Tag Archives: John 14:27

Loving Along the Way, Seeking the Kingdom of God

In the Moments (Simplicity in Christ)

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The sun is breaking through the clouds on this chilly, late January morning. As I approach the house, from Jack’s mid-morning walk, the warmth lures me to stay outside. Jack is a twelve-week-old Australian Shepherd, who became a member of our family a few weeks ago.

But, by the time I secure Jack, grab my lawn chair, journal, and water, the sun hides behind the greyness of the day. Hopeful it’s just a temporary pause in my winter “sun bath”, I toss Jack a treat, sip some water, and open my Bible.

I turn  to the verse I’ve been draw to often this month. “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”  (II Corinthians 11:3 NKJV).

Paul’s concern for the church at Corinth is about them being deceived. I get it. I believe I’ve been deceived as well.

My life seems anything but simple. From the divorce of my parents, earning an IT degree, raising four kids, maintaining a home, owning a business …   Simple is not how I’d describe things.  

Maybe my definition of the word is part of the problem. To me, simplicity seems to mean freedom from the complexities of life, uncomplicated. This can’t be what Paul meant. A smooth life was never promised.   

The sun is peeking through again. A bit of warmth slathers my face.

Have I been wearing myself out seeking something that’s not possible? 

From Jesus’ very words, I get my answer.

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful (John 14:27 NASB).

Simplicity isn’t peace as the world gives it.

These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world (John 16:33 NASB).

Simplicity isn’t a life free of conflict and tribulation.

I know simplicity is possible, but I need understanding.  What does true, Biblical simplicity really mean?

Pondering the question, I’m struck by two things:

  • The word we translate as “simplicity” in the original Greek means singular focus, sincerity, God seeking and not self-seeking, mental honesty.
  • Our simplicity is ‘in Christ‘.

Jack is getting restless. I know I need to stop soon. I press into God, Lord, show me how to live this life Paul is referring to.

Seek First

Tossing Jack a toy, Jesus’ words come to mind. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you (Matthew 6:33 NASB).

The verses before this warn us against having a narrow focus on the world and the necessities of life. Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things (Matthew 6:31-32 NASB).

Jesus tells us to have a singular focus on God, His righteousness, and the reign of His ever-unfolding kingdom.  

This seems hard, but God empowers us every step of the way. “for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13 NASB).

Love as He’s Loved us

Hours before He was crucified, Jesus said, “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11 These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. 12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you (John 15:9-12 NASB).

Jesus boils things down to simple terms.

Love.

How do we love? As He’s loved us.

How much is that? As much as the Father loves Him.

And He tells us if we love others as He’s loved us, two amazing things happen:

  • We abide in His love
  • We receive His full joy

Wow, This is the kind of life I want.

Challenge

What’s crowding your mind this very moment? What thoughts and emotions seem to keep swirling around in your soul? It could be feelings of hurt, illnesses, concerns for loved ones, money problems …

Would you trade it all for a singular focus of seeking God’s kingdom by loving others?

Use the following verses as a type of vacuum cleaner for your soul, giving everyone and everything to God.

6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. (I Peter 5:6-7 NASB).

Linger in the ever presence peace of Christ.

Prayer

Lord, like Eve, I’ve been deceived. I’ve too often allowed the cares of this life to be my focus. I’ve allowed circumstances to make my life feel complicated and anything but simple. Peace as the world gives it is never possible. You are my Peace.

You have given me understanding and insight.

With you working in me, I have all I need to live a life of simplicity in You.

Please remind me quickly when I allow the worries and distractions of this world to draw me from pure and simple devotion to you.

Keep me in the narrow focus of seeking Your kingdom as I love those You place in my path. May I view the challenges and duties of life, not as distraction and bothers, but as ways to serve you and love others.

With all my love, Amen. 

Other posts in our series In The Moments:

As Sea Gulls Fly

The Gift of Presence

It is Finished

Behold the Moments

Tranquility

Stop Striving

Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God’s nearness in the midst of life’s adventures.

Subscribe below to get email notifications of new posts. We post a few times a month. Thank you for reading. 

Please Check out the  Cola City Podcast . Discussions that impact the vision of reaching every man, woman, and child in a city.

Novels by the Author:

What happens when a professor figures out how to send messages to his younger self to try and avoid the suicide of his best friend? Did he change more than he bargained for?  Beyond Time

By finding two undelivered letters in a old shack deep in the woods, Cassie and Daniel unknowing set off a series of events which uncover a plot to wipe out a whole family. Hope Remains

Deeper Surrender, Full Embrace

In the Moments(Tranquility)

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 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters (Psalm 23:2 NASB). 

