Purposeful, Yet Peaceful

"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."  John 14:27 (NKJV)

Perhaps you are like me-  crazy busy.  I have always subscribed to my mom's philosophy "I'd rather work a day to death, than see it die of natural causes." But even I will admit that I often allow busy-ness to leach the beauty and joy out of my day.  I allow the clutter of life- emails, phone calls, texts, homeschooling, ministry, family responsibilities- to drive me through my day, rather than me intentionally steering my day.

I sometimes imagine Jesus walking the earth like me... and I get tickled, imagining His mad rush, giving Peter and John an anxiety disorder.  Can't see it?  Me either!  I believe Jesus was purposeful, yet peaceful.  I believe He did the important without ever drowning out the quiet communion He walked in.  Always remaining and resting in the presence of His Father.

It is my prayer that today I will walk in purposeful peace.  That I will be led by peace, not by a schedule.  That I will perform the important and not only the urgent.  I pray that I will be salt and light to all I meet.

Will you agree in prayer with me?

Dear Lord, I ask that you will enable Your church to be powerful, purposeful, and yet peaceful.  Soothe the troubled souls today and apply your balm of healing and perfect rest.  In the mighty Name of Jesus I ask these things.  Amen.

© Sherri Evans Ministries 2017. All rights reserved. Used by permission. For booking schedule and information: sherrievans@sherrievansministries.com

A Beautifull Mind

Phil 4:8-9

 

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

NIV

My seventeen-year old son and I were having an interesting conversation this week.  We were imagining what it would be like if we could hear the thoughts of other Christians during the Sunday morning worship service.  I imagined some were planning lunch; others were thinking about their carburetor problem or perhaps taking note of which boy was sitting with what girl.  Then my thoughts ran to the more general, everyday thoughts that we entertain.  If anyone could hear my thoughts sometimes, I fear that they would be greatly disappointed in me.

For the remainder of this devotional, please visit with me at http://www.lacedwithgrace.com.

 

Peace in the Manger

 

 

Luke 2:10-14

 

10 Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

14 "Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

NKJV

 

The  news of Christ's birth is the most blessed news ever told.  (The one exception that is even better was the good news that He had risen from the dead!)  We have heard the familiar declaration, "Peace, goodwill to men," for so many years that we have failed to absorb the deep truth  that was embedded in those words...

I am spending Christmas Eve at Laced with Grace.   Please click on the link below to join  me for the conclusion of today's devotional.


http://lacedwithgrace.com/

Then Peace Arose

 

 

Mark 4:35-41

 

On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side."  36 Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"

39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40 But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?"*  41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"

NKJV

"Then He arose..."  Doesn't that just give you goose bumps?!  When I think about the power that got up when Jesus raised his head from the pillow, I am astounded!  Never doubt the enemy of your soul knows who Jesus is and what He can do!  Resident within Him is all power, authority and dominion.  There is not one hurdle, circumstance, sickness, family rift or sad feeling that is not subject to the Master of all the universe.  He is the Great I Am!  When He arose the second time (from the grave) He rose with the keys to death and hell!  All are under His command.

When He speaks, the very elements of nature obey.  All Natural Law bows its knee.  All of hell trembles and does His bidding, simply at the sound of His voice.  But, oh, when He gives a command, it is irrefutable!  Undeniable!  Unstoppable!  That is the Jesus who is speaking on behalf of you! He knows what storm you are facing and how strong the squalls are.  And He knows what to do about them.  When he speaks, "Peace, be still," it shall be so!

Let the great calm penetrate your heart.  If you have asked for His help, help is on its way.  It is hard to say what the breakthrough will look like, but it will be just what you need.  Rest in confidence and peace. The peace-speaker is in your boat.

 

Dear Lord, I have asked you for help, and now I choose to enter your rest knowing that you will handle it.  Increase my peace.  In Jesus' Name. Amen.

 

 

And Be Thankful!

 

 

Col 3:15

 

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

NKJV

 

Sometimes the way Scripture is put together gives me pause.   Take today's verse, for example.  It spends most of the verse talking about the peace of God, and at the end? An imperative "...and be thankful." (!!!)

