The Promise of Peace in 2010

Yesterday I asked the question: What would your life be like without worry or stress?

Can you even imagine a life without worry or stress? Panic seems to be an integral part of the human condition. We sometimes even cling to panic as proof that we're conscious of the state of things. "Well, duh, of course I know the world's a mess. Look at my own life: it's spinning out of control."

Remember a few days ago we talked about Jesus offering peace--not the world's peace, but rather a peace that surpasses understanding. On one occasion He said:

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened

and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,

for I am gentle and humble in heart,

and you will find rest for your souls.

For my Yoke is easy and my burden is light."

             -Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus offered a supernatural peace, not the world's peace. As a matter of fact, this supernatural peace involves gentleness and humility--not qualities the world prizes. It is gentleness and humility that recognizes our need for God, our need to trust in Him with all our heart and to acknowledge Him as guide of our lives.

If we do that, we will find rest for our souls. Yes, rest and peace will replace our worry and stress. And 2010 will be a very good year!

Can you resolve to let the Lord guide you this year?

A Promise to Lift Your Spririts

They say that depression is highest around the holidays, especially Christmas. Having experienced a "low" over Thanksgiving, I now understand what a downer depression can be.

Could God ever want me to be depressed?
Then where does depression originate?
And what is the antidote for it?

Consider this: "The joy of the Lord is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10).

When we lack His joy, what can we do about it?
We can do what we always do when we fall short of something we need--draw on the Lord's never-ending supply. Whether that's love or wisdom or peace or . . . .

How do we do that?

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you!
Ask in faith, believing!
Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the darts of the enemy.
Remember: greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.

Do you believe these things only in theory? Put them into practice.
Choose the joy of the Lord over the gloom and doom of the enemy.

The joy of the Lord is your strength!

Promise #1--Psalm 133:1 KJ V

Well, here we are. Are you ready to discuss our first of God's 800 promises in the Bible? How about starting with a verse that promotes peace and unity? Perhaps we need to remember this verse more during the Christmas holidays than at any other time.

"Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." Psalm 133:1 KJV

What does this verse mean to you? Come on now: let's hear from a bunch of you. Who knows what healing may occur just in time for Christmas! (Comment below!)

A String of Selah Pearls - Psalm 32:1-4

Positioned gracefully across the Book of Psalms is a string of seventy-one pearls, lovely beads of wisdom followed by the admonition SELAH which means, “Pause, think on these things, meditate.”

Psalm 32:1-4 “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Selah.”

Meditation:

This is a pearl of great truth. There’s nothing so liberating as a clear conscience. You can go anywhere, do anything, look anyone straight in the eye . . . no problem.

On the other hand, a guilty conscience, now that’s something else again. There’s that nagging fear that someone will find out—and the certain fear that God already knows.

The whole world longs for peace. But there is no peace for those who insist on covering up their guilt. The weight of oppression bears down on them, like a millstone grinding grain or crushing corn. The big squeeze.

SELAH

Look up: Psalm 69:5; 51:1-19; Isaiah 48:22; Proverbs 28:13