As I sat here this moring one word came to mind – Peace.
It’s the start of a new month, a new week, a new day and my heart is wrapped in a warm blanket of God’s peace!
The image I used this morning is a picture I took years ago near our home in Montana. The air was still and when we quieted our voices all we could hear was the sound of the river rolling over the rocks and splashing the snow covered banks.
Peace!
Peace doesn’t mean the absence of adverse circumstances. I can think of two examples from the Bible where people were in dire straights but they were at peace.
Daniel had been condemned to the lions’ den. His crime was prayer. His enemies were committed to having him destroyed and since they could find nothing else to accuse him on, they chose his faith in God and his commitment to prayer.
“The next morning, King Darius got up just as it was getting light and ran to the lions’ den. 20 He was very worried. When he got to the lions’ den, he called to Daniel. He said, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God been able to save you from the lions? You always serve your God.”
21 Daniel answered, “King, live forever! 22 My God sent his angel to save me. The angel closed the lions’ mouths. The lions have not hurt me because my God knows I am innocent. I never did anything wrong to you, King.” Daniel 6:19-22 ERV
Peter is the second example that came to mind. There was great persecution of those who followed Jesus and preached about His resurrection. The leaders of the day were out to stop this message, even if it meant killing the messengers. One of the apostles had already been killed and now Peter had been arrested and imprisoned. He was to be the next to die.
“The night before Peter was to be put on trial, he was asleep and bound by two chains. A soldier was guarding him on each side, and two other soldiers were guarding the entrance to the jail. 7 Suddenly an angel from the Lord appeared, and light flashed around in the cell. The angel poked Peter in the side and woke him up. Then he said, “Quick! Get up!”
The chains fell off his hands, 8 and the angel said, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” Peter did what he was told. Then the angel said, “Now put on your coat and follow me.” Acts:12:6-8 CEV
It was a heaven sent jail break. What I find so interesting about this story is that Peter, facing death, was in such a deep sleep that the angel had to poke him to wake him up. He was at peace.
When we focus our thoughts and attentions on God and His love; His provision and His strength, we find peace.
“You will keep the man in perfect peace whose mind is kept on You, because he trusts in You. 4 Trust in the Lord forever. For the Lord God is a Rock that lasts forever.” Isaiah 26:3-4 NLV
Start your day with your mind stayed, focused, on the Lord. Let His peace flow through your heart like a river. Let it carry away the anxieties of life and bring refreshing to your mind.
Trust in the Lord and you will have peace!