Wednesday, December 14, 2016

I’ve Got A Peaceful Easy Feeling. I Know That God Won’t Let Me Down.

My Utmost For His Highest
 
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… —John 14:27
 
“Whenever we experience something difficult in our personal life, we are tempted to blame God. But we are the ones in the wrong, not God. Blaming God is evidence that we are refusing to let go of some disobedience somewhere in our lives. But as soon as we let go, everything becomes as clear as daylight to us. As long as we try to serve two masters, ourselves and God, there will be difficulties combined with doubt and confusion. […] God’s mark of approval, whenever you obey Him, is peace. He sends an immeasurable, deep peace; not a natural peace, “as the world gives,” but the peace of Jesus. […] The spirit of simplicity, clarity, and unity is born through the Holy Spirit, not through your decisions.”  CHAMBERS
 
The Christmas season is a time when people think about peace.  The absence of conflict.  I am reminded of the story about the soldiers during World War 1 that came out of the trenches on Christmas to enjoy a moment of peace in the midst of the mayhem that was going on around them.  They had peace for a moment and then they went back to killing each other.  But the peace that God gives us is not a cease-fire.  It’s not a stroll through a field of flowers with blue sky, white puffy clouds, the sun shining and birds and butterflies flitting about. First. The peace God offers is peace with Himself.  (Romans 5:1) “… since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  When Jesus said that in He we can have peace, He said it would be in the midst of tribulation.  (John 16:33)  Peace with the Father.  Forgiveness, restoration, eternal life.  All of that in the midst of the turmoil of life on this planet.  And having found peace with God, we can enjoy peace within as fruit or the result from the Spirit that is in us.
 
I saw a bumper sticker years ago that said “No Jesus, No Peace, Know Jesus, Know Peace”  (Philippians 4:6,7) “do not be anxious about anything, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus.” I watch so many people struggling in life.  Making the wrong choices and suffering the consequences.  Facing hardships that were not of their own doing, not knowing which way to turn.  Oh for a moment of peace.  As I typed those words I remembered hearing those words from my mom when I was a child as she raised 7 children.  “I just want a moment of peace!” she would say.  But when she came back out of her room, the fray was still going on.  At that time, she was not a Christian so she had no alternative but escape.  You can have peace in the midst of whatever circumstance you find yourself in today.  It’s yours for the trusting.  ELGIN

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