Live in Peace (3)

"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  NKJV

Continuing with our small series on peace, let us look at this verse. Jesus has left His peace with us. He knows that the world's peace is fragile and counterfeit at many times. His peace is eternal and helps us to cope with whatever we may face. If you remember from yesterday, the disciples were panicking because their boat was in a storm. However, Jesus was asleep, quite comfortable and not troubled at all. When the disciples woke Him up, he calmed the storm by addressing the peace of the world and it had to obey. Therefore, this confirms what he says in the above verse.

We are not to be troubled in our heart. If Jesus is our Lord and Saviour, then He is our peace as well but we need to receive it and live in it, refusing to allow the troubles of the world to hurt or torment us. Be careful though; Jesus doesn't promise the absence of storms in our lives because, they will come from time to time. What He does promise is, His peace in the midst of the storm, which is all we need - 'and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus' Philippians 4:7. Then, we must take note of Colossians 3:15, 'And let the peace of God rule in your hearts.' Don't miss the key part of this verse - the word 'Let'.  We can also see this in our text for today 'Let not' Paul and Jesus are telling us here, to make sure that we allow the peace of God to rule in our hearts and to avoid the risks that the troubles of the world bring when they invade our minds and trip us up.

At the end of the day, it is down to us. We know the rules and must must abide by them. Jesus has made it possible that we can live our lives in His peace and have the strength to not take on the troubles of the world. Oh they will attack, of course they will. They will try and take over our daily life. It's the same for everyone of us. However, we have the choice to live our lives in the peace of God, the way He intended it to be.

At this time, if you are troubled by worldly matters and feel that you have no peace in your life, can I encourage you to say this prayer with me:

'Lord Jesus, You have given us Your peace and encourage us to avoid the troubles of the world. However, I need help with this:..................................................................

It is draining me Lord but, as I surrender this to You right now, please give me the strength to take Your Word to my heart and live life as You want me to. I believe You Lord, I just need You to help me to believe even more.

In Jesus' name, Amen.'

Now receive this peace and live your life accordingly.

Copyright 2023 Grahame Howard.                                

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Live in Peace (2)

"But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow"                     Mark 4:38   NKJV 

Yesterday we saw David being pressured by his many enemies but, instead of fighting, he gave the problem to God and lay down to sleep. Today, we see the disciples in a boat during a storm, frightened that they were going to perish. But where was Jesus? He was in the stern sleeping blissfully on a pillow. There are similarities here. David, after giving his problems to God went to sleep, Jesus, who was always at peace lay down and also went to sleep. This was a test for the disciples. Jesus knew that they would hit a storm but He wanted to see how they handled it. In a nutshell, not very well.

"Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?' Jesus, got up, rebuked the wind and told the sea to be at peace; and there was a great calm. But He said to them, 'Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith? 

These guys should have known better; after all they had been with Jesus sometime and had seen all that He did. Yet, they failed to exercise their faith. Now watch this, Jesus had said to them at the start of their journey, 'Let us cross over to the other side.' Jesus intended to get there or He wouldn't have said this. Yet, they failed to hear properly. When things are going really well, for many, it is easy to be joyful and full of praise and faith. However, when things go wrong, many are unprepared and instead of using the faith that Jesus has taught them, they fall apart in fear. This is what happened here and Jesus had to gently rebuke them.

Jesus can be relied on; He is our shield of faith and when we commit things into His hands He is faithful and will take us through whatever we face. He will provide a way. However, don't forget that His timing is far different to ours. He knows what He is doing and we have to trust Him. Did you get that? We have to trust Him - fully. 

Are you in a situation where it is rather like you are in a boat when a storm hits? It can be quite scary and unnerving. However, if you are walking in God, and have committed your day to Him, then you are in His will and He will be with you. Be at peace. He may have called you to speak somewhere such as church or a home group and you are shaking with fear, or there may be something else that's bothering you. Remember, if He has asked you to do something, He is right behind you and, will guide you through. The problem comes when you are doing something that He never intended you to do at all. However, if you call on Him, He will still rescue you but there may be pieces to pick up afterwards.

Alternatively, you may be in a storm that is just one of those storms that come our way and we have no power over. It may be sickness or it may be some other situation. The word for you is 'PEACE, BE STILL'. In other words, Live in Peace. When you call on Jesus, He will always answer you and take you over to the other side.

More tomorrow!

Copyright 2023 Grahame Howard.                                

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Live in Peace. (1)

"I lay down and slept"                                                   Psalm 3:5   NKJV

David's son, Absalom, was causing him so much stress that he had to flee. Absalom was so much younger, whereas, David was by now much older. It was a bleak situation but, one in which David expressed his confidence in God. He knew that he would give Him deliverance. Under the circumstances, it was a wise decision. As King he still had people to look after and so, felt the only answer was to give this all to God. He focused more and more on God and as he called on Him and not so much his enemies, he thought about the Temple that would be built in Jerusalem, the place God had His Holy hill.

