CHAOS CAN HAVE NO EFFECT ON PEACE

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder.  And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”—Isaiah 9:6

 

At the time of Jesus’ birth, Israel was in the iron grip of the all-powerful Roman Empire and they hated it.  The Jews remembered the covenant of Abraham and the promises concerning the coming Messiah; however they were expecting an earthly ruler, a political leader and one who would restore the glory years of King David and King Solomon.  They were not expecting the Savior of the world, the Prince of Peace to come in the form of a servant.  Perhaps they were thinking of an earthly overthrow of the Roman Empire; instead, the Son of God overthrew the kingdom of Satan. 

 

According to Webster’s dictionary, peace is a state of tranquility, quiet, calm, freedom from civil disturbance.  A state of security-being secure within a community, freedom from oppression, strife and disorder.  In harmony in personal relations, and untroubled by conflict, agitation or commotion.  It is our Lord’s desire for us to have peace in the midst of turmoil, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).   Real peace can be known in the midst of turmoil, chaos, or confusion.  The surface of the water during a storm at sea is quite violent; however, the deeper you go below the surface the calmer things become.  Far below the surface, deep in the ocean, is a quiet that is totally unaware of the chaotic disturbance that is felt on top of the waves. 

 

Jesus provided that kind of peace for us “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me” (John 14:1).  Ephesus 2:14 says, “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation.”  When Satan throws everything against us, and it seems like hell has broken through on the surface of our life—health, finances and relationship may crumble and toss us about like a violent wave; remember that by sinking down deeper into Him, we experience His peace as an anchor of security.

 

The Apostle Paul was in prison when he wrote to his dear friends saying, “And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).  Allow the peace of God to be your guard heart and mind in the midst of chaos in turmoil.  The enemy comes against our mind and our emotions; however we do not continually go over the bad things that have happen to us in our mid, nor allow our emotions to rule us.  Christ’s Peace will calm every conflict in our lives.

 

Prayer—Father I ask You to help me turn to You in every conflict of my life today.  Lord help me to keep my mind on You because in You there is peace in the midst of all that is going on in my life, in Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

 

 

 

PEACE IS A PROMISE TO EVERY BELIEVER

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”—Isaiah 41:10

 

Jesus told the early disciples that they would experience problems and that they could have peace in the midst of the turmoil, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).  Many years ago, I heard an observation about Christian life that makes a lot of sense.  We all are either heading into, going through or coming out of a trial in our lives.  No one gets through life without a struggle because the refining of our hearts is done through fire.  True lasting peace can only come through Jesus Christ.  It does not come through some person, some thing, some possession, some job, some vacation, some event, or some arranged peace between political allies.  It can only come through a personal relationship through Jesus Christ.  All these other ways are only an illusion—a mirage, and will soon fade because they are not real. 

 

Have you ever been through a difficult time in your life and were able to have a peace that you could not explain?  I have experienced this.  My husband went in for minor surgery and was in the operating room being put to sleep when the doctor’s thought that he had a heart attack.  I was notified what had happened, and that they were trying to stabilize him.  I immediately had a sense of peace, it was like a bubble surrounded me, and no report could sway me that he was not alright.   Had I not been a Christian I would have been petrified of what I was being told.  Instead, God gave me a promise in His Word and I rested in that promise, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me” (John 14:1).  I refused to be swayed and said, “My husband’s heart is not troubled it is at peace.”   Years later, my husband’s heart is still at peace with no trace or evidence of a heart attack.  “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3).

 

God’s peace is available to anyone who puts their faith and trust in Jesus Christ.  Peace is a promise to every believer and it is your Heavenly Father’s desire for you to have peace, not only through a difficult time, but in your every day life.  His peace is to be the constant state of being for the Christian and is not dedicated by circumstance—good or bad.   Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 145:27).   This is what our Heavenly Father wants for His children—that they walk in peace even in the midst of the storm in their every day lives.

 

This does not mean that sometimes we might feel fear or anxiety; but, for the person of peace, the Holy Spirit’s presence quickly calms the fear and anxiety, and then that person begins to feel the power of the Holy Spirit speaking calm and assurance to their heart. 

 

A deep genuine God-given peace can be the norm for the believer.  It is what God desires for you and me.  God does not desire that your soul be in turmoil, but hat your heart be anchored in peace.

