My Peace is such an all-encompassing gift that it is independent of circumstances. Though you lose everything else, if you gain My Peace you are rich indeed.
Let that be a deep comfort to you, especially amid the many aspects of your life over which you have no control! When you are feeling at the mercy of your circumstances, My all-encompassing Peace is exactly what you need, even though you sometimes feel unable to receive it. Perhaps that is because you cling to other things--your loved ones, your possessions, your reputation. It's as if you are wrapping your fingers tightly around a small copper coin while I am offering you unlimited supplies of pure gold. My desire is to help you treasure My Peace above everything in the world--recognizing it as a supernatural gift, bequeathed to My followers shortly before My death.
A man who knows he will soon die wants to leave something precious with those he loves. Therefore, I "willed" My Peace to My disciples and all who would follow Me. I knew this was a difficult gift to accept, especially in the midst of adversity. So, after My resurrection, the first words I spoke to My disciples were "Peace be with you!" They needed this reassurance to reinforce what I taught them before I died. You also need to be reminded of the divine nature of this gift, for it is not the world's peace I give you: It is Peace that transcends all understanding!
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. John 14:27
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said "Peace be with you!" John 20:19
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
(Taken from "Jesus Lives" by Sarah Young)
This was my morning devotion which like so many other times meets me just where I'm at. It is hard to explain how I feel but maybe the best way to describe it is all over the board! This morning I woke to feeling a lot of tears needing to break forth. I can't really explain why, they just seem to have a mind of their own that all of a sudden need to appear. A good cry seems to help quite a bit. I love it when my Bible readings and devotion all seem to meet me where I'm at. That alone makes me so sure there is a very real personal God who knows exactly how I am feeling. This happens far too often to say it is a coincidence.
Today is Sunday and it was good to worship again with others this morning but I was able to worship Friday night and Saturday at an in town women's retreat with my daughters and daughters-in-law and some granddaughters as well as a niece, along with some 490 other women. It was a moving time of inspiration even though we had times of mourning when a song made us think of our dear one who is no longer here. I also was moved to tears when I went to a station that had us glue pieces of ceramic to a board and imagine God healing the broken pieces of my life. I know it is good for me to face the mourning so all these times and things that happen are good. From our time together I think the best part is realizing I don't have to work so hard to make things happen just realize God takes care of it as needed and He always has me in His hands. I don't need a check list, instead be in conversation with my heavenly Father who is my Daddy and has my best interest in mind.
God will lead my life's spiritual adventure and I can relax and enjoy where He takes me and trust Him fully! I know He will give me the desires of my heart because as I trust and rest in Him my desires will be His!
I read another book by a man who was taken to heaven only to discover it wasn't his time. It had some very encouraging parts for me to think of my sweet Tom enjoying heaven the way this man's loved ones were. I felt it was just another way God used to reassure me that heaven is so very real and He has Tom in His perfect place at His perfect time. I also felt encouraged to continue to run the race set before me till He calls me Home.
