April 2024
PEACE
There
are two
things I
know for
sure
about
peace:
•
Everybody
wants it
• God
has
provided
it
Isaiah
9:6-7
says one
of the
names of
the
coming
Messiah
would be
Prince
of
Peace.
The word
peace is
Shalom
in
Hebrew,
which
means
peace,
safety,
prosperity,
happiness,
wholeness,
favor,
and
rest.
Scholars
look at
the
letters
used to
form
this
word as
well as
the
pictures
represented
by those
letters,
which
enhances
the
understanding
of the
word’s
meaning.
In the
original
language,
Shalom’s
deeper
meaning
is Peace
comes
when you
destroy
the
authority
of
chaos!
I’d
like to
share a
story I
read
about
two
artists
who were
commissioned
to paint
a
picture
of trust
and
confidence
in the
Lord.
One
painted
a
beautiful
countryside
scene.
The
meadow
was
green
and
alive
with
colorful
flowers.
The sky
was blue
and
dotted
with
puffy
clouds.
Cows
grazed
in the
distance
and a
happy
family
sat on
their
back
porch,
calmly
surveying
the
tranquility
of the
moment.
The
second
artist’s
picture
depicted
one of
the most
devastating
storms
imaginable.
The sky
was
threatening,
the
lightning
sharp
and
terrifying.
The
heavy
rain was
pouring
against
the
rocks
and
added
force to
the
raging
waterfall.
The
trees
nearly
touched
the
ground
as they
bent
before
the
assault
of the
wind.
A
closer
look at
the
picture
exposed
a small
bird in
the
cleft of
a rock,
undisturbed
by the
storm.
Underneath
the
picture,
the
artist
painted
one
word,
Peace.
This
picture
was
chosen
because
it
depicted
the
peace of
God
during
the
turmoil
of the
world.
The
artist
destroyed
the
authority
of chaos
with one
word:
PEACE.
Jesus
said,
“Peace,
be
still.”
And the
wind
ceased,
and
there
was a
great
calm.
One word
aligned
with
Heaven
destroyed
the
authority
of chaos
surrounding
Him and
the boat
filled
with His
fearful
disciples.
The
first,
and most
beneficial
thing I
learned
about
having
peace in
my life
was to
make
peace
with
God. As
long as
things
were not
right in
that
department,
it was
difficult
to
experience
peace
anywhere
else.
Unless
there
was
peace
vertically,
there
was NO
peace
internally.
How
could
there
be? I
was
always
uptight,
anxious,
nervous,
touchy,
and
downright
miserable.
AND –
made
those
around
me
miserable
as well.
Misery
loves
company!
God
helped
me
understand
that His
peace
does not
come
through
people,
popularity,
prosperity,
performance,
or even
through
the
praying
of
prayers.
I
learned
that
true
peace
only
comes
through
trusting
Jesus.
Perhaps
you are
in the
midst of
a life
situation
in which
your
heart
feels as
chaotic
as an
ocean in
a
hurricane.
Paul
wrote:
And let
the
peace
(soul
harmony
which
comes)
from
Christ
rule
(act as
umpire
continually)
in your
hearts
[deciding
and
settling
with
finality
all
questions
that
arise in
your
minds,
in that
peaceful
state]
to which
as
[members
of
Christ’s]
one body
you were
also
called
[to
live].
And be
thankful
(appreciative),
[giving
praise
to God
always].
(Colossians
3:15
AMP)
“Even
though
it’s
true
that
everyone
has hard
days and
difficult
weeks,
you
don’t
have to
surrender
to those
emotions
that try
to steal
your
joy,
disturb
your
relationships,
and rob
you of
your
victory.
When you
feel
overwhelmed
by
problems
or
emotions
that are
hitting
you from
every
direction,
just
stop a
moment
and
deliberately
set your
heart
and mind
on Jesus
and the
Word of
God. As
you do
this,
the
wonderful,
conquering,
dominating,
supernatural
peace of
God will
rise up
from
your
spirit
and take
control!”
Rick
Renner
Peace, I
leave
with
you, My
peace I
give to
you; not
as the
world
gives do
I give
to you.
Let not
your
heart be
troubled,
neither
let it
be
afraid.
(John
14:27)
He
left us
His
PEACE.
The
Peace
that
spoke to
the
storm
and
said,
“Be
Still!”
SO – I
believe
that is
precisely
what we
should
do when
chaos
begins
to stir
around
us. By
faith,
align
your
words
with the
Words of
Jesus –
then …
rise up,
stand
up, gird
up and
declare
out
loud:
PEACE,
BE
STILL!
Peace
will
positively
affect
every
area of
your
life:
sleep,
your
day-to-day
activities,
and even
the way
you
think
about
everything!
Now,
because
of You,
Lord, I
will lie
down in
peace
and
sleep
comes at
once,
for no
matter
what
happens,
I will
live
unafraid!
(Psalm
4:8 TPT)
There
are
those
times in
life
where
things
become
very
chaotic,
sometimes
things
get very
frightening,
but
remember
“The
One” who
is
bringing
us
through
the
chaos.
Keep
your
focus on
Him!
You
will
keep in
perfect
and
constant
peace
the one
whose
mind is
steadfast
[that
is,
committed
and
focused
on
You—in
both
inclination
and
character],
Because
he
trusts
and
takes
refuge
in You
[with
hope and
confident
expectation].
(Isaiah
26:3
AMP)
And
God
always
keeps
His
promises.
Victorious,
only by
His
GRACE!
Billie
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Ground
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Your
faith
will not
grow
into
great
faith
out of
great
effort;
your
faith
will
grow to
be great
out of
your
great
surrender.
Allow
your
faith to
deny the
influence
of the
problems
you
face.
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