Category: Peace

Encouragement

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Welcome to 2024. In recent years, I have chosen a word for the year. I don’t always keep my blog posts to my word, but I try to stay close to the theme.

We live in difficult times. There are some specific situations friends and family have faced, but I also know we all need encouragement. My hope with this blog has been to encourage others to look to God’s Word for everything we need in life. God has given us all we need (2 Peter 1:3).

I pray this year that we spend more time focusing on Who God is and see the peace and hope He gives to us. Today’s verse talks about peace in believing and hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. I don’t think I want to live this year with anything else in the front of my mind.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the peace and hope You give. Please help us to focus on Your Word and the help You give.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Going Too Fast

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Is it just me or did you blink and this year disappeared? Some say that the older you get, the faster time seems to go. I concur. As time seems to fly, I find myself dismayed at how quickly the days disappear. I can “lose heart”.

However, as I have turned the pages of my calendar, God has brought to mind the fact that heaven is my ultimate destination. The more I think about the incomprehensible joys of eternity in the presence of God, the more I like the way time flies. I look forward to heaven. The “eternal weight of glory” is “beyond all comparison”.

So as the days speed by, I want to rejoice more that this life is not “it”. There is a beautiful eternity coming sooner than I know.

Dear Heavenly Father, as I see another year come to an end, please help me to look more to what You have for eternity. I find myself losing heart when I need to seek You to renew my inner being. Please strengthen me to face the “light momentary affliction”. I look forward to the the future glory You have prepared.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Weak Groanings

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 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And He who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called he also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified.

Last week I talked about how I must believe that God will give wisdom. I know that can be a weakness for me. I am thankful for this passage in Romans that tells me the Holy Spirit intercedes for me when I don’t know what to pray. He gives support to help in my greatest time of need.

I know there are times that my faith can be weak. God has provided help for those of us who have trusted in Jesus Christ. God gives what I need.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Spirit to help me when I don’t know how to pray. I cling to that promise. May Your name be praised for this marvelous gift.

I praise this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Trust and Peace

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I have talked about different verses on peace. This verse reminds us that we need our mind “stayed” on God. According to Step Bible stayed means “to lean, lay, rest, support, put, uphold, lean upon”. I like the sound of that. Life can be hard. We need a lot of help. We gain much of that support through our Heavenly Father – through reading and studying His Word, praying and spending time with other believers.

We need a lot of help to keep our minds fixed on God. There are so many distractions. However, the more we work on keeping our focus on God, the more peace we will have.

Dear Heavenly Father, please help us to keep our minds fixed on You. We need Your strength to fight the distractions. Thank You that we can trust You.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Where is Peace?

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We live in a world where peace seems illusive. I know it can be challenging. There are so many problems in the world (John 16) and then there are the struggles within (Romans 7). Today’s verse talks about the only way to obtain real peace. Through our Savior, Jesus Christ. God is the only way to survive the challenges of life. We do not need to be troubled or fear.

That is easy to say, but challenging to live. I’m thankful God gave us His Word and the Holy Spirit to help us along the way.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the peace You give. Please help us to study Your Word and submit to the ministry of the Holy Spirit as we seek the peace You have promised.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Immeasurable

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This verse tells us about one object of the immeasurable power of God.  As a believer, I have access to this power.  This passage doesn’t give a lot of specifics.  I know God does this on purpose.  I walk by faith (2 Cor. 5:7).  I don’t always get to see the specifics.  I simply need to ask God as Paul did to learn “what is the immeasurable greatness of His power”.  Knowing how great God is, this power is amazing.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for giving Your immeasurable power to those of us who believe.  Please help me to claim that power in humility that I might serve You better.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Worth and Value

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This passage tells us the worth of wisdom and understanding.  We live in a materialistic society that often values money and possessions over wisdom. 

I know God is truth.  Everything He gives is true including His word.  The more I seek God’s way, the more depth I find in life.  Money can buy some fun thing and I need it to live.  However, I would rather amass the knowledge and understanding that comes from studying God’s wisdom.  I have found more depth of friendship, more peace, and more satisfaction in life when I fill my life with God.  I just need more consistency in seeking true wisdom.  I’m so glad God does not give up on me.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for providing wisdom and telling me how much it is worth.  Thank You for Your patience with me when I want to go my own way.  Please help me to seek true wisdom and send me reminders when I seek my own.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Straight or Crooked Paths

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I have found myself being very nostalgic recently.  It has been a year since I received a diagnosis of DCIS.  Those were hard days.  I had decisions to make while feeling overwhelmed. This next week marks one year since I crashed after getting my first opinion.  While I am not a fan of crashing (I have done it more times than I like to admit), I am so glad that I got a second opinion.  I felt so much better about my decision after the calm atmosphere at CTCA in Zion, IL.  I greatly appreciate the expert care I received there.

God allowed what I would consider a crooked and rocky path last year to show me how He can make my paths straight.  I had to pray my way through repetitious thoughts of “I don’t want to deal with this”.   By God’s grace, He kept showing His love time and again as He led me through the situation. I am so glad this part of my story is past.  While I will always have some of the difficult memories and I bear the scar of surgery, I do not want to feel sorry for any of it.  God gave so much grace.  I continue to pray that God’s hand is visible in my life.  Whatever path God leads me to walk in the future.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for making my paths straight through tough times.  Thank You that I can lean on You.  Please help me to continue to submit to Your plans.  I want others to see Your hand in my life.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.