 

Prayer—Father I thank you that my heart is fixed, trusting in You.  I thank You for the Peace that passes all understanding to keep my mind stable and focused upon You.  Holy Spirit I ask You to strengthen and help me to keep my eyes upon Jesus and not the turmoil around me, in Jesus’  Name. Amen.

 

WHEN YOU ARE SIDE-SWIPED BY LIFE’S CIRCUMSTANCES, TURN TO GOD

“I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill.”—Psalm 3:4

 

Less than an hour after my husband had left for work, I received a profound telephone call.  My husband’s small Toyota pick-up truck had been broad-sided by a train.  My heart seemed to turn over on the inside of me.  As my mind tried to comprehend what I had been told, I hardly recognized that it was my husband who was talking to me.  He was asking me to come and pick him up, but my mind and my mouth kept asking if he was physically alright.  It was a few minutes before my mind could comprehend that indeed he was alright and that I needed to get into the car and go get him.  During the forty minute drive, I began praising the Lord for preserving his life, and restoring all that the enemy meant for our harm.  When I reached my husband and saw what was left of his small pick-up truck, I was speechless.  By looking at the vehicle, it seemed impossible that anyone could walk away from that devastation.  However, God preserved his life.  When questioning my husband about what had happened, He said that he did not see or hear the train as he began to cross the tracks.  When he felt the impact and the train began pushing he truck down the track, he began to say, “I will not be afraid of sudden terror.”  Proverbs 3:25-26 says, “Do not be afraid of sudden terror, nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; for the Lord will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught.” 

 

At the very moment that my husband was side-swiped by life’s circumstances, he cried out to God for help.  The Lord heard his cry for help and delivered him from all his troubles.

 

In the Bible, crying out refers to speaking audibly with great emotion concerning an urgent need.  God invites us to use this form of prayer to communicate that we desperately need his mercy.

 

It takes both faith and humility to share our heart’s concern aloud.  Crying out is a way for God’s children to express trust in the Lord’s ability and willingness to help.  By calling upon Him, with such urgency, we also lay down our pride and any attitude of self-sufficiency.

 

The Word of God assures us that our Father hears our cries and responds.  When we call aloud for help in Jesus’ name, we invite His power into the situation.  Remember that there is just strength in speaking His name.  We can always count on His comfort and presence, which enable us to live with hope and peace.

 

Prayer—Father I thank You that You are an ever present Help in time of trouble, and that I can cry out to You and You will hear my cry and deliver me, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

THE HOLY SPIRITS GUIDANCE SYSTEM WORKS IN YOUR BEHALF

 “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”—Galatians 5:16

 

The times that we feel deep satisfaction and great joy are when we connect with our God-given purpose.  It is important to understand that we cannot achieve the Lord’s purposes on our own; it is only by His strength and direction that we are able to succeed.

 

Jesus warned us in John 16:33 that trouble is an integral part of life in this world.  “These things I have spoken to you that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”  As humans, we easily forget how weak we are, and tend to take on the challenges of life in our own strength and resourcefulness.  Human nature wants to tackle life by itself, and in its own power, and then take the credit.  So when temptations, trials, criticism, gossip, and persecution assail, many of us have the tendency to go into high gear and try all the harder in our own strength and self-reliance.  This may work for awhile, but in the long run, self-reliance creates a mess and is filled with pride.  To have long lasting results in our life we must follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance. 

 

Prayer—Father I surrender my life anew to You today.  I ask You to forgive me for the times that I have pride-fully went my own way and sought my solutions instead of Yours.  Today I yield myself to the Holy Spirit’s control in Jesus Name. Amen.

JESUS RESPONDS TO THE CALL FOR HELP

“In the multitude of my (anxious) thoughts within me, Your comforts cheer and delight my soul!—Psalms 94:19 (Amplified)

 

I personally do not know of anyone who has not experienced a time of testing and trials, in their life.  The Apostle Paul gave us an example of his mind set concerning what he was going through when he wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 that, “We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken, struck down, but not destroyed.”  In essence he was saying, we may be going through hard times, but we are not going to be overwhelmed by them.  Today you may be experiencing some difficult times, but I want to encourage you.   You Are Going To Make It!  God will never leave you, nor forsake you.  He will never leave your side.  He is always with you, always willing to calm the storms of life. 

