2 Peter 1v5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

…“in increasing measure,” this is the growth of our testimony which should never flatline but always produce more Godly fruit upon itself.

10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

John 14v12 “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” - Jesus

Wait a minute…“and they will do even greater things than these,” words straight from the mouth of Jesus. This is the man who walked on water, opened the eyes of the blind, and fed 5000 people with just seven loaves of bread and you mean to tell me that we are going to do greater works than He?!? Simply Jesus says yes. We just have to believe it. How then are we equipped for a calling as huge as this? The answer lies in John 14v26 “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

We are an empowered generation. All of us who believe in the death and resurrection of Christ are given this incredible gift of His spirit. We are to change the world with it, and it is our responsibility to truly believe that we can.

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” - Jesus

James 3v17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

When we seek wisdom from the Lord our lives should be overcome with the characteristics listed here by James. Use verse 17 as a test to discern what is of the kingdom and what is not, so that righteousness may be harvested in our lives for the glory of God.

Isaiah 26v3 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. 4 Trust in the lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.

The peace of mind that we so desperately search for is only found when our full attention and focus is on the Lord. When the world and the enemy attacks through fear and stress our first defense lies in our thought life, our dedication and faith to the Lord as we contemplate things through out the day. Be settled in truth and most importantly believe and not fear. If Jesus stressed anything the most besides love it was definitely faith and believing.

Mark 5v36 Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

James 1v6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do

His Spirit resides in us so peace is already here. Focus and rejoice.

Galatians 5v6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Faith = Love.

1 Corinthians 13v4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

If our faith doesn’t match the definition of love set out by Paul in 1 Corinthians above then we are missing out on Gods blessing and calling to our lives. In congruence if our love doesn’t match up to that same definition then our testimony in faith to Christ is lost.

Titus 3v4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

“Not because of righteous things we have done but because of His mercy.” That is a life long testament to our God. The reason we are given the hope of eternal life is not because we worked for it or that we act like a “good person” but it is due to the fact that God showed mercy to the world by sacrificing His only son who was blameless and pure for forgiveness of all our iniquities. It’s only by His mercy, His grace. All the reason to live a life of praise for we are underserving yet empowered by the kingdom of heaven.