From time to time, we also can feel like everyone is against us. This may be our imagination or it may be reality. David knew what action to take and, so should we. He put the biggest part of his focus on the One who could rescue him from this situation. God heard him and restored his dignity and confidence. In fact God sustained him v5. Notice the all important statement also in v5, 'I lay down and slept.' Through God's intervention, David was so much at peace that he was able to get some well-earned sleep. And this is how God wants you to handle things.

Whatever stressful situation you are in, you need your sleep. You can't think straight when you're tired and the way to solve this is, to be so secure in Jesus that you can offer any problem to Him, leave it there and go to sleep. When God sustains you, He gives you peace, the peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:6-7). When David did this, he placed God in charge of everything because he knew that he could not resolve it. And He will for you as well.

Problems can escalate driving us to despair. I remember reading of a South African pastor who was trying to sort out the church's financial situation. They were in debt and the bills kept piling up. This pastor knew that he was in God's will and also knew that he could not sort these finances out. Therefore, after an evening service when everyone had gone home, he prayed, 'Lord, I can't change this situation. I have done all You asked of me but, there has been no change. Therefore Lord, the problem is Yours, I'm going home.' And he did. Within a very short time, God caused the debts to be paid off and the church was financially secure again. This is similar to what David did this day, 'I lay down and slept'. This is the peace of God.

Do you need this peace, then surrender everything to Jesus, and I do mean everything. Refuse to think or worry about it any longer and lay down and sleep. Then watch how God works!

Tomorrow, we will look at this in more detail and bring it all together. Until then, you know what to do!

Copyright 2023 Grahame Howard.                                

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The Refining Process

"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honour and glory the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love." 

                                                                                             1 Peter 1:6-8  NKJV

We can be sailing along peacefully with very few cares in the world when, suddenly a change comes along and the going begins to get tough. It happens to us all in certain degrees and at various times. Possibly for Christians, it can be harder because it is easy to believe that Jesus would never allow us to go through painful situations. Sadly, this is wrong. Things happen to us and we are left reeling and sometimes we are begging for a way through the situation.

God never tempts us, only the devil does this. However, God will allow trials to come upon us to test us and assess how we handle various things. He will monitor this testing however and never allow us to be overwhelmed by it all. Tony Evans comments on this:

'All trials are designed to do three things: Prove your faith, develop your faith and glorify your Saviour. You never know what you believe until you face a test. Our heavenly goldsmith wants to refine your character.'  Tony Evans Study Bible

The gold refining process God uses can be a difficult road to walk on. It takes resilience and determination to make it through these testing times. But, our comfort is to realise that Jesus is right by our side as we go through this refining process which in technical terms can be described as:

'An exciting process called refining, it is re-liquified in a furnace and then heaped with generous amounts of soda ash and borax. This effectively separates the gold from impurities and other metal traces.'  Source unknown

God uses tests or trials to develop us spiritually. A trial can be described as a divinely ordained difficulty that God uses to grow us, conforming us into the image of Jesus Christ. It is never easy but, it is manageable as we allow God to walk us through the process, which He is willing to do so. If you are in the middle of a trial at this time, keep standing, keep trusting and keep believing that God will pull you through it. Tests are only for a time but once through them, you have learned to be closer to God.

The thing is, don't give up believing that you can do this because, you can. When you place God in the driving seat, you find He is a skilful driver, but be careful, the devil will also want to drive and he is on the road to disaster. In your weakness at the time of the trial, don't allow the devil to get in. Just keep trusting in God.

Copyright 2023 Grahame Howard.                                

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The Three 'D's"

"If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well." v28             Mark 5:25-34   NKJV 

This well-known piece of scripture, shows us the love and compassion that Jesus carries for His people. This woman had a severe illness, a severe financial lack and according to Leviticus 15:25-27, was ceremonially unclean. She was suffering the three 'D's': DEFILED - DESTITUTE and DESPERATE.

If you have ever suffered just one of these categories, you will know the anguish she was going through. She had almost lost hope because, she had suffered 12 years with a terrible issue of blood and, because of this, she had exhausted all of her finance paying for doctors to try and bring healing to her body. She had spent all she had and now, the pot was empty and she felt even worse.