 

A man brought his son to Jesus’ disciples for a mute spirit to be cast out.  The disciples did not have any success in casting out the mute spirit, so when Jesus came up to see what was happening, He asked the scribes what were they talking about.  The father replied that he had brought his son for deliverance of a mute spirit that would seize his son, throw him to the ground, and cause him to foam at the mouth and gnash his teeth.  Jesus had the son brought to him, and told the father when he questioned if Jesus could cast out the spirit, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:14-27). 

 

Although the father had witnessed the distressing trial of the demon spirit seizing his son from time-to-time, the father still called out for help.  Jesus is still responding to the call for help even when times seem the darkest saying, “if you can believe, all things are possible.”  Furthermore, Jesus is not intimidated when the devil puts on a show.  The Scripture says that the enemy goes about as a roaring lion…he is not a lion. When your heart seems to be overwhelmed with anxious thoughts, remember that the Father has never left your side.  Reach out to Him with faith today; He is the peace in the storm.

 

Prayer—Father I thank You that You are always with me even when I am not aware of Your presence. You are there, in Jesus Name, Amen.         

KEEP A SINGLE FOCUS

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”—Isaiah 26:3

 

In the midst of difficult times and adversity, it is easy for our trust to flounder and for our eyes to drift from Jesus to the problem.  Once our focus shifts away from God, the problem becomes magnified.  Negative thinking can overwhelm faith and extinguish courage.  It is during this time that we may be tempted to quit.  This is what happened to Peter the night that Jesus was arrested.

 

Before Jesus was betrayed and arrested, He told His disciples that they would come upon difficult times, and that they would all “stumble.”  He assured them that He would meet them again in Galilee; however, at the time the disciples did not grasp that He was talking about His death and resurrection.  In fact, Peter boldly declared that he would not “stumble;” but Jesus told him that he would deny Him that night three times before the rooster crowed.  Not long after Jesus told His disciples this would happen, Judas betrayed Him and Jesus was arrested.  During all of the dangerous turmoil surrounding Jesus’ arrest and being brought before the high priest, Peter mingled with the crowd pretending to be one of them.  However, a servant girl thought that she recognized Peter as one of Jesus’ followers and accused him.  Peter denied the accusation by saying, “I do not know what you are saying.” A short time later another girl accused him and this time he said with an oath, “I do not know the Man!”   Then the third time he was accused by several other people of being with Jesus and he responded with cursing and swearing and denials of knowing Jesus.  “Immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.’ So he went out and wept bitterly” (Matthew 26).

 

Peter’s experience paints a clear picture for us today.  Although Jesus had forewarned the disciples what was about to happen, Peter still tried to work things out in his own strength which was a dismal failure.  Too often, we tend to see the adversity or difficulty in terms of our own strength and resources rather than God’s.  However, when our focus shifts to a godly perspective the doom and gloom of failure, turns to gladness and we experience joy.  The Lord has told us that we would experience adversity and difficulties in life, but that we are to have peace and to be happy because He has already won the victory for us (John 16:33).  We can be like the Apostle Paul, by keeping our focus on the Lord, and saying with him, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

 

Prayer—Father I purpose in my heart to keep my eyes and heart focused upon You at all times.  With Your help, I will never falter nor fail, in Jesus Name. Amen.

GOD IS WILLING TO CALM THE STORMS OF LIVE

“In the multitude of my (anxious) thoughts within me, Your comforts cheer and delight my soul!—Psalms 94:19 (Amplified)

 

I personally do not know of anyone who has not experienced a time of testing and trials, in their life.  The Apostle Paul gave us an example of his mind set concerning what he was going through when he wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 that, “We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken, struck down, but not destroyed.”  In essence he was saying, we may be going through hard times, but we are not going to be overwhelmed by them.  Today you may be experiencing some difficult times, but I want to encourage you.   You Are Going To Make It!  God will never leave you, nor forsake you.  He will never leave your side.  He is always with you, always willing to calm the storms of life. 

