Rejoice

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2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

Paul's closing remarks in his second letter to the Corinthians has a sense of encouragement and urgency. Paul truly wants them to be restored in their relationship with Christ. They had strayed and became divided. Paul calls them back to unity and peace. Paul says that if they rejoice, strive for restoration, and live in peace, then God's love and peace will be with them.

Are there people that I have broken relationships with? I need to aim for restoration. More importantly, I need to live in peace and love. I desire God's love and peace to be with me always. I think I often allow myself to get tired, hungry and frustrated with people and that breaks me away from God's love and peace. I need to get back to that today. It is so important. How do I do that? First, I must REJOICE! There is so much to be joyful about. It's often when I dwell on troubling things that I react to things in a troubled way. Instead, I need to dwell on what I am should be joyful about! That way, I'll be reacting to all things with joy! Secondly, I need to aim for restoration. Today, if I see people that I sense I might have broken the relationship with. I'll seek restoration. I'll seek peace. It'll be hard no doubt, but again, that joy from the Lord will carry me through. I also need to be ready to comfort others. I also need to comfort myself.

Heavenly Father, I pray for Your forgiveness. I pray that You would give me a new start today. I know that I slept in, but Lord, please fill me with Your joy and multiply the labor of my hands so that I make up for the time I wasted. Lord, I pray that I am filled with Your Holy Spirit today. I pray for Your love and peace to be with me always. I pray for my husband as well, that Your love and peace would be with him always too. Thank You so much, Lord! I love You. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.