Laying Down your Peace?

“People who lay down their peace often have stopped praying with thanksgiving and praise. Followers of Jesus need a vibrant prayer life. As the gospel song says, They need to ‘stay in touch with God.’ They must avoid talking with God only about what they think they need, and regularly live with a thankful heart—giving thanks always in all circumstances for all things.” –Charles Stanley

Desire Peace but don't Sacrifice Truth for it

Peace is such a precious jewel that I would give anything for it but truth.

Matthew Henry

Following God's Ways

“God knew that following His ways would create quietness, order, rest, and happiness. His wisdom is timeless. Grasp for things—a job, fame, or fortune—rather than concentrating on fulfilling your responsibilities will almost always end in a struggle.” Practical Happiness, p. 186 Bob Shultz

Peace

Peace

 

     Jesus is the Prince of Peace and the Bible declares that the Holy Spirit will lead us by peace and when our mind is stayed on the Lord, we will be at peace. Do you have deep peace in your heart? I’m not talking about never feeling frustrated, but about the contentment of God rooted in your spirit and your mind settled that God has everything you see going on around you in His hands? The Lord leads by peace. Therefore, never rush from a parish or ministry because of storms and billows. No, wait—get alone with the Lord and leave with His peace. In Isaiah, we have the sweet promise that the Lord will lead us forth with joy and bring us out with peace. Peace……Let not your heart be troubled, but believe on the Lord.

Worry and Confusion

Worry and Confusion

“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace. . .”

1 Corinthians 14:33 KJV

      

   If this Scripture is true, and it is, then why do we give the impression that we are confused as we walk through life? Well, we often worry before we become confused, right? I mean, we get worried about that upcoming test and before we know it we are confusing our history with our science—the facts just get all jumbled up in a confusing mess.

    The Bible calls worry sin, and why shouldn’t it be? If we are worrying then we are essentially saying, “God, you aren’t good enough for me. I am going to trust in myself and try to process this issue with my own understanding”—we place worry and our understanding up as idols!

    While on this issue a sin principle needs to be mentioned: when we commit a sin and do not repent, that sin ends up multiplying in various other forms and has various other side effects. We can sin by worrying and then become really confused, frustrated and discouraged in consequence. Are you getting this? Without worry there is often not confusion, and thus we are able to rest in the peace of the arms of God. Even though our circumstances scream, “You should worry!” we can have peace instead, like the Apostle Paul who got up and went back to the city of those who thought they had killed him by stoning (based on Acts 14:19-20). Paul had the assurance that God had a job for him to do in that city, so he did not worry and was not confused about what he should do—he was truly led by the Spirit—and, after all, Paul could have chosen to run away confused and angry that God would allow something so extreme as stoning to happen to him; but he did not, wow!

    This worrying factor of confusion has been a big part of my life recently. I have begun to really understand that worry encompasses more than I ever thought it did; yet, in Messiah Jesus, I can find peace. The relationship between worry and confusion is sheerly amazing! Yet, God’s peace comes through choosing not to worry; and instead choosing to cast our worries to the ground at the foot of the cross, at Jesus’ feet.

    Before we go on, which will you choose in your life: will you worry about making the change that the Holy Spirit is gently prompting you to; or will you step forward—in the strength of Christ!—determining not to worry; casting all of your cares on Christ?

     God understands everything! Nothing is unknown or needs to be discovered by Him. His ways always make sense . . . ., that is, if we could see things from the all-inclusive perspective that He does.

      Ok, so I’ve preached, now let’s put confusion and worry into a real-life context: a woman marries the man of her dreams, they have a few kids and everything is great until ten years later. At that point, she discovers that “Mr. Perfect” is having an affair with a younger woman. Now, this woman is a Christian; but should she get a divorce or not? And should she be worried or not? Scripture gives only one ground for divorce in the New Testament: marital unfaithfulness, a.k.a. adultery, but the Scripture also says that God hates divorce, so what should she do? She can get divorced on Biblical grounds, but should she? This is where prayer comes in. Worry and confusion definitely want to gain ground in her life during this situation! But she has to attack them with Scripture and patient prayer in order to be open to God’s will and maintain her peace.

