THE LORD GOD IS MY STRENGTH; HE WILL MAKE MY FEET LIKE DEER'S FEET, AND HE WILL MAKE ME WALK ON HIGH HILLS. HABAKKUK 3:19



Monday, November 14, 2011

Thankful for Peace of Mind

Jesus calls everyone to come to Him for lasting peace. Jesus promised, "Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)

Only those who come to Jesus and share in doing His will are given the peace that passes human understanding. It is a peace that non Christians will never possess. Is it little wonder that there are more angry, fearful and discourteous people everywhere in our world, every new day. As we become consistently involved in doing His will, His responsibilities transform us. Our thinking, emotions and strength take on more of His image. Remember, peace is a fruit of the control of the Holy Spirit. 

Paul wrote, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. (Gal. 5:22,23) The peace that passes all comprehension keeps our minds full of Christ’s peace, perspective and power. He enables to be peaceful when there is nothing but the swirling storms of uncertainty in our circumstances. (Phil. 4:6-8) Jesus wants us to turn our minds to what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. Jesus wants us to remember that loving service is followed with peaceful thoughts. Isaiah wrote, "The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever." (Isa. 32:17)

Jesus wants us to remember that only the Lord’s blessings give peace, not anything else. Many people seek after things that can only give temporary peace of mind. David wrote, "The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace." (Psa. 29:11) Jesus knows the great peace is found in loving and obeying the scripture. The writer of Psalm 119 writes, "Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble." (Psa.119:165) Learn to read, hear, study, memorize and meditate on the scripture to calm your mind when you are feeling anxious, bothered or burdened. Isaiah wrote, "You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." (Isa 26:3) 

Jesus wants us to take up the armor of God for our peace. Paul writes, "Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s scheme. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, authorities and powers of this dark world." (Eph. 6:10-12) Jesus wants us to remember the peace given to us in the Holy Spirit and His promises. Paul writes, "God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, love and discipline." (2 Tim. 1:7) 

Jesus wants us to be in perfect peace by focusing our attention of Him and His example. Isaiah wrote, "You will keep him in perfect peace all those who trust in him, whose thoughts turn often to the Lord." (Isa. 26:3) Discipline your mind to focus your emotional, spiritual and mental energies on the Lord, His purposes and His activities that will cause His church to grow.

Jesus wants us to remember that He is our good Shepherd. David wrote, "The Lord is my shepherd, I will lack nothing. . . Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." (Psa. 23 :1,6) Even when you are encountering various trials, the Lord wants to develop in you a completed peace, perseverance and perspective that comes through the adversities of life’s experiences. 

Let the Lord develop in you a character of maturity that exhibits peace in all situations. You cannot know His peace unless you are willing to pass through the dark valley experiences with the faith to trust Him to work all things together for good. (Rom. 8:28,29) Rest in the God who holds the future and rules over the affairs of every person. 

~Bits and Pieces of the sermon How Jesus Can Give You Peace of Mind by Paul Fritz 

What Do We Do With This Peace? After Jesus' resurrection, Jesus Appears to His Disciples (John 20:19-23 and 30-31) 19 That Sunday evening[a] the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. 20 As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! 21 Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” 22 Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” Then John gives us the Purpose of the Book 30 The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may continue to believe[a] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name. Our Great Commission, To Share Peace with Others (Matthew 28:16-20) 16 Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted! 18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,[a] baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Prayers for Peace by Germaine Copeland

Books to read: "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyers

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