JOIN US THIS SUNDAY 10.30AM
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15
Jun '20
A Secret to Finding Peace
15
Jun '20
Can I ask you today…how are you doing? How is your peace? These past few months have been unprecedented, unpredictable, ever-changing and anything but “normal.” It’s a good time to pause and check in — how is your heart doing right now?
As I’ve talked to several people recently, I’ve realized there is a common experience right now called the “ebb and flow.” Each week — or even within the same day — we can go from “Things are fine…no worries…with Jesus, we’ve got this…” to “What the heck is going on…this world is cray-cray…come quickly Lord Jesus!” Who’s with me in that? It can be an uncomfortable place to live in that constant ebb and flow. And let’s face it — none of us know what the new normal will be like or the timing of when things will all feel stable again. So friends, let me encourage you today — don’t wait for that! It’s the right time NOW to check in on how your heart is doing — and to be proactive about getting peace, joy and refreshing, even amidst the global shaking. >>So, how do we do that? How do we refresh and revive our inner selves? It can be tempting to binge-watch another Netflix series. Or scoop into that ice cream container…again. Or buy some more clothes online or drive aimlessly around the countryside. None of that is wrong necessarily — but none of those activities holds the key to getting revived and refreshed, getting filled with God’s peace and joy. The secret to the true inner refreshing that we all crave is found in Psalm 119:49-50.
Let’s look at these verses in a few translations: “Remember your promise to me; it is my only hope. Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles.” (NLT) “Remember [fervently] the word and promise to Your servant, in which You have caused me to hope. This is my comfort and consolation in my affliction: that Your word has revived me and given me life.” (AMPC) “Remember what you said to me, your servant—I hang on to these words for dear life! These words hold me up in bad times; yes, your promises rejuvenate me.” (MSG) Those are such powerful descriptions of what God’s Word does in your life — His Word revives, comforts, gives you life, holds you up, rejuvenates you! Friend, did you realize that when you constantly feed on and listen to the news, the noise, the narrative and the negative things outside of Christ or the Crisis you tend to develop a “Victim Mentality” and not “Victor Mentality (in Christ)”? Some recent studies have indicated that “Victim Mentality” produces resentment, which produces anger, which produces hate. Listen to this from Matthew 24:10, 12 (NLT) – “And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.”
Notice that a few of the signs of the end times as described by Jesus, are: (1) People will turn away from Jesus Christ the Lord (the Prince of Peace). Wow! Then there will be (2) Betrayal toward others and then (3) Hatred towards each other. These are three are the very opposite of: Love, Joy and Peace. As we’ve said before, when honor and esteem leaves PEACE leaves the relationship. In just heard that the new commodity on Facebook is: ANGER. Why? Because ANGER is addictive! Internet or Social Media ANGER is a new thing that people play around with and plug into too often. Something offensive or upsetting is put in front of you and you yield to and stir up that emotion of ANGER, RAGE and WRATH. You grow use to attacking, assaulting and arguing against and at people who you are to LOVE not hate: (Romans 13:8-10). This constant ANGER does not develop you in LOVE, JOY and PEACE – instead it causes “emotional damage” which leads to dysfunctional relationships and dysfunctional families.
Jesus said a couple of profound truths – one in John 15:11 – 13 (TPT) – “My purpose for telling you these things is so that the joy that I experience will fill your hearts with overflowing gladness! “So this is my command: Love each other deeply, as much as I have loved you. For the greatest love of all is a love that sacrifices all. And this great love is demonstrated when a person sacrifices his life for his friends.” We see that Joy comes by hearing Jesus speak! And in John 14:27 (TPT) – “I leave the gift of peace with you—my peace. Not the kind of fragile peace given by the world, but my perfect peace. Don’t yield to fear or be troubled in your hearts—instead, be courageous!” And in John 16:33 (TPT) – “And everything I’ve taught you is so that the peace which is in me will be in you and will give you great confidence as you rest in me. For in this unbelieving world you will experience trouble and sorrows, but you must be courageous, for I have conquered the world!” We see in these two verses that Jesus gave us His very own PEACE. So as you take a moment to check in on how your heart is doing in these times…why not make the choice right now to turn to God’s Word for the refreshing, comfort and rejuvenation that will get you through this time?
MAKE THIS FAITH DECLARATION TODAY: “Father God, thank You for giving me Your living Word — I know that as I read Your Word, You revive, comfort and hold me up through these challenging times. And I know that as I store up Your Word in my heart, those Words will rejuvenate me every day and in every season. Thank You Lord for helping me to prioritize and highly value my study time in Your Word. And, thank You Lord for giving me Your Love, Your Joy and Your Peace. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”