FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK ~ The Bible tells us that God is our peace, and we can know the peace of God. This is good news, as finding peace is one of our deepest needs. In John 14:24-31, v. 27 Jesus tells us “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give you.” If we don’t have the peace Jesus promised, this passage offers three (3) possible explanations:
1) We lose our peace when circumstances are unchangeable. Much of life is beyond our control. We can only control our responses and our decisions, but we can’t control the grand narrative of our lives. When this reality sets in, we become frustrated and lose our peace of mind.
2) We lose our peace when people are unchangeable. The quickest way to lose our peace is to try to change somebody else. Most people are just not going to change the way you want them to be. Even when we know it won’t work, we still try to do it! And it keeps us from being peaceful.
3) We lose our peace when problems are unexplainable. We know life isn’t fair. Things don’t always turn out right. And when we don’t know why, we get anxious, nervous, and stressed. (paraphrased from devotional on the “Glorify” app)
How do we get God’s peace in our lives? Answers lie in the promises in God’s Word. Philippians 4:6-7 gives us five (5) distinct ways we can know God’s peace:
1) Pray about everything. We need to trust in God’s guidance as we present our request to Him.
2) Always be thankful. We need to express our gratitude to God as we reflect and recognize the good in our lives.
3) Keep our minds fixed on God. We must focus on God’s promises and trust in His control over our circumstances.
4) We must remember that God is good. Acknowledge God’s goodness and trust in His faithfulness.
5) Cast off worry. Make a willful choice to put our cares on God and let go of worries to find peace. These virtues, incorporated into our daily lives, allow us to grow a deeper sense of peace that brings us reassurance and comfort. ~ God’s blessings, protection, and favor to all.
Benny Nolen
Director
Joseph's Storehouse
