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.