Category: peace

P.E.A.C.E.

We can rest assured that we no longer need to fear the dark.

Meditation Thought: “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.” (John 14:27)

“You light up my life” – a few words from an old song, but what meaning! In the dark, we are afraid, uncertain of what surrounds us, where to go; we are apprehensive, nervous. A sudden illumination of light – and instant change: our fears vanish, we are assured, we are at peace.

With the Light inside of us illuminating everything with which we come in contact, we can rest assured that we no longer need to fear the dark – for there will be no dark for us. There will be all kinds of circumstances, situations, places – but always clearly seen, as our Guide is with us to deal with them.

P – Pray
E – Everything
A – Anytime
C – Circumstances
E – Everywhere

Psalm 23: A Psalm of David.
23 The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.

Two Gears

Only when we can say “I’m yours. Take me as I am, imperfect, inadequate, but completely yielded does the gear slip smoothly into place.

Meditation Thought: “Anything is possible if you have faith.” (Mark 9:23)

Anything is possible if you have faith, because God is taking the action, not human beings. Faith is the lever that changes our gear from ‘our action’ to ‘God’s action’.

Maybe the gears are marked:
– ‘doubt’ and ‘trust’ or
-‘my will’ and ‘God’s will’ or
-‘my strength’ and ‘God’s strength’ or even
-‘my good works’ and ‘God’s grace’.

Whatever the labels, there is no doubt that the pace and the results are different in the two gears. We can be helped by suggestions on how to change gears, but only by our own act can we actually change them. We may have to pull and tug and experiment, but we must keep trying until we succeed in getting the gears changed.

The changing actually takes place when we relax and gently slip our heart and our will into God’s hands, but we may be unable to do this without some pulling and tugging – then giving up our struggle as inadequate, surrendering ourselves as having tried every way we knew and failing. Only when we can say “I’m yours. Take me as I am, imperfect, inadequate, but completely yielded does the gear slip smoothly into place.

Locking the Door on Fear and Worry

The formula of praise-trust-recall serves as a lock on the door of our heart to shut out worry and fear.

Meditation Thought: “Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)

“Let not” implies a choosing of letting or not letting. Therefore we do not have to allow the trouble or the fear to stay with us when it first tries to enter. God has revealed a number of ways that we can close the door to worry and fear: praising Him in various forms (singing, words of praise), trusting Him (reading or reciting scripture), recalling His past deeds on our behalf.

In the act of closing out fear and worry, we also open up new possibilities for God’s working in our lives, solving our problems, bringing us joy. The formula of praise-trust-recall serves as a lock on the door of our heart to shut out worry and fear.

A Lighted Path

Listening and doing bring answered prayer.

Meditation Thought in response to Psalm 119:

In His faithfulness, God gives His commandments that we might have His knowledge working in truth. The lighted path brings us peace until we can see the evidence of His testimonies, and give Him praise for His glorious workings in our lives.

  • Knowledge – allowing the Spirit to manifest Himself in us to teach us the knowledge needed for action.
  • God’s Faithfulness (we can trust You)
  • Commandments – if we listen to Your commandments, we know Your will and doing Your will brings answers to our prayers.
  • Truth – (v.104 & 159) Through Your precepts I get understanding; the sum of Your word is truth which brings me to understanding which brings me to right action.
  • God’s Word lights my path
  • God’s testimonies are wonderful (v 129)
  • Great peace for those who love to obey.

Hope Does Not Fail

What better description for a life of peace and victory?

Meditation Thought: “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)

Afflicted (hard pressed) – not crushed
Perplexed – not in despair
Persecuted – not abandoned (forsaken)
Struck down – not destroyed

What better description for a life of peace and victory? No matter what the circumstances, hope does not fail, for “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

We are not crushed, despaired, abandoned or destroyed because we are not alone, we know our “Reserves” are coming to back us up – all we need do is to wait for them to come to change the situation. What a difference it is to know that our uncomfortable position is only temporary – and that good is being worked in it for us.

It’s easy to take discomfort when you know it is bringing rewards later, easy to take when you know it is improving you every minute. We don’t seek discomfort or problems, but when they come (as they do to believers and non-believers alike), we can rise above them in our minds as our minds concentrate on God, seeking His will – His wisdom – His solutions. Soon – or at least on God’s schedule – we have not only our minds, but every part of us risen above the discomfort and problem and feel exhilarated and happier for the overcoming of the trouble, for the knowing more completely than ever before, that God is sufficient. As we come closer to Him in trust, we can not only throw off fear of events, we can almost welcome trouble because we know God will work so much good from it that eventually it will become a blessing.

Dispelling Darkness

When His glory is perceived, others are drawn to it like a moth to a flame.