She had heard about Jesus and all that He was doing and made up her mind that she had to go to Him, there was nothing left but, she had to take the chance of going out into public knowing that she was unclean. Battling through the crowds she saw Him but, because of her low self-esteem, she couldn't speak with Him - what if he told her to go away, or wanted money for healing her? What if He rebuked her for being out in public? She was frightened and went up behind Him and touched His gown. Immediately, she was healed, she knew this without doubt. The thing is, Jesus knew as well because he felt power go out of His body. 'Who touched Me?' Jesus asked. Jesus knew who had touched Him but, wanted her to speak to Him and admit this. 

Frightened and shaking like a leaf, she bent down before Jesus and confessed that she had touched His gown. Jesus looked at her with love and said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace and be healed of your affection.'  What had  happened here? She fell down before Him and confessed and for this, she was rewarded. He built her up with confidence, making her feel a human being again. He took her fear and gave her peace in return. She knew that she would never be the same again. She was a new woman. Jesus took the feeling of being DEFILED, DESTITUTE and DESPERATE, and gave her a new 'D', He gave her DIGNITY. He gave this terribly beaten up woman His love and made her dignified. 

And He will do this for you as well if you ask Him. He knows where you've been; the life you have put up with. The disappointments, the let-downs and the feeling of being left out - the Billy no-mates of your area. Why not go up to Him, fall down before Him and allow Him to heal every inch of your physical and emotional hurt. 

His arms are open now, ready for you. Go on, what are you waiting for?

Copyright 2023 Grahame Howard.                                

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Be careful what you say!

"He who guards his lips, guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin."    

                                                                                    Proverbs 13:3  NIV 

The ability to guard the tongue is one of the clearest marks of wisdom. The tongue has the power of life and death (18:21); therefore it is so easy to allow a harsh word to be spoken - one that will kill any trust or friendship in a second. So therefore, one has to take and keep control, over the tongue. This takes discipline.

I read a quotation of Bob Gass' recently that I felt rather apt: 'If God gave you a pound for each kind word you said and took away a pound for each unkind word you said, would you be healthy or poor?' This really is food for thought. How many times would we be bankrupt because of the words we uttered each day? When we are faced with such an anecdote as this, it not only challenges us but can also bring blessing or conviction.

James writes: "no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who have been made in God's likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing" James 3:8-10 NIV. Tony Evans says, 'We have seals that clap, dolphins that talk, birds that flip and dogs that jump through hoops. But the only successful tongue-tamer is God. You need to be filled with scripture and the Holy Spirit.' Tony Evans Study Bible

If you have been trying to tame your tongue, you are on an impossible road, Only Jesus can help here. But, it takes discipline. There is not a chance that a few short prayers can change this. It is probably a life-times work. Each day, as you come to God in your quiet time, you need to be blessed with the power to overcome this. I suppose, it can can be similar to an addiction, you can get so used to saying unkind things about someone, criticising and judging them that, it just becomes second nature. Don't let it be because, one day we will all have to give an account to God as we stand before Him.

So may your Pound Money Box be full to overflowing with pound coins as God awards you with blessing after blessing. If you feel yourself slipping into bad-mouthing someone, stop right there, repent and change your direction of speech. It really makes sense. 

Copyright 2023 Grahame Howard.                                

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Thank God for our Work

"Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people."  Colossians 3:23   CSB

When a holiday or a peaceful weekend come to a close it is so easy to think, 'Oh no, I've got to go to work tomorrow, I'm dreading it.' It doesn't matter if you work for an employer or for yourself, the feeling can be the same. From time to time we all feel this way, it's a universal comment. The thing is, just stop and think what work brings you and your family - it provides clothes, food, a home and all the luxuries that you are used to. It also brings you the blessing of having a holiday in the first place or being able to take time off to have a peaceful weekend.

There are many people who don't want to work, that is their choice. There are also many people who cannot work because of certain problems from, disability or being a carer. There are also many who want to work but, try as they may, can't find the right job to meet their qualifications. Therefore, when we have a job, there is a need to be grateful to God and the need to do it well. Really we work for God so we should always provide excellence in all we do and because of providing this, we bless our employer and the customers. 

Have you ever stopped to think, that when you work well in your job, your boss and company will be blessed too. Just consider Joseph in Genesis 37-50. Everything he did prospered his superiors; from being a butler, in prison and as prime minister for Egypt. His faithful hard work brought success and prosperity. He was a great asset to them all.

Whether you are at school, college, uni, in paid employment or have your own business or whether you are retired and do odd jobs around the home and garden. As you work as if you're working for Jesus, He will put a seal of success upon this work and, like Joseph, whatever you do will be successful.

So the next time you are tempted to think about having to go to work; before you speak out a negative word about it, think and speak, 'This is another opportunity to bless whatever I have to do today. Through my work, I intend to bring prosperity.'

Then, watch how you are able to bring blessing to all you do because you are grateful to God for your work.

Copyright 2023 Grahame Howard.                                

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