Thursday, February 22, 2007

The Lord Speaks Peace

I will hear what God the Lord will speak,
for He will speak peace to His people . . .
Psalm 85:8

I was driving into work, minding my own business, when a pick-up truck decided to pass me on a winding road. Just as he passed me, a car from the opposite way sped around the corner. The truck swerved in front of me, and I slammed on my brakes.

My heart beating out of my chest, I cried out as I watched the car behind me come ever closer. Praise God, no one hit anyone else, but it took the rest of the drive for my heart to calm . . . and even longer for my spirit to calm.

I had to ask the Lord to restore my peace, and He did exactly what the psalmist said He would: He restored peace to my heart, reminding me that He is in loving control of everything.

How often do we allow circumstances or other people to take the peace that God promised us? Just take it from our hearts? If we can stop and listen to God and seek His peace, He will shower us with that peace. He will whisper words of comfort. He promises.

Think of a time when someone or something stole the peace from your heart? How did you feel? Did you stop to hear God's voice? Ask God to speak peace to your heart right now.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Jesus Loves Me

You may know a simple song many of us learned as children:

Jesus loves me, this I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong.
They are weak, but He is strong.

Why do I know that Jesus loves me? Because the Bible tells me so. That's all well and good, but it presumes that I believe the Bible.

So a good questions is: Why do I believe the Bible? That answer isn't as easy to give.

I believe the Bible because its historicity has been proven.

I believe the Bible because its prophecies have come true.

I believe the Bible because a group of ragtag followers of Christ started an amazing movement of faith that is strong today.

But most of all, I believe the Bible because of how the God of the Bible has been faithful to me. In spite of years of rebellion, in spite of fists in His face, He has provided for me, protected me, and loved me when I haven't deserved it in the least.

He's blessed me. He's offered me grace and mercy.

I believe in that God, and if He says His word is truth, I believe that too. And since I believe His word is truth, I can believe that Jesus really does love me--enough to sacrifice Himself for me.

Jesus does love me, and this I know because the Bible--God's true word--tells me so.

Monday, February 05, 2007

The Lord will Give Strength

The Lord will give strength to His people;
the Lord will bless His people with peace.
Psalm 29:11

Often, I feel very, very weak--emotionally, mentally, spiritually. The world seems to be closing in, and I can't seem to dodge the boulders being tossed at me, right and left.

Often, I try to take on the world and its challenges on my own, and I feel the weight crushing me, pushing me down until I lie prostrate on the ground.

I can't do this, I think.

And I'm right. I can't do this--on my own, that is.

We humans are fleshly, fallen, frail creatures, and we don't have the strength to combat what this world throws at us. We are truly incapable.

But we do have Someone who can give us all the strength we need: our heavenly Father. He promises strength to us. In fact, the apostle Paul wrote, we "can do all things through Christ who strengthens" us. (Philippians 4:13)

And along with that strength, He promises peace. He will bless us with peace.

Yes, we may be incapable, but He is more than capable. We can trust in His strength; we can trust His peace.

When was the last time you tried to handle the world's challenges on your own? How did it go? Maybe you're trying to dodge those boulders right now. Ask God to give you His strength to help you through.