Finding Peace

Finding Peace

Philippians 4: ⁶ Don't worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart. ⁷ And God's peace, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus.

 

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“Can I please have a name brand shoe?” was my request. After years of trying, I realized I was not going to get the fashionable items from my parents. Their hard earned money was used for bills, or at least that’s what they said. When I was old enough I got a job. I bought name brand shoes. “LORD, please don’t have it rain today” was my ask.

 

• I wanted people to see my new shoes.
• I did not want “my” shoes to get dirty from rain or dirty places.
• I was proud that I was finally able to buy shoes without the oppression of a budget.

 

Paul provides some quick, yet sage advice to contentment. He knew that living in this world would bring on temptations to have nice things. He also knew people would become discontent by not having these things. He suggested a much better way of thinking about things, namely “be thankful.”

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to be thankful for JESUS saving me.
• GOD wants me to be thankful for all that HE has brought me through.
• GOD wants me to be thankful for the people, places and things in my life so I can see that I am abundantly blessed.

 

Being thankful for people reduces rage over something he or she did. Also, being thankful for the places GOD has me in, opens my eyes to the ministry HE has given me to reap abundant rewards. When I am thankful for the old worn out thing, I reduce my being discontent.

 

GOD sees thankfulness as a sacred place. Kinda like an elevator reaching a floor. Once I reach the level of thankfulness, GOD says “Here, have peace.” HE then opens my mind and my heart to HIS safety that does not make sense to those who seek other people, places and things for their peace. I am grateful GOD reminds me that peace can be found by thankfulness of HIM.

 

Challenge

• What things does the writer suggest you pray for?
• Have you ever been discontent with the things you have?
• Have you ever received something and wanted something else that is similar, later?
• Will you be thankful for who you are, what you have, the people in your life, the things you have and where GOD has you , so you can reach HIS peace HE wants you to have today?

Identified in the Line-Up

 

Identified in the Line-Up

Romans 3: ⁹ Well then, are we Jews in any better condition than the Gentiles? Not at all! I have already shown that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. ¹⁰ As the Scriptures say:

“There is no one who is righteous,
¹¹     no one who is wise
    or who worships God.
¹² All have turned away from God;
    they have all gone wrong;
    no one does what is right, not even one.
¹³ Their words are full of deadly deceit;
    wicked lies roll off their tongues,
    and dangerous threats, like snake's poison, from their lips;
¹⁴     their speech is filled with bitter curses.
¹⁵ They are quick to hurt and kill;
¹⁶     they leave ruin and destruction wherever they go.
¹⁷ They have not known the path of peace,
¹⁸     nor have they learned reverence for God.”

 

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Years of music gone. Someone broke the back window of my car and stole all my mix tapes. Yes I said tapes. How dare they! Having watched a lot of TV shows about cops, I thought “maybe they can dust for prints or pull up a book of usual suspects or put people in a line-up where my neighbors can point out the culprit.”

 

That did not deter me from going out that night, trying to “steal” someone’s girlfriend at the bar.

 

• There were times when I wanted justice when something happened to me.
• There were times when I wanted to point at what others were doing wrong.
• There were times when I wanted forgiveness for my wrong but justice for theirs.

 

Paul gets very real about this sin situation. He talks about those who think they are “good” but are not. He states a list that is harsh and when reading it, the tendency is to think of other people. BUT GOD wants something different.

 

• GOD wants me to see myself as a person who would never choose HIM.
• GOD wants me to know I need HIM by identifying with the sin that naturally flows from me.
• GOD wants me to understand that my heart needs daily cleaning.

 

“No one is righteous” when compared to JESUS. There are a lot of people who do nice things, but no one is sinless down to the motive. But there was one who remained sinless, namely JESUS. HE became a human, lived to adulthood and was murdered, all without committing a single sin. I identify with the list of sins and I am grateful JESUS forgave me.

 

• Are you mad at someone and think you are “righteous?”
• Do you see the faults in others and not your own?
• Will you ask GOD to look at your own heart to show you how much “you” need HIS grace today?

Fill Up and Go

Luke 1: ⁷⁶ “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest;
For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,
⁷⁷ To give knowledge of salvation to His people
By the remission of their sins,
⁷⁸ Through the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;
⁷⁹ To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

⁸⁰ So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.

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“I have to go to the bathroom” I exclaimed. Not knowing if the time was convenient or not, the feeling just came over me. We had to pull over on the side of the dark unlit road. I was terrified! When we got back in the car and started going I said “I’m hungry, are we there yet?”

• There were times when I was not prepared to go down the road.
• There were times when I did not want to be on the road.
• There were times when I just wanted to be at the destination rather than going down the road.

Zacharias declared John would fill up on the knowledge of the LORD and go to those who ignored GOD’s grace. John would have a long road to travel so his preparation had to come from GOD directly. He grew and became strong in the SPIRIT so any obstruction in the road would not deter him.

• GOD says to me “Go before the face of the LORD.”
• GOD says to me “Give knowledge of salvation to MY people.”
• GOD says to me “Give light to those who sit in darkness and guide everyone into the way of peace.”

Being unprepared for the twists and turns of life may put me in a dangerous situation, sitting on the side of a dark road cowering in fear. BUT GOD wants me to be prepared for life. HE wants me to seek HIS face and understand that I am not alone but HE is with me, guiding me to HE sends me to. HIS message is simple “MY mercy is tender and MY love endures forever.”

• Are you prepared for life?
• Do you still react to life’s difficulties with pouting like a child?
• Can you ask GOD to help you grow and to become strong in the SPIRIT?