My mind immediately wonders, what is the relation between the two?  I know that the mind and heart of a Christian should be at peace.  I see the wisdom in allowing peace to "rule."  In fact, I try very hard to avoid doing anything that my heart does not rule is in keeping with peace.  If I am not at peace in a situation, I try to drop it.  This allows me to stay in God's will and avoid many pitfalls.  Furthermore, I try to retain my  peace,  and when it starts slipping, I begin to ask the Lord to show me where I have failed.  All of this is a great benefit of being born again- and for my (and your) good.

I love how this is portrayed. We were called to peace as one body.  This could be confusing until we remember that we are baptized into the body of Christ.  Once we are saved, we are ”positionally" located in Christ in the supernatural realm, even while our bodies remain on  Earth.  It is a mystery for our minds, but a great truth- us in Christ, Christ in us! 

So now that we understand that we are in Christ, then we are, by virtue of our placement, in peace.  Scripture records that He himself is our peace (Col.  3:15)  Being in Christ indicates that we have become a part of His body.  In His body is our peace.  Thus, we are in peace and peace is in us.  What beautiful prepositions!  Ours is a glorious inheritance in Christ.

Therefore,  we must remind ourselves to be thankful.  And of course, remembering that He has purchased our peace, gives me a reason to give thanks!

Dear Lord, I am thankful today for my peace.  Thank you for endowing me with Your peace and for allowing me to be led by peace.   I am  truly grateful of the way you take care of me.

 

The Lord of Peace

 

    

2 Thess 3:16

 

Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.

NKJV

 

 

Stress and unrest can come in many ways. But peace comes one way.  Through the Lord of Peace or the Prince of Peace.  Jesus is our peace; He is the one who purchased our peace through His sacrificial death.  He abolished the penalty for sin; He conquered death, hell and the grave.  All things are subject to Him.  He is Lord of all.  And He is my Lord.

 

So why do I struggle to hold on to my peace sometimes?  He is always present.  He is always Peace.  Therefore, the breakdown has to be on my end.  I love how this verse says "peace always in every way."  This means I can have peace when I receive a good report just as when I receive a negative report.  I can have peace in plenty or in want.  I can have peace in the middle of the world's chaos.  Because He is with me, I need only to call upon Him and receive it.  All I truly have to do is look to Him and receive what He is constantly offering.

 

Are you struggling with stress, fear or other negative emotions?  Jesus longs to be your peace. The price is paid and the gift is available for the taking.  Release your faith and rest in Him.

 

Dear Lord, help me to draw deeply from your well of peace.  Grant rest to my mind and emotions.  Surround me with the assurance that all is well.    In Jesus' Name. Amen.

 

Sherri

The Gift that Keeps on Giving

  "The Lord  will give strength to His people;

  The Lord  will bless His people with peace. " Ps . 29:11 (NKJV)

 

It was a balmy spring evening in 1991.  I was being honored as my due date for my firstborn drew near.  A group of about 40 ladies were gathered around me in a circle, watching me as I opened each present.  Sleepers, blankets, diapers, booties, so much  great stuff that I needed.  And then I opened the one bag... In it was a beautiful peach crocheted...??? Heaven help!  I  did not recognize the item at all.  It was certainly beautiful, and I quickly schooled my  features, "oohed, ahhhed" and asked if it was handmade.  The lady proudly admitted that she had, in fact made it.  I had hoped her description would move on to tell what the item was.  But alas, that was not the case.  I believe that she likely found out about the shower and at the last minute grabbed something out of her "last minute gift" closet.  I later determined that it was probably a table topper.  Nevertheless, I felt I had succeeded in appearing duly pleased with her thoughtful gift.  But when the film was developed (yes it was the last century) there is it was in full-color glory.  My face caught in bewilderment as I held it up in front of me.  Busted!  Anyone could see I had no idea what the gift was!

 

I  love that the Lord never gives us dorky gifts that we cannot enjoy.  He gives us just what we need, just when we have need of it.  He gives strength to His people and blesses them with peace.  These are timeless classics.  Perennial gifts.  No matter how much strength or peace we presently have, we need an ongoing supply to sustain us. 

 

When life throws us curveballs, we can lose our peace as our mind runs amuck with fear and worry.  Walking in the Spirit allows us to quickly adjust and regain our peace and confidence that the Lord has it under control.  His strength is like that as well.  As soon as we need more to meet a demand, He liberally infuses us with more.