 

A man brought his son to Jesus’ disciples for a mute spirit to be cast out.  The disciples did not have any success in casting out the mute spirit, so when Jesus came up to see what was happening, He asked the scribes what were they talking about.  The father replied that he had brought his son for deliverance of a mute spirit that would seize his son, throw him to the ground, and cause him to foam at the mouth and gnash his teeth.  Jesus had the son brought to him, and told the father when he questioned if Jesus could cast out the spirit, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:14-27). 

 

Although the father had witnessed the distressing trial of the demon spirit seizing his son from time-to-time, the father still called out for help.  Jesus is still responding to the call for help even when times seem the darkest saying, “if you can believe, all things are possible.”  Furthermore, Jesus is not intimidated when the devil puts on a show.  The Scripture says that the enemy goes about as a roaring lion…he is not a lion. When your heart seems to be overwhelmed with anxious thoughts, remember that the Father has never left your side.  Reach out to Him with faith today; He is the peace in the storm.

 

Prayer—Father I thank You that You are always with me even when I am not aware of Your presence. You are there, in Jesus Name, Amen.         

ANGER REACHES THOSE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY

“Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man do not go, lest you learn his ways, and set a snare for your soul”—Proverbs 22:23-24

 

Anger can wreak havoc on both the body and soul, but its tentacles reach beyond the individual and wrap around everyone in close proximity.   Bitter outbursts and silent resentment are not just our own personal issues.

 

An angry spirit is contagious.   It is passed from one person to another—and from one generation to the next.  Workplaces can become tense environments full of caustic words and attitudes.   Anger turns homes into battlegrounds of verbal explosions or silent hostility.   Even churches suffer from malicious gossip and fights over personal preferences.

God created us to live in fellowship with others, but anger can poison our relationships. Tragically, those closest to us are the ones who suffer the most.   Children learn to respond to life's situations by observing their parents' example.   They then develop similar attitudes and patterns of behavior.   We need to give serious thought to what kind of heart we are passing down to our sons and daughters.

 

Thankfully, God is in the heart-changing business.   Just as we learn an angry person's ways by association, so we can learn right-eous ways by walking closely with the Lord.   Christ calls us to come, learn from Him—and find rest for our souls “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest fro your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29).

 

Which would you prefer: churning anger or Christ's peace? Both require sacrifice.   To maintain anger, you might have to forfeit healthy relationships and a godly heritage for your descendants.   But to acquire peace, ask God to help you leave your grudges, personal rights, and insults on the altar.  Why not do that today?

 

Prayer—Father I give you my anger towards_________________.  I repent for harboring ill feelings, resentments, grudges, and anger and I ask You to forgive me.  I ask You to deliver me from a spirit of anger and that Your peace to flood my mind and heart, in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

 

 

 

WE HAVE ACCESS TO THE THRONE

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”—Hebrews 4:16

 

A friend of mine was an executive in the oil industry.  He told me that many times he had to correspond with heads of state in different countries.  But before he ever drafted a letter, he would spend days meticulously planning the tone, content, and organization of the letter.  He would make several drafts until every sentence seemed precisely right, and then consult was a university professor in international communications to make sure that the final version had no grammatical errors and that it included the proper forms of address and/or royal titles.

 

I have often reflected on this conversation as it related to prayer in the believer’s life.  The amount of time, thought, and attention we devote to approaching God’s throne of grace is entirely disproportionate to the time and attention that we give to other things in our lives.  Are we giving the reverence due to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords—the Lord of all creation?

 

When we pray, we communicate with a King who is far greater than any earthly monarch or national leader.  Have you ever stopped to think that we do not need to consult with anyone concerning our grammar?  We do not need to send letters through an embassy.  Romans 5:1-2 reminds us that because of Christ’s death and resurrection, we can approach God’s throne in prayer at any time, and in any circumstance.  “Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

 

Prayer—Heavenly Father, thank you for the access that you have given to us to your heavenly throne.  Help us to be always mindful of your majesty, in Jesus Name.  Amen.

 

 

ACCESS GOD’S SPIRITUAL RICHES BY FAITH

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.”—Ephesians 1:3

 

Do you think of yourself as rich?  No matter how much money you have, if you are a believer in Jesus, you are extremely wealthy because God has lavished the riches of His grace upon you.  At the moment of salvation, He deposited into your account “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3).  Why, then, do so many believers live in spiritual poverty?

