Choosing Peace...

I had the privilege of hearing Kay Arthur speak a year or so ago.  Her focus was on John 14. Her first bit of teaching stopped me in my tracks and has stayed with me ever since.  John 14:1 says "Let not your heart be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in Me."  


I have heard that verse many times... it is used often in conjunction with a death.  And the message is usually that when our hearts are troubled, we can / should trust in God.  That is true... not a bad message or a wrong one. But what Kay pointed out was the wording... LET NOT... Don't Let your heart be troubled.. That puts it all on me. It is a choice... I choose to have a troubled heart or one at peace because I trust in Him. 


So no matter what life sends my way, I have a choice as to how I will let it effect me. 


I was reminded of that choice again today as I read John 16:33  “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”


Again, another verse I am very familiar with.. but today God showed me the choice in it. Jesus tells us that we WILL have trouble in the world. No choice there. It is going to happen. But before that He says He has told us things (His precious promises) so that we MAY have peace.. MAY.. might.. not will. Peace is not an automatic guarantee.  Again, it is a choice we make.  


So today...no matter what my emotions and circumstances tell me, I am choosing to "let the peace of Christ rule my heart" (Col. 3:15) instead of letting my heart be troubled and full of unrest.


How about you? What are you choosing today?

Shalom... Peace in 2009

Last year I was reading something on journalling and the author talked about picking a word for the year. I thought that was neat, so I thought a bit... prayed a bit... and decided my word would be Gratitude. I did pretty well holding on to the word for the first bit, but as with many "neat" ideas, I let it slide. Every so often something would pop up and remind me that I was to have an attitude of gratitude this year... but I often fell short. Still, I am glad I picked a word and glad God used various means to remind me of that throughout the year. It often served as an attitude adjustor.

So what will this year's word be? One heard a lot... one that really isn't unique, but one we all seek ... Peace. I spent a season of life in bondage to fear and anxiety and peace was all I craved. I begged for it... covetted it... longed for it... would have died for it... and the thing is I had it all along, I just didn't let it rule my heart. It is a harsh reality, but often we keep ourselves in bondage when freedom is ours for the asking.

Over the past few days I have heard folks talk about 2008... the economic turmoil.. continuing unrest in Middle East... how they hope 2009 will be better... how so many in our nation are worried, upset, frightened... and I realized I am not. Am I like an ostrich with my head in the sand unaware of what is happening around me? No... I am fully aware. I have dear friends whose husbands are out of work... friends with sons and husbands in the Middle East... I also have friends who are battling cancer or watch a love one in that battle... friends who struggle with addiction... friends who are grieving the loss of their precious child or their spouse... I am well aware of the woes of this world... and yet, I am not frightened... I am at peace. Why?

Because I know to whom I belong and the cool thing is HE is in control. I know so many think of that as a trite answer, but trite or not it is true! God is very much in control. NONE of this surprises Him. And like it or not our true security... our true provision... our true healing... real peace... lie not in money, jobs, doctors, medicine, programs, bailouts, government... but in HIM.

So this year I am choosing to live in that reality... that I am His... that HE is in control.. that HE is returning soon... that He has work for me to do... and He has work for you too!

I pray that you know Him... that you know the peace He brings because I can tell you from personal experience it is a peace that truely does pass all understanding. It is the best high you will ever experience! You cannot beat it.

If you are looking for peace, first you need to find the Peace Giver... Jehovah-Shalom and His precious son, the Prince of Peace. I can tell you all about them and how to know them... just post a comment here with your email address. If you already know Him.. HALLELUJAH!... grab your Bible or get online at one of the many Bible resources and start looking for Peace verses. there are many! You can also look at Do Not Fear verses (there are 365 of those.. 1 for each day of the year). When you choose not to fear, you are choosing peace.

Here are some peace verses to get you started...

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." Col 3:15

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." Isa. 26:3

"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." John 14:27

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, 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." Phil. 4:6-7

My prayer for you... "the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace." Num. 6:26

Shalom! Barb

Psalm 32

written October 7, 2008

The first five verses of Psalm 32 deal with confessing our sins. David reminds us that we are blessed because our sins are forgiven, they don't count against us (v. 1-2). Then verses 3 & 4 paint a picture of one who "hides" their sin, refuses to confess it... acknowledge it before the Lord... "my bones wasted away"... "groaning all day long"... "my strength was sapped." Surely unconfessed sin creates a wall between us and God -- it effects us spiritually, mentally, emotionally and this Psalm makes it clear that it effects us physically too. No doubt God allows this because He wants us to acknowledge our sin so we can have the blessing of forgiveness.

Verse 5 shows how quickly and easily we can have that blessing... "Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord' and You forgave the guilt of my sin." It really is that simple! 1 John 1:9m says "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." Psalm 32:5 is a picture of that promise in action.

Verse 7 is one of my favorites:

You are my hiding place. You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.

I love how God goes beyond for us. We see this over and over in the Word and verse 7 is a going beyond verse. God hides us when there is trouble and He protects us -- that in and of itself is more than we deserve but then we see that He "surrounds us with songs of deliverance." God confronts us by singing over us like a parent comforts a small child. I love the picture this verse creates in my mind of me being tucked up under God's wings -- safe, secure, close to Him and He is quietly singing words of peace and comfort to keep be calm and feeling secure.

Today, if you are feeling boxed in... pressed on all sides... stressed... worried... any and all of these worldly woes, follow Col. 3:2's exhortation and Look up! Set your mind on things above and You will experience Psalm 32:7 first hand. Keep your ears open and listen to the Father's perfect voice as He sings over you.