Precious and Proactively Given
November 29, 2019
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid (anxious). John 14:27 NIV
How many times have you prayed for peace? Did you know that when we pray for peace, we are praying for a gift that has already been given? This precious peace was proactively given to us as our inheritance through Jesus Christ. It is ours to receive. It cannot be taken away from us. We can only give it away. That’s what Jesus meant when He said it is not peace like the world gives.
We do live in a chaotic, anxiety-producing world. But we do not have to choose to live the way our surroundings dictate. If you were highly troubled by the circumstances around you and you went to a doctor and asked him, “I have so much fear and I am truly stressed out. How can I get peace?” First, he might check you out and see if there are any physical issues, and if so, prescribe the appropriate things to help you. This is legitimate and from God. We are told in James 1:17 that all good and perfect gifts come from God, and this would include appropriate medical means. But if he found there was no physical cause he might tell you, “Take a trip. Go on a cruise. Change your circumstances. Get into a place where everything around you is peaceful.”
You do know that place doesn’t exist, right? There is no place, no circumstance that doesn’t also have struggles and trials and opportunities for stress and anxiety. Jesus said, “In this world you WILL have trouble.” What He offers us is peace no matter what the circumstances. Jesus says to you, “I can quiet the storm you are in. I can give you personal, internal peace no matter what the circumstances. No matter how high the waves get, no matter how hard the wind blows, I am with you. I am in your boat. I am not leaving you alone in your circumstance.” When you actively access His peace, the storm loses its power to incapacitate and terrorize you.
The relationship we have with Jesus is the secret. It’s us staying in Him; Him living within us. He is the Source of real peace and contentment, even in storms and prison cells. He gives a peace no one and no circumstance can take away.
When the storms come, immediately acknowledge that He is in your boat even if you can’t see Him yet. Trust Him with your storm, your circumstance. You don’t have to beg for peace, He has given it to you already. It is yours. Open the gift.
- Jesus, today I acknowledge that You are with me in my circumstances, in my storm. Thank You for the peace that is mine. Help me to walk in peace and trust today, knowing You will never leave me, and I don’t need to be afraid. Your grateful child.