“Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” John 14:27b

Do you receive lots of email warnings about the times we live in and the disaster that is coming on the United States as efforts are underway to take every Christ related activity out of the public eye? On the other hand, we also are hearing prophetic words that a great revival will start on the west coast and sweep our country. It is enough to make one live in a constant state of anxiety anticipating what will or will not happen. Our imaginations can run wild with all the information.

Dave Wilkerson’s recent newsletter was full of encouraging words of Scriptural promises for us to hold onto as we contemplate the judgments coming on a nation, where the highest office has declared America is no longer a Christian nation.

Peace can only come by making time to sit in the presence of the Prince of Peace, Jesus. He is the one who can help us to refocus and subdue any panic we may take on by what we hear and read. He assures us, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you.” John 14:27a. It is up to us to embrace that peace and walk in it.

Recently I was in just such an agitated state as I had been hearing so much doom and gloom. As I sat in prayer and meditated on the many Scriptures about peace I found my spirit smoothed and calm. I made a study of the passages referring to peace, writing them all in a notebook. I will have that at hand for the next time I start to let fear grab me.

I am in the “golden years” of life so I may escape much of what is predicted, but I have children and grandchildren just as many do who are reading this.  In reflecting on the challenges they may face I determined that the best thing I can do is pray that they are strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. I pray they will be towers of faith and love the Lord with all their hearts. I am stacking up prayers for them in heaven which will be before the throne of God when my physical voice is silent. I encourage you to be diligent in keeping those in your sphere of influence covered with prayer.

© 2010 Peggy Park

We are living in an era when we could easily be very unsettled. The economy is in shambles, wars are raging, disease and affliction appear to be at an all time high, and there seems to be an unusually elevated incidence of horrible abuse against children in addition to the shedding of the lives of innocent unborn babies.

Yet, our Father speaks, “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 troubles, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27.

The only way we will be able to walk in that promised peace is to draw from the one that Scripture calls the Prince of Peace.(Isaiah 9:6). As we sit daily in our devotion time with Him our fears are allayed and faith arises as we read His word, fellowship with Him, pray, and wait quietly in His presence.

Isaiah 26:3 assures us, “You will keep Him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You.”

While the world may run to and fro we can walk in peace in these troubled times and look up, for our redemption draws near.

© Peggy Park 2008

I can not claim authorship of the following. I have no idea where I found it some time ago but I wanted you to have the benefit of this excellent check list in light of my previous blog on peace.

1.  Tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than from fear.

2.  An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment

3.  Loss of interest in judging self and others

4.  Loss if interest in conflict

5.  Loss of interest in interpreting actions of others

6.  Loss of tendency to worry and have overwhelming episodes of apprehension

7.  Increasing ability to receive love extended by others as well as the

grace to extend unconditional love to others

8.  Increasing tendency to let things happen rather than trying to manage and control situations and people.

9.  Joy in our inner person.

© Peggy Park 2008

I heard the story of a man in a foreign country who was riding a train on a long tip. He held a heavy piece of baggage the entire trip. At the end of the trip as he got off the conductor inquired, “Why didn’t you put the bag down?” to which the man replied, “I didn’t know there was a place to put it.”

We, as followers of Jesus Christ, know we have a place to leave our heavy burdens but sometimes we have to be reminded to do so. Jesus is the burden bearer and is more than able to handle the heavy loads we sometimes are prone to try to carry ourselves.

Psalm 55:22 “Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.” I am trying to do more sitting quietly with the Lord in fellowship and friendship as I put down the heavy burdens and leave them with Him as I pray for the ones involved. Matthew 11:30 encourages us to “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

What one of us does not love the picture of rest? We find peace for our souls and strength to know the burden is off of our laps and into the very capable hands of Jesus as we hand it over to Him. What a relief to know he cares about each concern and has told us to give the burdens to Him.

© Peggy Park
6/8/2009

Jesus declared that the Kingdom of God is within us. Luke 17:21.
Ordinarily, this is difficult to understand – how can that be?

When I close my eyes and quiet my soul along with the world around me, I find deep within my spirit all that pertains to the kingdom of God.

I find peace, joy, love, patience, gentleness, goodness, righteousness, faith, hope, praise and worship, intercession and supplications, and so much more. These are always there-inside of me-continuously being and doing whether I am conscious of them or not.

Most of all, I recognize an eternal, ageless life that has no end and no fear of ending.

My spirit is like a gateway into the eternal life that belongs to God. I can stand on the threshold of that entry and see that an infinite existence lies before me; that is, lies within me.

“And of His kingdom there shall be no end.” Luke 1:33b. “Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end.” Isaiah 9:7.

It is comforting to remember, given the uncertainties of the age in which we live, that our citizenship is not of this world and our King is
THE king of all kings and THE Lord of all lords. “And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6.

I should quiet my soul more often.

Used with permission
Charles Elliott Newbold,Jr.
May 13, 2009

I found this so inspiring I asked Brother Newbold for permission to pass it on.

© Peggy Park
5/27/2009