His Peace

With everything that is going on today there seems to be a oversupply of worry and anxiety and very little peace of mind.  I just spent a good solid 8 days dealing with COVID and finally found healing from the Lord’s strong hand.  Yet there is a persistent concern for what happens next.  Can a person get the virus again?  What kind of extended health issues now become a concern?  It is easy to get consumed with anxiety about such things.  Add to all that the concern about life itself.  It can be quite the emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical unrest!

Fortunately, our God knows we need a different focus than the trials and troubles of the world, and Jesus says,

“Peace I leave with you.  My peace I give to you.  I don’t give to you

as the world gives.  Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful”

John 14:27

Jesus gives us peace.  The question though is how do we experience or appropriate this peace that God gives.  Paul knew that believers would struggle with experiencing God’s beautiful peace amidst all the concerns of the world and of life so he gives believers an action plan for having peace rather than anxiety.  Look at Paul’s plan for experiencing peace!

“Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!

Let your graciousness be made known to everyone.  The Lord is near.

Don’t worry about anything, but in everything,

through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:4-7

What a simple beautiful plan for having God’s peace rather than the troubles of the life.  It all begins with rejoicing!  We rejoice in the God of our salvation and the fact that God is the overcomer!  We are to let that joy be evident in our lives, sure life can be messed up and challenging but God’s joy and presence is always near.  We are not alone!

Because of that we don’t have to worried or preoccupied with all the anxiety that life CAN cause.  Rather we take it in prayer, through petitions with thanksgiving that God hears, and cares and we give those requests, those anxieties to God.  God then replaces our focus on the troubles with peace that He is in control and has the problem answered or solved on our behalf so that we are filled with peace, His peace that will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, the author and prince of peace.

Another reminder for believers that we have joy and peace to very thankful for especially during these very anxious days!


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