 

This verse has no hidden nuggets of truth.  It is just straightforward facts about our kingdom benefits.  But on days like today, I need the reminder that He will meet my need.  His blessings are perfect and sure.

 

  Dear God, thank you for the gift of peace and of your strength.  Please increase my peace to meet the challenges that have met me today. I need your strength, to keep me from fainting in the fight.   In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

 

 

 

Presiding Peace

    

 

   

 

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful."  Col 3:15 (NKJV)

 

 

I like this verse.  It is awesome advice to live by.  Sadly, I do not always live up to its standards.  Sometimes, I let rationalizing, worrying and fretting rule in my heart.  Sometimes I get so busy looking at where I want to end up, I forget to be thankful for where I am now.

 

"Let the peace of God rule in your heart" has so many connotations to me.  First of all, it means, let it sit on the throne of your heart.  Let it have preeminence to anything else.  A second things this could imply is that we are to let the peace of God make the rulings of our life.  Should I quit my job?  Should I pursue this course of study?  The best way to decide is to go with the decision that results in the most peace in your heart.  A third thing I take away from this verse, is that I have a responsibility to let peace rule in my heart.  Peace  will not hog-tie me and make me obey.  It quietly beckons, offering help.  Ultimately, it is up to me how much leverage I give to it.

 

The second part of this verse that strikes me is the importance of being thankful.  The "Old-timers" used to implore us to "count our blessings."  It is still good advice.  When I am having a rough day and choosing to be thankful it can go something like this.  Lord thank you for:

 

·         saving me

·         blessing with a wonderful husband

·         my beautiful children

·         my mother & my mother & father-in-law

·         a home to live in

·         food

·         clothing

·         clean water

·         vehicles

·         freedom to worship you

·         a fantastic church family

·         supportive friends

·         jobs to support our family, etc.

 

The list is positively endless.  Practicing the "attitude of gratitude" takes some effort.  But thinking upon "the pure and lovely" (Col.  3:8) really will help reset our minds to happier, more positive, hopeful and powerful thoughts.

 

Let's get our peace and praise on!

Dear God, I am humbled by your provision and protection of me.  Thank you for all of the wonderful blessings you pour out in my life.  Help me to center myself in you, and let peace preside.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

 

 

 

Safety and Peace

 

    

 

"I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;

For You alone, O Lord , make me dwell in

 

safety." Ps 4:8 (NKJV)

 

 

Insomnia.  It is a common complaint from many a depressed or stressed out American. You lie down to sleep, but your thoughts  begin to race.  What am I going to do about that work problem?  How will I ever afford to put braces on Bobby's  teeth?  What if the doctor's report is bad?  I dread my job.  I can't face it any more...

 

All of these thoughts are an onslaught of the enemy on a mind that is already overtired and overrun. This passage indicates that a benefit of walking with the Lord is having peace and restful sleep at night.  When our minds finally "still" for the night, it is sometimes difficult to actually stop the frenzied processing and fretting. 

 

We have to guard our thoughts and deny the enemy access to our minds.  I know, I know. That is easier said than done. Sometimes it seems that my mind has a mind of its own!  We have to strive to maintain a peaceful heart and mind.  It does not just naturally occur.  It happens as we fix our thoughts on the Lord, His promises, His provision and His faithfulness.

 

Another enemy of peace is a tormented conscience.  Christians cannot spend the whole day violating the laws of God and lie down that night to a soft pillow.  God gave us consciences to help keep us on the straight and narrow path.  Guilt can eat you alive.  It erodes your confidence and intimacy with God.  Let your pre-sleep time be an opportunity for confession of sin, seeking the Lord's help for tomorrow and seeking the peace of God.

 

He alone makes us to dwell in safety.  He alone stands guards about us, enabling us to close our eyes and lay down our weapons.  He is a faithful Shepherd over His sheep.  He keeps the predators at bay and provides for our needs in the safety of  His provision.   What a loving God we serve!

 

Dear God, thank you for allowing me to find safety and peace in You.  Help me to keep my conscience clear and guard my heart and mind.  Help my thoughts to be a peaceful place, and help my sleep to be sweet.   In Jesus' Name. Amen.

