I’ve been up for quite a while now and have been unable to find just the right thought for the day until now.
Peace – the gift of God’s love!
Maybe you’re like me and things have been pretty hectic this week. Go, go, go. It’s time to stop, take a deep breath, say a quiet prayer and let the Father fill you with peace.
Imagine if you will a rolling meadow, green pastures, wild flowers and a gentle stream. What does that sound like?
Peace.
It also sounds like the very thing a young shepherd boy was describing in Psalm 23.
“The Lord is my shepherd. I will always have everything I need. 2 He gives me green pastures to lie in. He leads me by calm pools of water. 3 He restores my strength. He leads me on right paths to show that he is good.4 Even if I walk through a valley as dark as the grave, I will not be afraid of any danger, because you are with me. Your rod and staff comfort me.” Psalm 23:1-4 ERV
I was just telling someone this last week that the Lord doesn’t let me teach something I haven’t lived. I have certainly had years of learning to live in God’s peace in the most troubling of times. Each circumstance that was meant to cause fear, distress and dis-ease, when committed to the Lord has ended in peace.
“I have told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have troubles. But be brave! I have defeated the world!” John 16:33 ERV
“And you will live safely in your land. 6 I will give peace to your country. You will lie down in peace. No one will come to make you afraid. I will keep harmful animals out of your country. And armies will not come through your country.” Leviticus 26:5b-6 ERV
“God’s love will come together with his faithful people. Goodness and peace will greet them with a kiss.” Psalm 85: 10 ERV
I don’t know what your day or your week has before you but God does.
“So you will go out from there with joy. You will be led out in peace. When you come to the mountains and hills, they will begin singing. All the trees in the fields will clap their hands.” Isaiah 55:12 ERV
“God, you give true peace to people who depend on you, to those who trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3 ERV
You may not be able to go to the country and find a peaceful meadow so take a few moments to stare at the image I used this morning. Let God bring peace to your heart.
I’ll leave you with the words from an old hymn and then I will go out and sit on the patio and watch the sun come up. I’ll start my day with peace. I hope you do too.
“Peace, peace, sweet peace!
Wonderful gift from above!
Oh, wonderful, wonderful peace!
Sweet peace, the gift of God’s love!” from Sweet Peace, the Gift of God’s Love