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You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Isaiah 26:3
We make thousands of decisions every day based on trust. So much so that we don’t even give them much thought. Have you ever lay in bed thinking, “I wonder if gravity will work today?” When you get to the office do you ‘check’ your chair to make sure it’s not broken? Do you spend your day focusing on making sure you are breathing? Do you carry a stethoscope with you to regularly check to be sure your heart was still beating?
Hopefully, your response is no. In fact, you may have read those examples and wondered what I’m thinking! We live our lives in peace in these areas because our past has taught us that we can trust certain things like gravity and bodily systems to work in certain ways.
Peace is a choice. We can live in peace in the midst of struggle or we can can respond with fear, worry, anger or a host of other emotions. When we view our struggle as something in our control, and we don’t feel we have the ability to overcome, all sorts of peace-robbing thoughts and fears enter our minds.
These thoughts destroy peace in our relationships, our sleep or our daily lives. We can choose peace in a situation when we know in our hearts that we can trust the outcome, not because we have a solution, but because we know who can and will handle the struggle on our behalf.
That ‘handling of the struggle’ may not mean it’s removal but it assures us that in the midst of the battle we will have an inner strength because we trust the one who loves us beyond measure and promises to always be there for us.
Live in peace based on the almighty power of Jesus, our peace giver, our Prince of Peace.
The coming of the Son of Man can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. When he left home, he gave each of his slaves instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return. Mark 13:34
There’s been a lot of talk lately about whether or not we are ‘in the last times.’ It certainly seems like something is brewing with all the social, economic, political, physical and relational things going on.
Jesus talks about the end times. He gives few details, but more importantly, he gives us insight into what we should do. He gives us a picture of a landowner who goes away, but leaves his servants instructions on what to do while he’s gone. A watchman is posted to look for his coming because no one knew when he would appear.
Those who were doing what they were told to do would look forward to his return so they could show him what they’d accomplished.
Those who spent the time he was away tending to their own stuff and ignoring his instructions would be in fear lest he come and they had nothing to show for it.
The emphasis here is, watch for his coming but don’t neglect your work. We need not fear Jesus’ return. For those doing the work he’s given it will be a celebration, like the return of a loving friend.
Only those who have done nothing for the kingdom need fear his return. We are called to share the good news through grace. Look forward to the return of Jesus, not as an escape but a joyful reunion!
O God, listen to my cry! Hear my prayer! Psalms 61:1
Have you ever been in a situation where you are trying to explain something to someone and you can tell by body language and other clues that they aren’t listening to you? Oh, they hear your words and see your lips moving, but the information is failing to make any inroads at all.
Or, perhaps you are like me. While I hate to admit it, there are times when I’m being talked to and my attention is elsewhere and I miss part, if not all of the message. You may even try to call the person out or even touch their shoulder and say something like “Are you hearing what I’m trying to tell you?”
Some people are hard of hearing. While they try to hear information, they simply can’t because of a physical disability. Must most of us, at least at some point in our lives, have a listening problem, not a hearing problem.
Do you ever feel like God is like that in your prayers? Do you ever want to say, as the Psalmist, “O God, listen to my cry! Here my prayer!” Notice the emotion in David’s words. In our 21st century vernacular it may come across as “ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME? HELLO!”
Theologically speaking, we know God hears our prayers, but theology and practicality don’t always mix. I like this verse because it reminds me that I can be honest with God,
It reminds me that when my prayers don’t seem to get past the ceiling, I know they have been heard even though emotions tell me differently.
It encourages me to know that others struggle as I do, even King David, the ‘man after God’s own heart’!
Is your heart heavy in prayer today for a son or daughter, a struggling marriage, a past that seems to haunt you, fear of the future. Let your Father know how you REALLY feel. He can handle it and he may reward you for your honesty!
For my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. John 10:29
In the previous verse Jesus teaches that as our Good Shepherd we are safe in his hands. Now, as he continues His teaching about being our Good Shepherd he gives us further assurance of our security in Him.
We are not only safe because of Jesus power and strength, as our savior, we are safe because we are also in the Father’s hands and He is ‘more powerful than anyone else’. It’s easy here to miss a vital truth. Jesus says ‘no one’ not ‘nothing’.
We struggle with doubt. We struggle with fear. We struggle with anger. We are hurt by the church and hurt by those who don’t believe. But those are all actions from our main enemy, Satan. He will send anything in our way to pull us away from the Father and his eternal promises.
When we are in His hands, none of the tactics of Satan or his evil cohorts can pull us away. You are doubly protected, doubly loved, doubly cared for. Even when we stray away, He knows where we are and seeks us out. There is no reason to fear when the Father is near.
“…may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen. Hebrews 13:21
We like to be in control. Adam and Eve chose the fruit so they could be like God (control). Throughout history mankind has sought to be in control through politics, financial gain, racial and gender identity and docile influence.
Jesus has a different way. He provides the power. He provides the strength. But in order to access His great power he asks for control.
We like to think we can control our health, our relationships, even the climate and environment. Yet His Word makes it clear all life is under His control.
It’s His power not mine. He does the equipping not me. He is in control not science. He gives true comfort not the fickle comfort of culture.
When we give up control we see His glory not mine. And when He is glorified we find value and power.
One more strange dichotomy of the Christian life: to gain power and value give up control to Jesus.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 