Proverbs 11:10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.      
 
      Michel de Montaigne said, “If you don’t know where you are sailing, no wind is favourable.”
      God has given us the ability to be a blessing and to be the Lord’s hand extended wherever we go throughout life. Knowing who we are in Christ, and having an idea of what God has sown in our hearts to do, will keep us walking in the Lord’s strength and purpose. Plus, our relationship with the Lord will remain vibrant and life-giving. We are fortunate to have Jesus, who is love, peace, and joy living within our souls. We wear the armour of the Lord that allows us to walk in His peace wherever we go. Eph. 6:15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. Whatever situation we encounter, we are equipped by God to bring the Lord’s righteous solution to those problems. As we walk in Christ, we have the Prince of Peace within our hearts and we can walk in the fullness of His shalom. 
      We are instructed to seek peace and hopefully bring it with us as we make our way through this precarious world. 1Pet. 3:11 They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. Being instructed to pursue peace is an interesting statement in a world where peace is not the first thing thought of at the smallest provocation that comes our way. Shouts of, “Don’t tell me what to do!” is the immediate reaction to any slight a person runs up against. Being obnoxiously confrontational does not lend itself to bringing peace to life’s situations. Oscar Wilde said, “Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go.” Are you one of the people who are bringing blessings wherever you go? Or, are there shouts of gladness when you leave the room? Prov. 11:10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.
      Seeking to bring the fruit of God’s love wherever we go is a constant heart effort. We need to walk in God’s love and experience the blessings of that love. Building ourselves up in the faith of our Lord’s grace will help us be doers of the word and not just give lip service to it. We cannot give away what we do not have. If all I have in my heart is anger, strife, and anxiety, how can I give love, peace, and joy away? James 3:11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 
      Many people offer cheap advice, which is dispensed without thought. Someone might say, “Oh that’s easy, you just do this and it will work for you.” However, the one giving this advice is not doing it themselves, which will often result in counselling that is shallow, vague, and useless. We need authentic people who have a real relationship with the Lord and are forthright in their choices. We want to be people who bring the blessings of God’s grace wherever we go. Acts 14:3 So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders. What an amazing scripture. The signs and wonders of God’s miracles were manifesting wherever these men of God went because they had an authentic grace-filled relationship with Christ their saviour.
      Wherever we go, we carry the responsibility of what God has sown in our hearts to do. We can go forth with grace or we can plow and smash our way forward with no regard for anything. We can do what God asked us to do with His gracious help, or we can go forth like a tank maiming the people with religious rhetoric. We can bring God’s love to those who need it, or leave people hurt and wounded in resentment. Yes, it is important that wherever we go, we understand that we need Jesus going with us because we may be the only bible some people will ever get to read. Will what they read in your life make them want Jesus as much as you do? 2Cor. 3:2 You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. May God’s face shine on us and guide us forward in Christ. Amen!