Meditation Thought: “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

“Let” – not “Do” shine. Our part is to allow God to have His way with us, so that He makes our light shine. If we attempt the actual lighting by trying to accomplish it by good works, then people would focus on us, not God. By allowing God to take complete control of our lives, He lights such a bright lamp by the works He does in and through us, that His glory is seen in the light. When His glory is perceived, others are drawn to it like a moth to a flame, and God is then able to work in them, too, lighting their lamp.

The more people that allow God to light their lamps, the more light there is to dispel the darkness. We may never know how many other lamps are lit from our lamp by God, but we can be happy in knowing that our lamp is completely at His disposal.

Peace comes when we are doing the good works, knowing that God is pleased because we are doing His work, according to His instructions.

Miracle Workers

Not a thought, not the smallest of actions is neutral: everything is either to the glory of God – or the delight of Satan.

Meditation Thought: “Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Not a thought, not the smallest of actions is neutral: everything is either to the glory of God – or the delight of Satan. Practice, practice: learn the meaning of the Word, and having this knowledge, seek the wisdom of the Spirit – by these shall you think and act to the glory of God.

And by these shall you think and act to the salvation of the world: your world – and the worlds it touches.

Let not your preoccupation with your feelings, your desires, your will, short-circuit the flow of power from heaven into your world. The Word and the Spirit are the miracle workers – through the willing mind and body of the believer. A willing mind and body are constructed from a willing spirit seeking beyond self: seeking to know from whom they came, and to whom they belong, and to whom they give glory.

I come not with
pounding drums
Nor searchlights
and parades:
Those you could
not ignore.
I come softly,
quietly, with gentle touch.
Asking, not demanding –
Will you follow Me?
For I go to bring
glory to God;
I seek to show you the way.
The limits you have,
So I had too.
And as I overcame
by yielding My will,
So I show you too:
The Father’s will is
the grace of His glory
Bringing peace and joy
and love.

Master Weaver

Set your goal high: as high as heaven.

Meditation Thought: “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” (Romans 10:11) “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Romans 10:15)

“Take the thread of life which I place before you; seek to study the instructions on how to weave it into a beautiful blanket: an all-purpose blanket to be shared again and again to provide warmth, shelter and beauty for many.

Do not be dismayed by difficulties, but know that they arise so that you will seek to be more creative in using the talents (thread) which I have given you.

I do not propose for you to weave a plain, monotonous blanket. No, it must have depth of texture, contrasts of color, variety of design. It shall be as a tapestry which tells a story as it is observed from one part to another.

Do not allow Satan to make flaws in it by listening to his instructions rather than Mine – oh, they are so much easier for you to follow. They take little effort, little concentration – and the results are disastrous; they are displeasing to you and to others.

Set your goal high: as high as heaven. You know there is a “best” for each moment of your life: seek to weave the best pattern in the best colors. You can do it, if you:

  • Seek to know My will, moment by moment
  • Seek to do My will moment by moment
  • Seek to rejoice in doing My will, moment by moment.

Peace and joy are the marks of My will expressed as your “best” weaving: your peace, your joy – and the peace and joy of all who know you.”

Tears Shall Reflect Rainbows

They who wait for the Lord – instead of rushing in to take matters in their own hands – shall have the wisdom and the strength of the Lord motivating and activating them.

Meditation Thought: “but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

They who wait for the Lord – instead of rushing in to take matters in their own hands – shall have the wisdom and the strength of the Lord motivating and activating them.

  • The contrast in the power of self and Lord can hardly be comprehended or measured.
  • The difference between the motivations of self and the Lord can hardly be compared.
  • The difference between the actions of self and Lord are almost totally unrelated, having little in common.

But when self is by faith embraced in the Father’s arms and the Father does the moving, carrying the child, then the whole picture changes.

The knowledgeable, mature, wise, loving, powerful, righteous Father, full of grace and glory, sweeps along time and circumstances doing His good will and good works. He allows the child to accompany Him, to help Him, to enjoy the varieties of experiences as they participate together in all that lies along the chosen path. But the point is that the path is the choice of the loving, wise Father and not the wilful child.

May pain yield to the pressure of His love,
And the darkness of the night yield to the brightness of the dawn.
The tears shall reflect rainbows
As a new spirit is born within:
The heart of stone is removed
And the replaced with a heart of flesh.
The heart of flesh carries the waters of the Spirit
To give abundant live and peace forevermore.

Daylight After the Darkness of Night

A poem of hope.

Meditation Thought: “For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.  I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.  Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.  Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:17-20)

Know ye not
That I am the
Way, the Truth, the Life?
Forbid me not:
Open the door of your heart
That I may enter in.
A more welcome guest
You could not entertain.
For I come not to take,
But to give:
I am your daylight after the darkness of the night.
I give you joy after tears.
I give you victory from defeat.
I give you a depth of knowledge
That confounds the wise.
I give you love that never ends
And life that is ever sweet.
The glory of God
Shall surround you:
It is without, waiting to pour in
Through the opening of the door of your heart unto me.