 

1.      Ignorance.   Some Christians do not know about this unlimited spiritual “bank account,” and, therefore, they never draw upon it.

2.      Confusion.  Too many believers just do not know how to access the treasures of God’s grace.  As a result, they worry and complain about their needs and problems or in desperation come to the Lord begging and pleading for help, never realizing His abundant supply has already, been deposited into their account.

3.      Competing Interests.  Distraction by things of the world may be the most common reason.  Christians in this category focus on possessions, pressing responsibilities, and advancement but lack interest in God’s spiritual blessings.

 

The riches of God’s grace supersede any earthly wealth.  They give the peace and contentment that money can never buy, and their benefits reach all the way into eternity.

 

The only way to access God’s spiritual riches is by faith.  We do not have to beg or persuade the Lord to give what He has already made available to us.  Instead, we simply choose to believe that we are who He says we are and can do what He has called us to accomplish.

 

Prayer—Father I thank You that Christ has made me abundantly wealthy in spiritual blessings.  Holy Spirit I ask you to help me access all that Christ possessed for me, in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

GOD IS THE PEACE IN THE STORM

“In the multitude of my (anxious) thoughts within me, Your comforts cheer and delight my soul!—Psalms 94:19 (Amplified)

 

I personally do not know of anyone who has not experienced a time of testing and trials, in their life.  The Apostle Paul gave us an example of his mind set concerning what he was going through when he wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 that, “We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken, struck down, but not destroyed.”  In essence he was saying, we may be going through hard times, but we are not going to be overwhelmed by them.  Today you may be experiencing some difficult times, but I want to encourage you.   You Are Going To Make It!  God will never leave you, nor forsake you.  He will never leave your side.  He is always with you, always willing to calm the storms of life. 

 

A man brought his son to Jesus’ disciples for a mute spirit to be cast out.  The disciples did not have any success in casting out the mute spirit, so when Jesus came up to see what was happening, He asked the scribes what were they talking about.  The father replied that he had brought his son for deliverance of a mute spirit that would seize his son, throw him to the ground, and cause him to foam at the mouth and gnash his teeth.  Jesus had the son brought to him, and told the father when he questioned if Jesus could cast out the spirit, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:14-27). 

 

Although the father had witnessed the distressing trial of the demon spirit seizing his son from time-to-time, the father still called out for help.  Jesus is still responding to the call for help even when times seem the darkest saying, “if you can believe, all things are possible.”  Furthermore, Jesus is not intimidated when the devil puts on a show.  The Scripture says that the enemy goes about as a roaring lion…he is not a lion. When your heart seems to be overwhelmed with anxious thoughts, remember that the Father has never left your side.  Reach out to Him with faith today; He is the peace in the storm.

 

Prayer—Father I thank You that You are always with me even when I am not aware of Your presence. You are there, in Jesus Name, Amen.         

GOD WILLS TO CALM THE STORM IN YOUR LIFE

“In the multitude of my (anxious) thoughts within me, Your comforts cheer and delight my soul!—Psalms 94:19 (Amplified)

 

I personally do not know of anyone who has not experienced a time of testing and trials, in their life.  The Apostle Paul gave us an example of his mind set concerning what he was going through when he wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 that, “We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken, struck down, but not destroyed.”  In essence he was saying, we may be going through hard times, but we are not going to be overwhelmed by them.  Today you may be experiencing some difficult times, but I want to encourage you.   You Are Going To Make It!  God will never leave you, nor forsake you.  He will never leave your side.  He is always with you, always willing to calm the storms of life. 

 

A man brought his son to Jesus’ disciples for a mute spirit to be cast out.  The disciples did not have any success in casting out the mute spirit, so when Jesus came up to see what was happening, He asked the scribes what were they talking about.  The father replied that he had brought his son for deliverance of a mute spirit that would seize his son, throw him to the ground, and cause him to foam at the mouth and gnash his teeth.  Jesus had the son brought to him, and told the father when he questioned if Jesus could cast out the spirit, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:14-27). 

