“Look away from evil and do good.  Search for peace, and work to maintain it.” (Psalms 34:14 NLT)

           This passage acts as a practical summary of how to live right and do good—actively chasing harmony in all that you do.

           “Turn away from evil and do good” requires an intentional choice to reject sin and actively replace it with positive righteous actions.

           “Seek peace and purse it” implies a relentless chase of pursuing the right path of what God has called you to do and to be.  It means peace is rarely passive: it requires striving to maintain harmony through strength and courage which is given to you through your relationship with God.  

           How we apply this to our lives is by auditing our daily inputs.  Pay attention to the media, music, and social accounts you consume.  Remove content that triggers negative thought, gossip, or anger.

           Say a prayer, pause, take a breath, count to 10 before you react. Learn to response to situations, do not react.  Learn what your trigger points that set you off.  Thus, by learning them you are not so apt to react to the situation at hand.

           Practice kindness—do good through small, tangible acts.  Smile, hold a door for someone, text or call a friend you haven’t talked to in a while.  Treat others as you want to be treated.  And remember if you cannot say anything nice, do not say anything at all. By doing this you reprogram how you think, act, and talk.

           Remember set boundaries.  Guard your mental peace by saying “no” to toxic people or situations.  Distance yourself from people who thrive on drama. When you do these things, you look away from evil and do good and you learn to maintain peace.  It is something to remember.  God Bless.  Amen.

denise