 

 

Filled with all Joy and Peace

 

    

 

 "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Rom 15:13 (NKJV)

 

"If I don't expect anything good to happen to me, I won't be disappointed when it doesn't."  Have you ever had that said to you before?  Are you the person who said it?

 

Many of us have allowed the negative voices and experiences in our lives to leave us jaded and negative.  If we are not careful, it can turn into a full-blown case of pessimism.  What difference does it make anyway? What is lost when we quit believing for the best?

 

Joy and peace are sacrificed at the juncture when we quit believing.  So much of the Christian walk is all about faith, all about belief.  For pity sake, we are called believers!  This passage says that He is the "God of hope."  It is therefore impossible to be truly without hope, when we are in God.  Jesus is our hope.  We have so much to look forward to- spiritual blessings, physical blessings, material blessings, eternal rewards, God's favor, peace, joy... it is too expensive NOT to believe!

 

Don't get me wrong.  There have been times in my life that hope has waned and belief has failed.  But true to its Word; the verse was reinforced in my life's experiences.  I was made to abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit!  Nothing I could conjure up within myself could suffice.  But God, through His Spirit, caused hope to spring up within me.  Most often this type of attitudinal manifestation has occurred as I worshiped or praised the Lord. Praising Him, raises levels of faith, hope and joy.

 

It is my prayer today, that if you are lacking in joy and peace, that God will manifest this verse into your life.  Let's pray this verse together.

 

Dear  Lord, "Now may the God of hope fill (me) with all joy and peace in believing, that (I )may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Thank you that you are my peace, joy, and my reason to abound in hope.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

Sherri

Receiving the Strength & Peace of God

"The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace." Psalm 29:11

 

Have you ever been around an extremely generous person?  There have been times people have lavished me with so much generosity that it became uncomfortable and downright embarrassing.  That is the way the Lord generously pours His love and gifts on us!

This verse talks about two important things that  the Lord pours out in our life: 1) strength and 2)peace.  There is seldom a day that goes by that I do not rely on the strength of the Lord to resist temptation, to stand during a trial or to not give up hope about a promise the Lord has given me.  The strength of my moral fiber or character is tenuous at best.  But he has unlimited power to enable us  to walk in the Spirit and meet the demands of living in a sin-filled world.

Thank God for His gift of peace!  So much of life makes no sense to me, tries my faith and leaves me riddled with anxiety.  But the supernatural commodity of peace enables me to see the storm, but not feels the effects of it.

After a season of intense work-related stress, I can see how Christ's peace was multiplied to me to see me through the tensest of days.  But I also appreciate how after the storm had past He renewed my reserves of peace.  Today I spent hours at the beach, taking in the sounds of the surf, observing the undaunted peace of  the birds.  It is a reminder that He is watching over all creation, providing for it just as He does for his children.

Dear Lord, help me to receive your strength and peace.  Help me to walk in the Spirit and not be moved by the stressors that life throws my way, in Jesus' Name.  Amen.

Sherri

 

Complete Joy

 

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched- this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.  The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim what we have seen and heard, so that you may have fellowship with us.  And our fellowship is with the Father and with his son, Jesus Christ.  We write this to make our joy complete” I John 1:1-4

 

Telling about Jesus, serving the Lord, these things are the greatest joy we will ever know.  Serving the Lord is often presented by the world as a droll, dull, existence.  But the truth of the matter is that serving God is a joy.

There is no sacrifice that we can make that we will not be blessed more than we give up.  Time spent in the Word, time spent praying, worshiping- there is no higher high.  There is no greater peace or joy.  If you have ever had a truly remarkable experience with the Lord, you know that you can never be satisfied with less again.  No matter how much of the Lord we experience, there is always more.  He is infinitely larger than we can imagine.

When the Lord gave us the command:  “Go into the world and make disciples” he said this knowing that we would find great peace and contentment in doing so.  When we begin to operate in the things of the Spirit (living as Jesus did) we begin to walk in his grace and anointing.  We find our affections changing and turning into his affections.  His love desires to flow through us to the world.

Dear Lord, thank you for the joy of serving you.  Help me to be a joyful witness.  Help me to show the world the peace and contentment found in serving you.  Forgive me for the times that I have failed to make Christianity look appealing. In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Sherri