His Peace is Not as the World Gives
It is Sacred for You Alone
As we enter the second week of Advent, let His peace reign in your heart (for it is always a heart issue). Each week of Advent is marked by a concept to focus on during the week. The first week is Hope. Last week we discussed how to keep Jesus the center of your life despite what is going on around you. He is your hope. This week, we seek His peace.
Traverse Loss with His Peace
This past week a very dear friend of mine departed this world for a place in eternity. In life there are but a few people who profoundly affect your life and your walk with the Lord. This was one such friend for me. So many emotions and memories flood your spirit when you lose a loved one. In the natural, you walk through the stages of grief. Spiritually, you pray for the family and friends. The loss is overwhelming at times during the process.
The only way to safely navigate these waters of loss is to rest deep in the arms of the Lord. His peace is beyond what you can imagine in the natural. He walks you through every step. Loss can take many faces in life. Loss can present as loss of health, work, marriage, friendship, home, family. Whatever challenge you may be walking through today, let His peace saturate your being. Carve a space to be alone with Him and rest in His peace.
There is Peace in this Place
God’s peace does surpass all understanding. It is deep. It is immovable. It is sacred. It is a gift freely given to His followers. Even if you are alone this season, there is a peace in this place. Despite all the issues and distractions in your circumstance, there is a peace in this place. Despite emotions swirling around relationships and loss, there is a peace in this place too. You must choose to follow Him completely to rest in His peace.
What Path Do You Walk?
You cannot live with one foot in the world and one in the Kingdom. Such a split of focus will diminish your influence in each arena. Trying to do so will weary you over time. No fruit will remain in either realm. Disruption and chaos will resound in your spirit growing louder as time passes. The din will ultimately drown out ‘the still small voice’ of God. You will then wander aimlessly without His direction, guidance and leading.
Put both feet on the Kingdom path now. Yes, it is the narrow path. Yes, few find it. But you have the opportunity before you today. If you have wandered off the path, step back on it. If you have long walked the wider road of the world, come along to the narrow path for there you will find a peace that does surpass all understanding. There is a peace in this place-the narrow path.
This season receive His peace. Walk in His peace. Bring His peace to others who are hurting. Be His peace this season. We wait in anticipation for the coming of Christ at Christmas and His second coming. Let your relationship with Him shine through to all you encounter. God bless you with His peace this week and always!
Quotes To Ponder This Week
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” ~Jesus, Matthew 5:9
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow…”~Jesus, Matthew 6:33-34
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” ~Jesus, Matthew 7:13-14
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” ~Jesus, Matthew 11:28
“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.” ~Jesus, John 16:33
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” ~Philippians 4:6-7
“The fulfillment of our high destiny demands, as a prime requisite, that we get right with God and proceed with Him…For remember, those who meet life with God can stand anything, and in the fiercest adversity they will know the joy and peace that belong to conquerors.” ~Teunis E. Gouwens, Second Presbyterian Church, Louisville, Ky., Strength for Service to God and Country, 1942
“Fix your gaze on what is unseen, even as the visible world parades before your eyes.” ~Sarah Young, Jesus Calling, 2004
A Prayer Request
Thank you for your continued faithfulness to pray. Please keep all who serve our country, our diplomatic corps, our servicemen and women and their families in prayer for salvation and safety. They are our front-line on the battlefield, let us be their front-line in the spirit. Also, let us cover all who have come home wounded that they and their families will receive the kindness, help and support they need to go forward in their lives. May the Lord bless them and keep them safe.
Remember all who lost their lives December 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor. May we honor with gratitude all who served.
Pray for all throughout the world for hedges of protection against radical Muslim extremists and all forms of terrorism. We have long prayed for spiritual victory over radical Islam in Esther’s Warriors Ministry. We now see the reality of this threat come to the forefront in this time in world history.
Please pray for all in authority over us, for the full truth to come forth concerning Benghazi. We as Americans and the families of those murdered in Benghazi deserve to be told the truth. Pray that God will open doors to let the truth on all that has been hidden flow for all of us in this United States of America! The truth shall keep us free.
Pray for peace in Israel. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Pray for Christians throughout the world who face violence and death for their faith.
May God richly bless the United States of America, bring to light every single crooked place and keep her safe. May we arise united once again as One Nation Under God in this auspicious season in our country’s history. We continue to pray for truth to prevail as we saturate this country in prayer and stand for all that is right in America and for all of us who call ourselves American. These are treacherous times and now more than ever we must maintain our walk. Fail not in this hour. #Pray for America.
Please Join Me in Prayer
Father God, We thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, to bring His peace to every heart that is open to Him. Grace us to deepen our relationship with You above all earthly distractions. Empower us to walk in Your peace and to take Your peace to a dark and dying world. In this season of peace let us be Your peace to all we encounter. Great is Your faithfulness, oh God! We thank You that You keep Your hand on America. Forgive our sin and heal our land that we will remain One Nation Under God. We pray this in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen and Amen.