I Need the Peace of God

Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)

"6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."

This scripture means a great deal to me.  I know that I am in a relationship with the Almighty God and there is nothing that He can't do but at times I must forget.  I allow the cares of this life to cause me to worry and stress. I know, I shouldn't (and I repent) but I am just being honest.  I cry out to God when the cares of life hurt and  become a weight almost too much to bear.  I know that He loves me and is hearing my every call.  He assures me that He is with me and He is working it out.  He is working me through the process of becoming more like Him. I'm just not always in agreement on how it has to happen.

I'm glad the Apostle Paul leaves the message, not to worry (or be anxious) about anything. That means that no matter what it is, I can take it to the Lord in prayer.  He listens, He hears, and He answers. It may not always be the answer I want at the moment but I don't have to worry. I can take it to the Lord in prayer. I can tell Him what I need (or think I need) and thank Him because I know that He hears me and will work it out for my good.  I am careful to ask His will in spite of what I may want.  I can trust that His will is so much better for me than mine. I can thank God for all that He has done and know assuredly just as He has taken care of me in the past, He will continue to do so.  Why? Because He is a covenant keeping God and He promised that He would. 

Only after I talk to my Father and cast my cares can I have His peace.  Sometimes, I may come into His presence and not know what to say.  Just being in His presence makes it all better.  Ps. 16:11 says, "You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever." If I come to the Lord in prayer (which is just conversation), He will hear me and give me His peace.  

I remember the hymn, What A Friend We Have in Jesus, it says "Oh what peace we often forfeit, Oh what needless pain we bear.  All because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer." If we take our cares and problems to God, He will bear them for us and give us the strength to make it through all of our valleys.  Ps. 29:11 gives me courage, "The Lord will give [unyielding and impenetrable] strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace."  God will not only bless you with strength that cannot be penetrated and stopped, but He will bless you with His peace.  His peace is beyond our understanding. In the midst of the trouble, you will find peace.

This month, the theme is peace.  May you find peace as you draw near to the Savior, Jesus Christ.  If you have not accepted Him as your Lord and Savior, you are missing a blessing.  He truly is our Peace.  Accept Him today.  

Prayer of Salvation:

Lord, I admit I am a sinner. I need and want Your forgiveness. I accept Your death as the penalty for my sin, and recognize that Your mercy and grace is a gift You offer to me because of Your great love, not based on anything I have done. Cleanse me and make me Your child. By faith I receive You into my heart as the Son of God and as Savior and Lord of my life. From now on, help me live for You, with You in control.
In Your precious name, Amen