During my walk yesterday, I asked God to place in my heart what we needed to pray for this week. The word peace among other things came to mind, but peace was the one that I felt God was impressing on my heart to share today. I have to admit, I have had so much peace throughout all of this. Last year God took me through a journey to find the peace within me. You can read the entire post here, but I did want to share a little bit of that post with you today. I know that many of you are struggling to find peace right now. The uncertainty of your circumstances may be bringing up so many different emotions. Anything from anger to fear to being overwhelmed or sad. I get it. I still battle with those emotions, but God has taught me to take it all to Him. I did not learn this easily and I still struggle, but I know now that the peace that God gives us is unlike any other peace we can receive from other people or material things. It’s a peace that surpasses all understanding and guards our hearts and minds.
So how do we find peace?
We ask for it. Every day. Cry out to Him and ask Him to surround you with His peace. When anxious thoughts or lies from the enemy try to come into your mind, rebuke them and replace them with the Word of God. Wake up each day and choose to be in a gratitude state of mind instead of a comparison trap. I know our circumstances are not perfect. I know you may be living paycheck to paycheck. You may be going through some health issues. You may have just lost a loved one. I get it. I’ve been there. But instead of focusing on what God has “taken away”, let’s focus on what He continues to give us. I read something recently that hit me hard. It said that God is still the God of everything that is left in your life. When my daddy died. God didn’t stop being God. He is still God. And He is still the God of my life. He gives us His peace freely. All we need to do is ask.
John 14:27 says, ” 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.”
God doesn’t give as the world gives. His love is not the kind the world offers. People will disappoint us. They will break our hearts. Our loved ones will die. Sickness does exist. But God tells us to not let our hearts be troubled and to not be afraid. He comforts and strengthens us. He is there with us through the ups and downs of life. Nothing is insignificant to Him. That request you may think is insignificant to God? It is not! It is just as important as any other. So present your requests to God. All of them and stand assured that the peace of God will guard your hearts and your mind just as it says in Philippians 4:7.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
When we are at peace, we bring a person at peace to our marriages, our families and our relationships. That is God’s desire for us. The enemy is after our marriages and our families. Don’t let the whispers from the enemy steal that peace that God has given you. Hold onto it tightly and ask for it daily.
Dear God, thank you for your peace. Thank you for your love, your faithfulness and your reassurance that you are with us. Life is crazy. So many things are pulling at us, trying to steal our peace. Help us stand firm on your promise to not be afraid. Guard our hearts and our minds dear Lord. Send your peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Whatever you are struggling with today, give it to Jesus. Beg Him for that peace that only He can give and rest in knowing that He is in control.