 

Although the father had witnessed the distressing trial of the demon spirit seizing his son from time-to-time, the father still called out for help.  Jesus is still responding to the call for help even when times seem the darkest saying, “if you can believe, all things are possible.”  Furthermore, Jesus is not intimidated when the devil puts on a show.  The Scripture says that the enemy goes about as a roaring lion…he is not a lion. When your heart seems to be overwhelmed with anxious thoughts, remember that the Father has never left your side.  Reach out to Him with faith today; He is the peace in the storm.

 

Prayer—Father I thank You that You are always with me even when I am not aware of Your presence. You are there, in Jesus Name, Amen.         

PEACE IS A PROMISE TO EVERY BELIEVER

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”—Isaiah 41:10

 

Nations around the world are in turmoil.  For some the turmoil is political, for others it is economical, and some are experiencing turmoil due to the changing global weather patterns that bring economic and human devastation.  The scope and scale of global turmoil is hard to phantom; however, Paul wrote in Romans 8:22, “For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pang together until now.”   Matthew Henry writes in his commentary concerning this verse that the miseries of the human race are brought on because of sin and these sins have brought woes and turmoil to the earth.  The only hope for people that there is help is found in the Blessed Hope, Jesus Christ.

 

Jesus told the early disciples that they would experience problems and that they could have peace in the midst of the turmoil, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).  Many years ago, I heard an observation about Christian life that makes a lot of sense.  We all are either heading into, going through or coming out of a trial in our lives.  No one gets through life without a struggle because the refining of our hearts is done through fire.  True lasting peace can only come through Jesus Christ.  It does not come through some person, some thing, some possession, some job, some vacation, some event, or some arranged peace between political allies.  It can only come through a personal relationship through Jesus Christ.  All these other ways are only an illusion—a mirage, and will soon fade because they are not real. 

 

Have you ever been through a difficult time in your life and were able to have a peace that you could not explain?  I have experienced this.  My husband went in for minor surgery and was in the operating room being put to sleep when the doctor’s thought that he had a heart attack.  I was notified what had happened, and that they were trying to stabilize him.  I immediately had a sense of peace, it was like a bubble surrounded me, and no report could sway me that he was not alright.   Had I not been a Christian I would have been petrified of what I was being told.  Instead, God gave me a promise in His Word and I rested in that promise, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me” (John 14:1).  I refused to be swayed and said, “My husband’s heart is not troubled it is at peace.”   Years later, my husband’s heart is still at peace with no trace or evidence of a heart attack.  “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3).

 

God’s peace is available to anyone who puts their faith and trust in Jesus Christ.  Peace is a promise to every believer and it is your Heavenly Father’s desire for you to have peace, not only through a difficult time, but in your every day life.  His peace is to be the constant state of being for the Christian and is not dedicated by circumstance—good or bad.   Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 145:27).   This is what our Heavenly Father wants for His children—that they walk in peace even in the midst of the storm in their every day lives.

 

This does not mean that sometimes we might feel fear or anxiety; but, for the person of peace, the Holy Spirit’s presence quickly calms the fear and anxiety, and then that person begins to feel the power of the Holy Spirit speaking calm and assurance to their heart. 

 

A deep genuine God-given peace can be the norm for the believer.  It is what God desires for you and me.  God does not desire that your soul be in turmoil, but that your heart be anchored in peace.

 

Prayer—Father I thank you that my heart is fixed, trusting in You.  I thank You for the Peace that passes all understanding to keep my mind stable and focused upon You.  Holy Spirit I ask You to strengthen and help me to keep my eyes upon Jesus and not the turmoil around me, in Jesus Name. Amen.

HAVE YOUR HEART ANCHORED IN PEACE

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”—Isaiah 41:10

 

Nations around the world are in turmoil.  For some the turmoil is political, for others it is economical, and some are experiencing turmoil due to the changing global weather patterns that bring economic and human devastation.  The scope and scale of global turmoil is hard to phantom; however, Paul wrote in Romans 8:22, “For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pang together until now.”   Matthew Henry writes in his commentary concerning this verse that the miseries of the human race are brought on because of sin and these sins have brought woes and turmoil to the earth.  The only hope for people that there is help is found in the Blessed Hope, Jesus Christ.