       Let’s take a moment and remember that she only has two basic options: 1) she can either get divorced or 2) she can fight on and hope for a complete restoration to her husband (for more information on this, check out the movie Fireproof and the book The Love Dare).

      We do not know, just by looking at the Scriptures, which option she should take. Only God knows, and she will have to seek Him whole-heartedly to find out. Can you see worry and confusion trying to push their way into a situation like this instead of the peace of God which transcends all our understanding (Phil.4:7)?

       Situations like this woman’s are great places for confusion and worry to fester. But even in our deepest, darkest places there can still be hope and peace. If we will simply seek Him first, everything else falls in place over time (Matt. 6:33). The point of this thought is this, will we wait for the Lord’s direction, or will we only look at Scripture (in our own understanding) and get confused?

          Also, please, understand that I am in no way attempting to belittle the Word of God in saying that its passages do not provide a clear answer. We simply cannot find answers to everything by knowing all the connected passages of Scripture on some issues. Scripture can be very helpful, and I fully and heartily endorse Bible study; but are we so elevating the Bible and what we intellectually interpret it to mean that it has become our ‘god,’ and source of strength; instead of our relationship with the Lord Himself? In other words, have we exchanged our relationship for a mere set of reason’s rules? I dare say that the answer to these two questions will separate the religious from the redeemed. Those are tough questions, but I pray that the Holy Spirit will use them to convey what you need to understand right now. God Bless, and remember not to worry.

Yielded Ground

    Yielded Ground. The Bible tells us not to give place, that is opportunity to the Devil (Eph 4:27). When we do, we yield ground in the domain of our heart. Bitterness, lust, envy, fears, hate, discouragement, and depression our matters of our heart. They are the fruit of Satan getting his foot in the door. When we trust in the Lord, we have peace that passes all understanding. Is there something you’re struggling with? Examine your heart in the a quiet, solitary place before the Lord.

 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Phil 4:6-7 (KJV)

   Remember the things that you have learned in your Walk. Recall with Joy that your names are written in Heaven! Recall the fact that God is sovereign and reigns over all. There is no logical reason to worry when God holds everything in His hand. Nothing can defeat God’s perfect will.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you

Phil 4:8-9 (KJV)

 

     Have you surrendered “ground” in the domain of your heart to the world, the flesh, or the devil? Examine yourself in a quiet place. Get still before God. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you have violated guarding the gate ways of your soul (your eyes and ears that pave the way to your mind and heart). Some areas to consider if you have given Satan an opportunity in are: the music you listen to, the people you are buddy-buddy with, talk shows, podcasts, false prophets/teachers you sit under, books you read, television programs, advertisements, businesses, organizations/people you are partnered with.

      Re-read the Scriptures mentioned today. Are you letting the Peace of God reign in your life? Whatever is not of Faith is sin (Romans). Let the Peace of God rule (call the shots) in your life.

 

 

Flowing in the Spirit does not mean flowing in emotion.

Flowing in the Spirit does not mean flowing in emotion.

(Romans 8:1-7)

Thought 321: Only You from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 321

Only You

  Only you can fulfill your calling, because only you have the right equipment and experience given to you by God to overcome and accomplish all that He has for you.

  Do you know what your Spiritual gifting(s) as a Believer is? What talents do you have?—you have at least one  Most importantly, what is Holy Spirit prompting you to do right now, even if you feel totally unprepared: what is your passion? Pray about it, the Lord will direct you. God does want to use you as a light to others. Ask Him “how Lord?” Then see where He gives peace (even if you experience attacks of peace from the enemy, but now in your spirit that He has given you peace to do something).  When He answers, do what He says.

·        Act in Faith: that is, believe what God tells you.

·        Walk in Peace: that is, only go and do where God gives you peace in your Spirit. If you don’t have peace, don’t move.

·        Wait patiently and endure suffering as a good soldier of the Lord.

Lastly, GO and STAND (Matthew 28:19-20 and Ephesians 6:10-19)