Friday, August 20, 2010

Blessed Peace

by Kathy Lay

This Week’s Verse: Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”(NIV)

Devotion:
This seems to be a season when many people who are close to me are facing decisions. A restlessness or dissatisfaction is stirring some to consider changes in jobs, changes in ministry, changes in habits, changes in whatever; but some sort of change that will move them closer to their goals and where God would have them be.

The most difficult part about being in that “what-do-I-do-now” phase is knowing for sure which path to take. Lord, do I do this? Am I supposed to go this way? How do I know You’re in this?

That last question, I believe, can be answered at least in part by this: peace. For example, three years ago when I was getting burnt out teaching (actually, the grading is what burnt me out) at ISU, I was presented with another job option. It made no logical sense to switch and the thought of it made me so nervous I had panic attacks.

So I prayed and asked God for guidance. He provided a scripture that made it clear this new job WAS what He wanted for me and that I was to trust Him. And from that point on I had peace about the decision. The circumstance still made me nervous, but I had peace I made the right decision.

And I've seen this same cycle repeat several times since then.

One of the fruits of God's spirit is peace. Trust that when you begin to feel peace about a decision--no matter how scary, or crazy, or unpopular that decision may seem--God will give you peace about that decision. And He'll be with you in the resulting circumstance as well.

Father, thank you for that blessed peace that passes all understanding when we go the way You would have us go. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Application:
What decisions do you face? Invite God into the process and ask that peace well up in you when considering the right decision--the way that God wants you to go. Pray that His peace will be your compass.

Power Verses:
Galatians 5:22, "But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness"(NLT).
1 Thessalonians 5:23, "Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again."(NLT)
Judges 18:6, "The priest answered them, 'Go in peace. Your journey has the LORD's approval.'"(NIV).

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I forget Peace is a fruit of the Spirit. There is something to be said about that! Thanks for the wonderful devotion. I am facing decisions, too, that make me second guess every move I make. I will remember that I do need Peace in order to be God's servant!