Tranquility – the quality or state of being quiet, calm and peaceful

A smooth lake, the setting sun sinking below a distant mountain, geese flying in unison above the calm, picturesque expanse.

Our hearts long for such peace, but the world can’t be the source of our tranquility. Winds will soon blow. 

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful (John 14:27 NASB).

Storms are not a surprise to our Master Planner.

These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world (John 16:33 NASB).

Jesus is our Prince of Peace.

When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him.  And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep. And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing!” He *said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm (Matthew 8:23-26 NASB). 

How do we avoid allowing the storms of life to disrupt our inner peace and tranquility?

Denial Doesn’t Work

Denying the gravity of the storms around me has long been my futile attempt to try and minimize the impact. The lie is that if I don’t fully feel it, it won’t affect me as much. But this reeks of duplicity and splinters integrity. What I’ve discovered is that blocking the really hard parts of life from full entry into my heart is harmful, to me and to others. It’s disingenuous. 

It Minimizes the Pain of Others

The person I love the most in the world recently had some tough health issues. Because of the severity of what she was going though, she was approved for some special therapeutics to help heal her. On our way to receive the treatment, I said things which made her feel like I was minimizing what she was going through. To make matters worse, I defended myself when she told me how it hurt her.

I didn’t realize it at the time, but I wasn’t willing to accept the severity of what she was going through because it would threaten the fragile, worldly “peace” I was trying to manage.

I had some time to think about it while I was waiting on her treatment.

Whenever I get defensive, this is a clue some “self” has been revealed which needs to be brought to the cross of Christ for mortification. [1] 

From my journal:

Lord, why can't I swallow hard things whole? Seems I only take in what I can handle. I'm sorry. If You have set eternity in my heart, which you have, I can release ALL incoming situations into Your care. Holding any of it back, shows me I'm trying to manage my circumstances on my own.

Circumstantial Management

As I write, it also becomes apparent to me that if I try and only take in difficulties in doses, I’ve inserted myself in a role of circumstantial manager. This is extremely eye opening. Me trying to control how I take in circumstances is the very definition of striving against the wind. It places me right in the middle, trying to control the uncontrollable. How exhausting!

I become my own rock in the midst of the calm waters, disrupting the flow of God’s story for me, inserting myself where only my Savior should be.

God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change
And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;
Though its waters roar and foam,
Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah

(Psalm 46:1-3 NASB).

I do recognize, however, that God, in His mercy, does sometimes choose to slowly unfold the circumstances of our lives. But when things are revealed, He is there to comfort and guide when we give it all to Him.

Casting Every Care

It really comes down to my faith. Do I trust that my Loving Heavenly Father truly has my “good” in mind?

When the Bible says God is working out all things for my benefit, do I remember that this means something bigger than smooth, happy circumstances? God is at work to confirm me into the image of Christ. [2]

Do I believe God’s ultimate plan for me is not calamity, but hope? [3]

True, lasting peace and tranquility is sourced in Jesus Himself. When I cast my cares upon Him, He wants all that I’m up against, not just a portion.

It’s how it should be. Who am I to think I can manage events to try and soften the blow? 

Why not give Him every bit of every care?

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, because He cares for you (I Peter 5:6-7 NKJV).

Challenge

Like me, have you held back fully taking in the severity of some difficult trial? Have you inserted yourself to try control how bad it really is, being a circumstantial manager?

When we do this, we are limiting ourselves from fully feeling what’s happening in our lives, hampering our ability to express deeper emotions.

Take a moment and allow the full weight of a difficult trial to enter your mind and heart. Trust the Lord to guide you through the details and to comfort you with His nearness. He is the God of all comfort. [4] He will guide you and give you the strength to endure any trouble.

Prayer

Lord, I’m so sorry. What was I thinking when I put myself in the middle trying to manage what I thought my heart could handle? You made my heart. You allow each circumstance. Please help me give every bit of every circumstance to You.

When I try and manage things again, please show me quickly so I can fully surrender whatever it is.

Thank you for a loving, forgiving wife who so often sees things I don’t have a clue about. Help me to see hard things You are showing about myself as mercies and not reasons to defend.  

Please guide me to walk in newness of life, laying aside all evidences of my old way of living. 

I love you so much!

Amen

[1] Romans 8:12-13

[2] Romans 8:28-29

[3] Jeremiah 29:11

[4] II Corinthians 1:3-5

Other posts in our series In The Moments:

As Sea Gulls Fly

The Gift of Presence

It is Finished

In the Moments

Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God’s nearness in the midst of life’s adventures.

Subscribe below to get email notifications of new posts. We post a few times a month. Thank you for reading. 

Novels by the Author:

What happens when a professor figures out how to send messages to his younger self to try and avoid the suicide of his best friend? Did he change more than he bargained for?  Beyond Time

By finding two undelivered letters in a old shack deep in the woods, Cassie and Daniel unknowing set off a series of events which uncover a plot to wipe out a whole family. Hope Remains

Complete Peace

In the Moments(It is Finished)

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As I write on Thursday afternoon of Holy week, there’s a cool spring breeze gently rocking the white azalea and dogwood blossoms at the end of our driveway. The powder blue, cloudless sky beautifully contrasts the tender tree buds, bursting alive from winter’s hold. Other than the sound of a wren chirping in the red tips to my right and the occasional gust of wind swaying the trees, the day is quiet. This seems fitting on this Maundy Thursday when the Lord Jesus celebrated the Passover feast with His disciples the night before He was crucified.

Our friends Jeremey and Karen, who have Messianic Jewish backgrounds, led us through a Seder feast a few days ago. It marked the beginning of the Jewish Passover holiday. Performed from a Christian perspective, the Seder gave a richer appreciation of how the deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery foreshadowed our deliverance from the power of the evil one by the death of Jesus the Messiah.

How intricately Sovereign God set His story of redemption in motion. How beautifully woven the details He employs to invoke our senses into the experience of His deliverance.

The Feast

We placed an eight-foot table for the ten adults in our living room. The adjacent breakfast room table was designated as the kid’s table. There were nine children ranging from a few months to thirteen years old. Though having so many kids added a bit of noise and confusion, hearing their questions and watching them take it all in was a highlight of the evening.

After all, telling of the Passover story was meant as a reminder of God’s faithfulness throughout the generations. God commanded the Jewish people to celebrate the Lord’s Passover.[1] And the Lord Jesus gave us the Lord’s supper to commemorate His fulfillment of the Passover sacrifice forever. My wife and I were pleased that among the celebrants were two of our children and three of our grandchildren.

A Seder plate, presented to Karen on her thirteenth birthday, was used to serve the elements of the Passover story. It had pictures of the different plagues inflicted upon the Egyptians leading up to the night of Passover, the slaying of the their first born.

Among the items on our plate were:

Parsley – New Growth, also used as the hyssop for painting blood (juice) on the door posts (fashioned in Matzah bread).

Dandelion – Bitter Herbs, bitterness of sin, of slavery and the cup Jesus drank for us.[2]

 Charoset (paste of fruit and nuts) – Hope/Sweetness, mortar for the bricks in Egypt, Hope for us because of Christ’s victory in the midst of sin.

Lamb (small lamb bone) – Purity, lamb without blemish, Jesus the Lamb of God.

Matzah (unleavened bread, striped with puncture holes) – Without sin, baked quickly as they left in haste, Jesus’ body, pierced and striped.  

Salt Water – Tears of Israel under slavery.

My son in law thought what was on the platter was all we’d have to eat for the evening. With gusto he painted the juice on the Matzah with the parsley and munched the bread. He cut his hunger with dandelion “sandwiches”.  It delighted him when, after the Seder, we brought out roasted lamb, potatoes, green-beans and salad.

Shalom

After our meal, we celebrated the Lord’s supper. Our celebration of the Jewish Passover we had just experienced brought new richness to the sacrament Jesus gave us.

As a gift for the evening, we gave each family a wooden dove in scripted with “Shalom.”

I’ve always thought the word meant “peace,” but I’m learning it’s deeper meaning. “Shalom” is be in a state of complete satisfaction, to be finished, to be perfected.

On the cross, when Jesus said, “It is finished,”[3] our complete peace was purchased. His life completed our forgiveness, our value, and our eternal right standing with God. Though our lives may contain sickness, pain, and brokenness, the peace Jesus died for does not change. Ever.

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful (John 14:27 NASB).

Prayer

Dear Lord, I’m appreciating more than ever the significance of Your redemption story. Ranging from Your words to the serpent in the garden, through the deliverance of your people from slavery, to the giving up of your Son on our behalf, You have desired to redeem us from the power of sin. You’ve provided a way for us to be able to commune with You forever. We are complete in You. You have given us a deep peace which can not be altered by anything in the world. The “peace” of  “Shalom” flows from our completeness in You. It is finished!

[1] Leviticus 23

[2] Exodus 12, Leviticus 23

[3] John 19:30

Other posts in our series In The Moments:

As Sea Gulls Fly

The Gift of Presence

Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God’s nearness in the midst of life’s adventures.

Subscribe below to get email notifications of new posts. We post a few times a month. Thank you for reading. 

Novels by the Author:

What happens when a professor figures out how to send messages to his younger self to try and avoid the suicide of his best friend? Did he change more than he bargained for?  Beyond Time

By finding two undelivered letters in a old shack deep in the woods, Cassie and Daniel unknowing set off a series of events which uncover a plot to wipe out a whole family. Hope Remains

The Main Thing

Stop the Conveyer Belt

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Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27 NASB)

What you’re about to read is something I need to intentionally follow moment by moment. It doesn’t come naturally to me yet.

There’s an I Love Lucy episode where Lucy and Ethel are required to wrap pieces of chocolate from a conveyer belt. The belt moves slowly at first, but then the pace picks up. To avoid chocolates passing through unwrapped they begin eating them, sticking them in their blouses and hats. When the supervisor sees no unwrapped chocolate, she gives the order to speed things up. There was no way to keep up. I can relate. When life comes whirling at me and all I see is unwrapped chocolates, I feel pressure to clear things off my plate. I don’t do well with multiple, unresolved issues.

Distracted

The other day I was feeling that pressure when a friend unexpectedly wanted to talk. I tried to stay present, but all I could picture were mounting stacks of unwrapped chocolates and others headed my way. I felt like Martha in Luke in chapter 10. Jesus told her she was, “worried and bothered about so many things”[1] Like me, getting things done had become the main thing and she was missing out on so much more. Practically I know It’s never possible to wrap all the chocolates and that accomplishments are never the main objective, but when things pile up I struggle.

Changing Objectives

Peace doesn’t come from a well-managed life. This is peace as the world gives it. Jesus gives me His peace and commands me not to let my heart be troubled. Each task, each unexpected problem, each person brought my way, passes through my Father’s loving hands. Every opportunity is not something to be endured or completed, but an invitation to press into Jesus as my constant Peace. My main objective is not to wrap chocolates but to focus on Jesus and depend upon Him with every challenge. Each opportunity gives me a unique way to walk with Him.

Being Attentive to Jesus

While Martha was distracted, her sister Mary was attentive to Jesus. Luke tells us she was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word.[2] Jesus told Martha what Mary had chosen was the most important thing and it wouldn’t be taken away from her. Jesus wants us abiding in Him while we do life. When we do, He becomes our Peace and our Strength. We can trust Him with every chocolate He wants us to wrap.

Lord, I’m sorry I’ve gotten things upside down again. Thank you for showing me how I’ve allowed responsibilities to steal my peace. You are my focus. I trust You to accomplish what you desire to get done through me. I sit at Your feet, listening to Your words.

[1] Luke 10:41:b (NASB)

[2] Luke 10:39b (NASB)

Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God’s nearness in the midst of life’s adventures.

Subscribe below to get email notifications of new posts. We post a few times a month. Thank you for reading. 

 Novels by the Author:

Beyond Time

Hope Remains

Prince of Peace

Stop Searching for Peace

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Our Need for Peace

Inner peace. Own it and you’ll be tranquil, though the world crumbles around you. Without it, nothing you gain will give you contentment.

Peace is defined as freedom from disturbance; serenity, quite, mental calmness and tranquility.

As humans, we need peace and we’ll take all manner of paths searching for it.

Fear Threatens Our Peace

When deadlines looms and stress builds, we fear failure.

When relationships are strained, we fear being unloved.

When we fail, we fear being rejected.

When life gets hard, we fear the pain of our trials.

When debt mounts, we fear insecurity.

When illness strikes, we fear death.

And the list of fears goes on. Fear threatens our peace.

Not as the World Gives It

On the night before He was crucified, Jesus said to His disciples,

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives it do I give to you; Let not your heart be troubled, not let it be fearful.” John 14:27 (NASB)

The world was never supposed to be our source of peace. Jesus is our peace, the peace of His Holy Spirit, which indwells us.

Jesus wants us to give up trying to find and maintain our own peace.

This is extremely freeing, but very hard to do because we’ve been in charge of our own peace our whole lives. Consider how much of our lives have been spent trying to keep our hearts from feeling disturbed and troubled?

Imagine not being responsible for your own peace any more.

Jesus commands us is to not be fearful and to not let our hearts be troubled. He gives us His peace. So, we can rest in Him.

Prince of Peace

Centuries before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah foretold his coming:

“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 (NASB)

 Among other titles, Jesus is called our Prince of Peace, but what does this mean?