 

Jesus told the early disciples that they would experience problems and that they could have peace in the midst of the turmoil, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).  Many years ago, I heard an observation about Christian life that makes a lot of sense.  We all are either heading into, going through or coming out of a trial in our lives.  No one gets through life without a struggle because the refining of our hearts is done through fire.  True lasting peace can only come through Jesus Christ.  It does not come through some person, some thing, some possession, some job, some vacation, some event, or some arranged peace between political allies.  It can only come through a personal relationship through Jesus Christ.  All these other ways are only an illusion—a mirage, and will soon fade because they are not real. 

 

Have you ever been through a difficult time in your life and were able to have a peace that you could not explain?  I have experienced this.  My husband went in for minor surgery and was in the operating room being put to sleep when the doctor’s thought that he had a heart attack.  I was notified what had happened, and that they were trying to stabilize him.  I immediately had a sense of peace, it was like a bubble surrounded me, and no report could sway me that he was not alright.   Had I not been a Christian I would have been petrified of what I was being told.  Instead, God gave me a promise in His Word and I rested in that promise, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me” (John 14:1).  I refused to be swayed and said, “My husband’s heart is not troubled it is at peace.”   Years later, my husband’s heart is still at peace with no trace or evidence of a heart attack.  “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3).

 

God’s peace is available to anyone who puts their faith and trust in Jesus Christ.  Peace is a promise to every believer and it is your Heavenly Father’s desire for you to have peace, not only through a difficult time, but in your every day life.  His peace is to be the constant state of being for the Christian and is not dedicated by circumstance—good or bad.   Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 145:27).   This is what our Heavenly Father wants for His children—that they walk in peace even in the midst of the storm in their every day lives.

 

This does not mean that sometimes we might feel fear or anxiety; but, for the person of peace, the Holy Spirit’s presence quickly calms the fear and anxiety, and then that person begins to feel the power of the Holy Spirit speaking calm and assurance to their heart. 

 

A deep genuine God-given peace can be the norm for the believer.  It is what God desires for you and me.  God does not desire that your soul be in turmoil, but hat your heart be anchored in peace.

 

Prayer—Father I thank you that my heart is fixed, trusting in You.  I thank You for the Peace that passes all understanding to keep my mind stable and focused upon You.  Holy Spirit I ask You to strengthen and help me to keep my eyes upon Jesus and not the turmoil around me, in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

PEACE CAUSES US TO EXPERIENCE THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN OUR LIVES

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”—John 14:27

 

The Bible meaning of peace in both Hebrew and Greek is to be well, to be happy, to be healthy, to be prosperous, to be restful, to be safe, to be whole, to be secure, to be quiet, and set at one again with God.  I like to think of peace as:  The state of being in which we were designed to be in harmony with God.

 

Isaiah 48:17-18 tells us how we can experience the presence of God in our lives.  “Thus says the Lord, your redeemer, the Holy one of Israel: ‘I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you be the way you should go.  Oh, that you had heeded my commandments!  Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.’”  We see in this scripture that peace is equated to “heeding” God’s commandments.  “Heeding” implies to pay attention.  God’s commandments were given to guide mankind in ways of peace and doing what is right and to protect them from sin and suffering.  Paying attention to God’s laws means:  following them, practicing them and being guided by them.  When we follow God’s instructions, our peace will be “like a river.”  This is God’s promise to us.  If we are not experiencing peace like a river, we need to check up on ourselves to see if we are heeding His word. 

 

I encourage you today to be aware of the presence of God in your life, and to allow the peace of God—the harmony between you and God to rule and reign in your heart.

 

Prayer—Father I thank You for Your peace that passes all understanding ruling and reigning in my heart.  Father I ask for Your help in paying attention to Your Word so that I experience Your presence in my life, in Jesus Name.  Amen.

THERE ARE NO TRIUMPHS WITHOUT TRIALS

“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.”—2 Corinthians 2:14

 

Recently, my husband and I were reflecting on some of the trials we have encounter in over 46 years of marriage and how we came through them.  Because we chose to believe in a living, loving heavenly Father, a risen Christ, and the Holy Spirit who enabled us to stand in the midst of adversity on so many levels, we were able to triumph each time.   

