Life is like a puzzle that we are putting together, right now. Whether we realize it or not, we are working on the puzzle of our lives. Each choice we make is a piece of the puzzle. Choosing a job. Choosing a spouse. Choosing a church. Choosing to follow Jesus. These are all pieces of the puzzle. But a puzzle is not finished unless it is complete. Even if one piece is missing, it is not complete.

There are three pieces each of us must have in life in order to make it into Heaven.

FIRST–We must hear God and hear the Gospel. It is the good news that we can be saved. We are actually sustained by the Word of God.

• Matthew 4:4 New King James Version – But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”

SECOND–JESUS must be in our heart and our life. We need Jesus. The distance from the mind and the heart is eighteen inches. We can have Jesus in our mind, but not in our heart. We must have a relationship with Jesus in our heart that is demonstrated by how we live our lives.

• 1 John 5:11-12 King James Version – ¹¹ And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ¹² He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

THIRD–We need to CONTINUE in CHRIST JESUS. Everyone who starts in Christ does not continue.

• Acts 2:42 King James Version – And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
• 1 Corinthians 15:58 King James Version – Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

We need these three pieces in order to make it into Heaven.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

We must watch what we think about if we want to keep the peace. Keep these tips in mind.

• Peace of mind is one thing everybody wants.
• Peace is a GIFT from God.
• When we are walking in unity with God, we will have peace.
• Heaven is a place of peace and not confusion
• You don’t have to worry about anybody trying to stab you in the back or lie to you in Heaven.
• There is no sickness in Heaven–they don’t need hospitals
• There is no old age in Heaven and you will not die.
• Even animals will not be dangerous in Heaven
• We never grow up because we are constantly growing.
• CONTINUE!
• We must FIGHT to keep our peace.
• The enemy wants to steal our fruit.
• Our fruit will bear fruit.
• God has given us gifts–have we given our gifts to the enemy?
• USE YOUR GIFTS FOR GOD!
• God is all powerful but He will not override our free will. God gave us freewill.
• Love not the world or the things that be in it.
• Don’t love your family more than God.
• Don’t love yourself more than God.
• Don’t love anything more than God.
• Don’t let a man, woman or career draw you away from God
• When God gives you peace, your peace will be tested.
• God gives you peace to use that peace on a problem.
• USE YOUR PEACE ON YOUR PROBLEMS
• Let not your heart be troubled. Believe in God believe also in Me. My peace I give you
• Don’t try to weather the storm without JESUS!
• The enemy will keep trying to come back in your life. It’s our job to keep the enemy out of our spiritual house.
• Give all of your problems over to JESUS and do things HIS WAY!
• Ask yourself–am I allowing the enemy to break into my house because I am not fully trusting the LORD.
• IT TAKES FAITH TO GIVE JESUS ALL YOUR PROBLEMS.
• We don’t get to decide how to handle our problems. We are supposed to go to God and get instructions.-We must develop longsuffering, meekness and temperance (patience)
• WE MUST LEARN HUMILITY.
• We are the clay and He is the potter.
• When we are humble nothing hurts.
• Doing it our own way leads to hell.
• We were all born into the world with a fleshly (sinful nature) that we must learn to control.
• That’s why we must be born-again.
• We must pray before we make decisions. Use the common sense God gave you and listen to the Holy Spirit.
• DON’T LET EVERYTHING GET INTO YOUR MIND.
• Get rid of all thoughts of anger, malice, envy, jealousy, wrath, offense, filthiness, etc.
• Don’t meditate on things that are not true.
• Don’t have rooms in your hearts full of grudges.
• Let your mouth and heart agree (you can say nice things but have bitterness in your heart against someone)
• OFFENSE AND BITTERNESS SLOWS YOU DOWN.
• You can’t hear from God and have bitterness in your heart at the same time.
• Don’t let your foot slip being envious of the world

CATCH YOUR THOUGHTS BEFORE THEY GET YOU INTO TROUBLE.

• Psalm 37:1-5 New King James Version – Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. 2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb. 3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.

• Thoughts becomes words. PUT A WATCH OVER YOUR THOUGHTS AND YOUR MOUTH.
• Don’t speak doubt.

Stress can raise your adrenaline causing all kinds of problems like heart attack, stroke, etc. It is a silent killer. The worst part is premature death in a person who is not prepared to meet the Lord. Putting our confidence in God instead of our own efforts and trusting in the Lord brings rest–not stress.

• Matthew 11:28 New King James Version – Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

There is a difference between resting and being lazy. The God kind of rest is trusting God to direct our steps and being at peace while He is working in our lives.

WAYS TO SLOW DOWN

• Slow down and trust God.
  • Exodus 14:14 New King James Version – The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold^[a] your peace.”
• Slow down and worship God. (We can worship God in many ways–singing, dancing, obeying, giving, being grateful, being faithful to Him, and with your lifestyle)
  • Luke 4:8 New King James Version – And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”
• Slow down and take care of your health.
  • 3 John 1:2 New King James Version – Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
• Slow down and exercise. (Exercise is not a bad word)
  • 1 Timothy 4:8 New King James Version – For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.
• Slow down and take a vacation.
  • Psalm 128:2 New King James Version – When you eat the labor of your hands, You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.
• Slow down and read your Bible. Never rest from the Lord. Jesus is our rest.
  • Joshua 1:8 New King James Version – This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.