From the Hebrew words used:

Prince – ruler, leader, chief, captain

Peace – completeness, soundness, welfare, tranquility, contentment

Jesus rules our peace. If we let Him.

We’ve been wearing ourselves out seeking peace, when our only job is to choose Jesus in the midst of every fear.

What a relief!

Prayer

Lord, thank you that You are my peace. You tell me not to have a troubled heart and to not be fearful. This is Your command. I choose You as the Captain of my Peace. I choose You as my Peace. Please guide me, when life’s adventures threaten to steal my peace. In Your strength, help me to choose You over fear. Help me to rest in You as my Peace and to not let my heart be troubled.

Peace

We all Need Peace, but Where do we get it?

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Peace is Required

All can agree that having riches, success and fame without peace leaves us miserable. Many have come to this conclusion on their own. But history speaks loudly of troubled souls who conquered the world yet lived lives of despair:  Michael Jackson, Marilyn Monroe, Earnest Hemingway and Howard Hughes to name a few.

But you say, I’ve made my peace with God through His Son Jesus Christ.

Me too. But if I’m brutally honest with myself about my growth in Christ, I realize I seldom seek my peace from the Prince of Peace.

Idolatry

As I’ve been asking God to help me yield more fully to His Indwelling Spirit, to surrender more and more of my life to Him. I was quite shocked at one of His answers to this prayer.

In a non-condemning, but serious way, God showed me I’m an idolater.

With trembling lips and a ferocious desire to turn from my sin, I confess I have disobeyed the first and second commandments.

I have had other gods before Him. I have worshiped an idol.

Peace as the World Gives It

Here’s the verse He used to enlighten me and usher in a deep desire for healing.

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. John 14:27

When I read Jesus’ words, I know Christ alone is Peace. However, I also realize I  have worshiped the idol of “Peace as the world gives it.”

My desire for peace in my world has controlled my life. Above all else I fight for the peace of feeling healthy, to-do list tamed, bills paid, clutter cleared and relationships smooth. And while these are all worthy goals, the inner peace they may bring will not last.

And besides, how often does ‘peace as the world gives it’ really happen?

Chaos

Growing up in a chaotic family, ripped by divorce, I’ve been searching for peace a long time. As a college student, I trusted Christ with my life. However, I didn’t trust Him with my troubles.

Though I thought I trusted God, each unpaid bill, busted water heater, child missing the bus and work call in the middle of the night, built up heavy burdens on my shoulders.

I struggled in my own strength to put out each fire, believing it was all up to me. I hadn’t learned to trust in my Heavenly Father to work through me to handle each situation. I was trying to fight for my own peace.

My goal each day was to get through my duties with the least amount of problems. My inner peace was directly related to the circumstances in my world.

Sound familiar?

Jesus is Our Peace

But God did not leave me this way. He showed me, my desire for peace was an obsession which stifled His life in me. He showed me that until I truly understood that He alone is my peace, I would never experience peace and every relationship I had would suffer.

When Jesus said in the above verse, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you;” He was speaking to my heart that He is my  peace. 

In the Storm   lake-constance-1226903_1280

The perfect picture of this kind of peace which transcends circumstances is depicted in Mark 4:35-41 when Jesus calms a storm at sea.

On that day, when evening came, He *said to them, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd, they *took Him along with them in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him. And there *arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they *woke Him and *said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

We will face storms. When we do, it is important to seek Jesus as our peace amidst the storms. Certainly, we want storms to be over and to have peaceful circumstances. However, through it all Jesus and Jesus alone is our peace.

We can rest in Him no matter what is going on in our world.

But truly knowing Jesus is our Peace is not a one-time realization. Every time we feel our hearts disrupted by the storms of life, we must go back to John 14:27 and count it true that He is our peace.

Challenge

What circumstance is stealing your peace right now?

In the midst, count it true that Jesus is peace. Speak it out loud, “Jesus you are my peace.”

Even as you say it, peace will flood your soul.

If you feel anxious, follow what Paul commands in Philippians 4:6-7

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 comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Fight for your Peace

Be vigilant in fighting for your peace. God has given us emotions as indicators of how we’re doing. Don’t ignore your feelings.

When fear or anxiety creeps into your heart, cut these thieves off at their first arrival. They have come to steal your peace and your joy. The longer these feelings fester, the more they can grip your heart and discourage you.

Remember what Jesus said in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they may have life, and might have it abundantly.”

Abundant life means abundant peace, not fear and anxiety.

Cry out to Jesus when you first realize your peace has been attacked.

“God can not give us peace apart from himself because there is no such thing.”  C.S. Lewis