Monday, July 18, 2011

Peace is possible and expected!

Thank you for all of your prayers while we were on vacation. It is amazing what a bit of refreshing can do.

Our world is a very busy place. It used to be that information took days, weeks or even months to be disseminated to the entire country let alone the world. Today in moments we know what has happened literally around the world. Wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes, floods, and disasters of every type are constantly filling our TV’s, computers, and print media.

Paul wrote to the young pastor Timothy in his second letter saying, “God hasn’t given us a spirit of fear or timidity but of power, love, and soundness of mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

Jesus said in John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

What does peace look like? According to the Bible the peace Jesus and Paul are talking about is simply being whole, being one with the Lord, being at rest. Sounds wonderful but a little tough on the follow through. There is a lot that hits us everyday. We can prepare for some of the stresses and trials of life but others that hit us catch us off guard and we find ourselves worrying or becoming anxious when we shouldn’t.

Peace is a decision. Peace is the Lord’s nature and character. Having surrendered to Christ implies that we can live in this peace all of the time. Like any other aspect of growing in Christ, it takes both a decision and practice on our part to live in that place of surrender to Christ that allows us to live in His peace.

We will still have trials and struggles come our way. Having peace from God means that in the middle of our storm, when everyone else is panicking we show that we are His disciples. We show that we trust Him. Anyone can have peace when things are going well. Real men and women of God are not perfect but are always learning to trust and rest in His peace.

You may not need it today or tomorrow but at some point in the near future you will be challenged to be at peace or to worry. Make the decision today to choose to believe that God has placed in you the ability to live in a place of peace. As the Nike ad says, “Just do it!”

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