 

Connie Ruth Christiansen writes about Rev. Tyng (1825-1858) who inspired the poem, Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus that he was, “A dynamic preacher known for taking strong stands against evil, no matter what the cost.  On Tuesday, March 30, 1858, Tyng preached a sermon on Exodus 10:11, “Go now ye that are men and serve the Lord”, at a YMCA noon mass meeting. Tyng delivered his message to 5,000 men that day.  More than 1,000 of those men responded to the altar call, to receive Jesus as their Savior.  Just over a week later, Tyng lay dying as a result of a tragic accident.  His final statement, whispered to friends and family, was ‘Let us all stand up for Jesus.’”

Christiansen goes on to say that, “Following Tyng’s death, his friend Pastor Duffield preached a sermon taken from Ephesians 6:14 (Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness”) as a tribute to the final words of his friend and concluded his sermon with a six-stanza poem.  This poem Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus has since become one of the most recognized hymns in all English-speaking Christendom.”

Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross;
Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss.
From victory unto victory His army shall He lead,
Till every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the solemn watchword hear;
If while ye sleep He suffers, away with shame and fear;
Where'er ye meet with evil, within you or without,
Charge for the God of battles, and put the foe to rout.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the trumpet call obey;
Forth to the mighty conflict, in this His glorious day.
Ye that are brave now serve Him against unnumbered foes;
Let courage rise with danger, and strength to strength oppose.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, stand in His strength alone;
The arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the Gospel armor, each piece put on with prayer;
Where duty calls or danger, be never wanting there.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, each soldier to his post,
Close up the broken column, and shout through all the host:
Make good the loss so heavy, in those that still remain,
And prove to all around you that death itself is gain.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the strife will not be long;
This day the noise of battle, the next the victor's song.
To him who overcometh a crown of life shall be;
They with the King of Glory shall reign eternally.

Confess your concerns and fears to God. Turn your burdens over to Him. He wants to help you overcome them. He wants to give you a great victory, but first you must put your trust in Him. When we try to face the battle on our own, we are likely to fail.  But with God at the heart of our battle plan, we can succeed.  Only when our trust is in God will we find peace and rest during troubled times and we able to triumph.  “For he has delivered me from all my troubles, and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes” (Psalm 54:7).

Prayer—Father, I thank You for the reminder today that without the trial, there can be no triumph.  Lord I ask You to help me to trust You in turning my burdens over to You, in Jesus Name.  Amen.

 

HAVE PEACE IN THE MIDST OF TURMOIL

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder.  And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”—Isaiah 9:6

 

At the time of Jesus’ birth, Israel was in the iron grip of the all-powerful Roman Empire and they hated it.  The Jews remembered the covenant of Abraham and the promises concerning the coming Messiah; however they were expecting an earthly ruler, a political leader and one who would restore the glory years of King David and King Solomon.  They were not expecting the Savior of the world, the Prince of Peace to come in the form of a servant.  Perhaps they were thinking of an earthly overthrow of the Roman Empire; instead, the Son of God overthrew the kingdom of Satan.  

 

According to Webster’s dictionary, peace is a state of tranquility, quiet, calm, freedom from civil disturbance.  A state of security-being secure within a community, freedom from oppression, strife and disorder.  In harmony in personal relations, and untroubled by conflict, agitation or commotion.  It is our Lord’s desire for us to have peace in the midst of turmoil, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).   Real peace can be known in the midst of turmoil, chaos, or confusion.  The surface of the water during a storm at sea is quite violent; however, the deeper you go below the surface the calmer things become.  Far below the surface, deep in the ocean, is a quiet that is totally unaware of the chaotic disturbance that is felt on top of the waves. 

 

Jesus provided that kind of peace for us “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me” (John 14:1).  Ephesus 2:14 says, “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation.”  When Satan throws everything against us, and it seems like hell has broken through on the surface of our life—health, finances and relationship may crumble and toss us about like a violent wave; remember that by sinking down deeper into Him, we experience His peace as an anchor of security.

 

The Apostle Paul was in prison when he wrote to his dear friends saying, “And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).  Allow the peace of God to be your guard heart and mind in the midst of chaos in turmoil.  The enemy comes against our mind and our emotions; however we do not continually go over the bad things that have happen to us in our mid, nor allow our emotions to rule us.  Christ’s Peace will calm every conflict in our lives.

 

Prayer—Father I ask You to help me turn to You in every conflict of my life today.  Lord help me to keep my mind on You because in You there is peace in the midst of all that is going on in my life, in Jesus Name.  Amen.