How To Have Peace
Peace is something I think we all long for. One of my favorite comedy movies is Miss Congeniality with Sandra Bullock. She plays an FBI agent who goes undercover in a beauty pagent. During the interview portion of the competition, all of the contestants answer a question. “What is the one thing our society needs most?” and it seems that the answer given by all contestants is …world peace.
I too long for peace. Unless you’re living with your head in the sand, you can’t help but see the news headlines and TV reporters blaring bad news about the economy, job market, Iran, the Mideast, crime rates and more. So, in the midst of this, how can you have peace?
When you’re troubled and burdened about things, where is the first place you go? Do you run to your husband or call a friend? The best place to go is to God in prayer. See what the Bible says about this in Philippians 4:6-7.
- When I’m burdened …I need to pray.
- When I’m concerned about the financial crisis …I need to pray.
- When I hear about children who are sick and suffering …I need to pray.
This verse also says to pray with thanksgiving. Since I know that the Lord hears my prayer, I can thank Him in advance. Do I know how or when He will answer? NO! But I do know He hears me. I take this by faith. I may not be able to see, hear, taste and feel …but I know and believe this in my heart.
After I share my requests with the Lord and leave them there, He will give me His peace. The reason I don’t always feel His peace is because I’ve not really given it over to Him. I have a bad habit of taking it back.
Hannah wasn’t like me. In 1 Samuel 1:16 she was praying out of great anguish and grief for a son. In verse 17, Eli the priest says to Hannah “go in peace and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of Him”. At the end of the next verse, it says that Hannah “went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast”.
Hannah believed that God heard her request and she left it there. She had faith to believe and so …she had peace.
We cannot base our peace on circumstances or centered on another person.
The Lord is peace; Jehovah Shalom.
In Jesus, we can have peace. No matter what trials you are going through, you can have peace. But you need to keep your focus on Jesus. Trust Him to hear and answer your prayers in His time and in His way.
How about you? Where do you run to first when you are troubled? Have you found peace when you finally turned the situation over to the Lord and left it there?
Know God, know peace, no God, no peace.
Denise- very simple but very true.
How true we must keep our “Focus” on Jesus at all times,if we do there is such peace as the word says it passes All understanding!
Numbers 6:24~26
Yes, the key is to focus on Jesus! Thanks for visiting.
There is nothing like the peace of God! -blessings, Laurie
What an encouraging reminder about our loving God! There is an old song that says – “the only real peace I have Lord is in you”.
You are right, Debbie…we can find peace in all the trouble. I sometimes do take things back and let the stress get to me. I try not too…
Thank you for the reminder that we can find peace in Him alone…
I completely understand as I do that as well. However, I’m learning to just leave it with Him.
Fall to my knees. On my face before HIM HE restores the calamity of my heart and life with calm. Peace. and like my anti-spam word…HOPE. Yes He does!
This was a great encouragement today!
Debbie,
I run to Jesus. He is my rock, my fortress. Thank you for this beautiful post. Such a beautiful truth spoken here!
Absolutely…my trouble sometimes is in the “leaving it there”.
Amen!! Thank you for that verse reminder, I really needed it this week. Hugs.
Hi Debbie, Thank you for this excellent reminder on prayer and peace. Very timely my friend!
Bethany
Thanks for a wonderful devotion reminding us that peace can be found first in our Father!
Ahhhh…peace! I so needed this tonight. Soooo needed this.
Letting go and letting Jesus,
Kate 🙂
And my anti-spam word is Peace!
Debbie, thank you for this timely devotional. You are so right. We live in a time when everything around us is spinning out of control. I thankful for God’s word and the comfort we can receive from Him regarding true peace.
John 14:27 ~ 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, neither let it be afraid.
Have a blessed weekend.
Beautiful post. Only the Lord can give us the peace we desire…True peace… Thank you…
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