2021-11-01
Philippians 4:7 CEV
Mother Teresa is attributed with saying, “I know God won’t give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish He didn’t trust me so much!” Is that how you feel today? Like there is too much to do and not enough of you to do it? Let Romans chapter fifteen, verse thirteen, percolate in your mind: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (NIV). The way to have peace in the midst of a troubled situation is by staying filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.
How do you do that? By developing a spiritual hunger and letting God fill you. He can give you a sense of serenity when you’re surrounded by stress. So, if you’re in over your head today, pray this: “Father, you said no weapon formed against me shall prosper (See Isaiah 54:17). I can’t keep the Enemy’s weapons from being formed, but I know you will keep them from prevailing against me. You said if I ask anything according to your will, you will grant my request (See 1 John 5:14-15). You said when I walk in obedience, I will be blessed when I come in, when I go out, when I lie down, and when I get up (See Deuteronomy 28:6; Psalms 1:2; 3:5). You told me to turn all my troubles over to you and you will take care of me (See 1 Peter 5:7). So here they are! Today I’m standing on your promises. You said it! I believe it! That settles it! Amen.”
Soul food: 1 Chr 17:1-20; Heb 11:4-12:3; Ps 18:20-29; Prov 4:18
Philippians 4:7 CEV
Someone once said, ‘I know God won’t give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish He didn’t trust me so much!’ Is that how you’re feeling today? When it feels like there’s too much to do or the things we’re facing are too big to handle, let’s try to focus on these words of peace and let our minds rest in them: ‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit’ (Romans 15:13 NIV).
We won’t find true and lasting peace from anything external. The peace that stays with us through troubles and challenges only comes when we let God fill us with His Holy Spirit. He can satisfy our spiritual hunger and give us a sense of calm and serenity even when we’re sounded by stresses and strains.
If you feel overwhelmed at the moment, and in need of God’s peace, here’s a prayer of encouragement: ‘Father, You said there’s no weapon that’ll succeed when used against me (see Isaiah 54:17). I can’t stop the enemy’s weapons being use, but I know You’ll stop them winning against me. You said that if I ask for anything in line with Your will, You’ll grant my request (see 1 John 5:14-15). You said that when I walk in obedience, I’ll be blessed when I come in, when I go out, when I lie down, and when I get up (see Deuteronomy 28:6; Psalms 1:2; 3:5). You told me to give all my worries and troubles to You and You’ll take care of me (see 1 Peter 5:7). So here they are. Today I’m trusting in Your promises. You said it, so I believe it’s true. Amen.’
1 Chr 17:1-20; Heb 11:4-12:3; Ps 18:20-29; Prov 4:18
2021-10-05
John 14:27 NIV
God rarely sends us into situations where our comfort level is high. Instead He promises to be with us in spite of our fear. It’s God’s presence, not comfortable circumstances, that strengthens our faith and brings out the best in us.
God told Abraham to leave a wealthy, well-known family, and go to a land he didn’t know. He explained that Abraham would give birth to a new nation that would bless the world. Abraham went, and a nation was born. God told Moses to confront Pharaoh, the most powerful man on earth, and that God Himself would use Moses to deliver His people. Moses confronted, and God delivered. God told Joshua that if he’d be strong and courageous when everybody wanted to return to slavery, God would go with them and give them the land. Joshua was strong and courageous, and God Himself went with them and gave them the land.
Over and over we see this pattern repeated in Scripture. David faced the giant Goliath, Elijah faced the prophets of Baal, Daniel faced a den of lions – and always there was God in the midst of their fear. And He’s still there for us today – there are so many testimonies from ordinary people who tell how God was right there with them when they were facing their most fearful moments.
Here are Jesus’ words for when we’re feeling afraid and don’t know where to turn: ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.’
1 Sam 27-31; Luke 24:45-53; Ps 63; Prov 22:17-23
John 14:27 NIV
God rarely sends us into situations where our comfort level is high. Instead He promises to be with us in spite of our fear. It’s God’s presence, not comfortable circumstances that strengthens our faith and brings out the best in us.
God told Abraham to leave a wealthy, well-known family, and go to a land he didn’t know. He explained that Abraham would give birth to a new nation that would bless the world. Abraham went, and a nation was born. God told Moses to confront Pharaoh, the most powerful man on earth, and that God Himself would use Moses to deliver His people. Moses confronted, and God delivered. God told Joshua that if he’d be strong and courageous when everybody wanted to return to slavery, God would go with them and give them the land. Joshua was strong and courageous, and God Himself went with them and gave them the land.
Over and over we see this pattern repeated in Scripture. David faced the giant Goliath, Elijah faced the prophets of Baal, Daniel faced a den of lions – and always there was God in the midst of their fear. And lest you think these stories of courage are all in the past, historian Everett Ferguson calculates that more Christians have been killed for their faith in the past fifty years, than in the first three hundred years of the church’s existence. So here’s Jesus’ Word to you when somebody doesn’t like you, or you get a bad review at work, or you face illness, or the economy dips and your retirement takes a 50 percent hit: “My peace I give you.”
Soul food: 1 Sam 27-31; Luke 24:45-53; Ps 63; Prov 22:17-23
2021-09-19
Judges 6:23 NIV
Gideon discovered the name Jehovah-Shalom: the Lord my peace when God assigned him the job of leading Israel against the Midianites – a position Gideon thought was way beyond his abilities. ‘How can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family’ (v.15 NIV). The Lord responded, ‘I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites…Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die’ (v.16, 23 NIV). A frightened Gideon believed God before the battle was even fought and the victory secured. Through the eyes of faith, he envisioned peace already secured, and built an altar to Jehovah-Shalom: the Lord my peace.
We assume that we can only have inner peace when our outer circumstances are good. Let’s learn, like Gideon, that our inner peace doesn’t depend on changing our external circumstances. It depends on believing that Jehovah-Shalom is with us, which will bring us through the battles we face with inner peace.
Jesus said: ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace [which is inner, and faith-based] I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives [which is based on external circumstances]. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid’ (John 14:27 NIV). Today, let’s think about these words: ‘I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace…take heart! I have overcome the world’ (John 16:33 NIV). Our job is to ‘take heart’ because Jehovah-Shalom is with us, and to trust Christ the ‘overcomer’ to handle the circumstances for us.
Gen 2:7-25; 1 Cor 15:39-55
