Month: August 2024

Peace bringer?

August 12, 2024

What brings you peace?

What brings me peace? Knowing Jesus and doing my best to follow Him each and every day.

In John 14:27 Jesus says, “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.”

Jesus said this as He was preparing to go to the cross. He knew chaos and confusion was about to be thrust on His disciples, so He gave them His comfort and His peace.

I find these words comforting myself too. So many times I have been worried or stressed out from the trials and tribulations of life, these words have been my comfort.

Many years ago I heard this saying, “No God, no peace. Know God, know peace”. I have found this to be true. Knowing Jesus has given a sense of peace and purpose that the world could never give me.

As I type I am reminded of the great passage from Philippians chapter four. It says…

[6] Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. [7] And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV)

I love the way this passage encourages us not to be anxious about anything, but to bring it to God. Then God’s peace will guard our hearts and minds as we live in Christ Jesus.

This is the secret to knowing true and lasting peace. When we know this peace, we know God is with us and God holds us in the palm of His hands.

What brings me peace? Jesus!

He will, we will

August 8, 2024

John 14:1-4 NLT – “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. [2] There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? [3] When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. [4] And you know the way to where I am going.”

In John 14 Jesus is speaking to the disciples about His going away. He gives them comfort and reassurance that in time they will be together again.

In verse 3 Jesus shares one of the great truths of the Bible. Jesus is preparing our eternal home and once it is ready and the time is right, He will come back for us.

I love the wording He uses – He will and we will. He WILL come back for us and we WILL be with Him forever.

This is the great hope we have in this life. That no matter what we see around us in the world, no matter how bad things seem to be, Jesus IS coming back for us.

With this hope in our hearts, we should not be troubled. We just need to trust in God and wait. He WILL come back at the appointed time, and we WILL be with Him forever.

Prayer

Thank You Jesus that You are preparing a place for us. Thank You that You will come back for us. Please help us to be resolute in our faith and trust in You. Help us to hold on to this great truth that we will spend eternity with You. Amen.

Sit, walk, stand

August 7, 2024

I listened to this audio book on the way to work this week. I quite enjoyed the look at the book of Ephesians and three key words that come from it.

Here is the description from audible.com.au…

An inspiring look at Ephesians, opening our eyes to the process of Christian living and maturity in three words: Sit our position in Christ; Walk our life in the world; Stand our attitude toward the Enemy. New! Study guide included. An invaluable tool for the growing disciple.

Go and act

August 1, 2024

I heard this saying today afresh. I know I have heard it before, but this time it struck a chord in my heart…

“The Books of Acts would not have been written if the Apostles did not go and act”.

Imagine if after Pentecost came and the Holy Spirit was poured out on the believers, that they decided to just stay home. Imagine how different our world would be?

We would not have a Book of Acts as an example and a teaching. We would not have heard about the amazing miracles. We would not have heard about the growth of the early church.

This simple saying emphasised to me afresh the importance of going and acting. Of taking the truth of the Gospel message out in to the world and sharing it with others.

When we go and act people are saved. When we go and act miracles happen and lives are changed. When we go and act eternal destinies are changed.

Prayer

Dear God, please help me to go and act. Your Word says the harvest fields are ripe. Send me to the people who need You today. Amen.

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