying to run under water, it's time to stop, check our compass, and turn until the needle is pointing toward Home again.

I like how the Amplified version of the bible puts it:

"Let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state]"

-Colossians 3:15

There are times when there is joy in the journey, there are times when there is pain on our path, there are times when we walk through the darkness of the shadow of death, there are times when our way is like the light of dawn.  Wherever the road leads, let the litmus test be Peace.

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"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

-Isaiah 30:21