Dear Ones,
Hope your day is full of peace. I have an appointment this morning with the wound specialist and hoping for a good report this time and no infection. Your question this week is, what is your favorite peaceful place to go when you want to spend time with the Lord?
Devotions from Judy’s heart
I love peaceful settings like sitting by a still lake, walking in the woods, or even simply beholding the beautiful tree outside my window. Slowing down and opening our hearts as we live in the present moment helps us enjoy the many gifts the Lord has given us. Peace is a precious gift and it is also a fruit of the Spirit. The more we allow the Holy Spirit to indwell us, the more we experience incredible peace.
We have a wall hanging that has the names of Jesus, including Prince of Peace. Jesus often spoke of peace, brought peace wherever He went, and even spoke peace to a raging storm. Peter tells us in I Peter 3:11 that if we want to love life and see good, we are to, “seek peace and pursue it.” Our peace begins with the Lord, for if we open our hearts, confess our sins to Him and receive forgiveness, we will have peace. We also are to cooperate with the Spirit, for He helps us grow and mature, and encourages us to give Him all that concerns us, including any anxious thoughts.
Too often we allow people, circumstances or thoughts from the enemy steal our peace. Sometimes we are to just remain silent. We try to defend ourselves or get across our opposing views to others who have made up their minds already, when it may simply be better to pray. We can ask the Lord to work in their lives and change them according to His will. It is exciting when God has spoken to them without a word from us but by His spirit, and their eyes are opened.
Sometimes the Lord asks us to do something or to change in some way, and when we refuse, we find our peace seems to disappear. Let us humble ourselves, be open and willing to go God’s way, and He will blanket us with His peace.
Challenge for today: Ask the Lord to help you cooperate with the Spirit when He shows you what is blocking His peace, and to humbly go His way.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy