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Many people today live in fear, anxiety,
and worry--fear of flying, fear of burglars, fear of the future, fear of
rising interest rates, fear of the IRS, fear of anything you can name. This
is to be expected of those who aren't Christians, for what hope have they?
But for those who profess Jesus as Lord of
their lives, there is hope! We can live lives with peace in our hearts and
minds through the Word of God, Jesus Christ.
Psalm 119:165 says, "Great peace have they which love thy
law: and nothing shall offend them." According to Proverbs, the fear of the
Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge. Know this: true peace will
not come apart from God's Word and your relationship with Him. He is the
author of peace. Jesus said He came to give us peace, but not the peace that
the world gives. The best peace the world can offer is having nations not
shoot at one another, and this is only temporary at best. The world will
also offer you a false peace through its products--take a Calgon bath, have
a beer with your buddies, buy the right tires. This is not the peace that
everyone is searching for, however. True peace--inner peace--comes only
through a relationship with God and through believing and putting into
practice what He has said in His Word.
Isaiah 26:3-4 says, "You will guard him and keep him in
perfect and constant peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he commits
himself to You, leans on You, and hope confidently in You. So trust in the
Lord--commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him--forever;
for the Lord God is an everlasting rock--the Rock of Ages." (Amplified
Bible) Philippians 4:6-9 says, "Do
not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and
in everything by prayer and petition (definite requests) with thanksgiving
continue to make your wants known to God. And God's peace which
transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts
and minds in Christ Jesus. For the rest, brethren, whatever is true,
whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is
lovely and loveable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is
any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on,
weigh, and take account of these things--fix your minds on them...and the
God of peace--of untroubled, undisturbed well-being--will be with you.
True peace--the peace that comes from God--isn't
automatic. But for those who love God's Word and follow after His commands,
great peace is a sure reward.
©
2004 Suzanne Leitz |
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