December 31, 2007
The Gift of Peace
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.
I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27 NIV)
Devotion:
I fidgeted as I waited for the receptionist to acknowledge me. She hung up the phone and smiled. “Are you here to see Kurt for a radio interview?”
I nodded and shuffled my feet a bit more.
“Just have a seat on the couch. He’ll be with you in a minute.”
I sat on the couch. The tension in my body made me straight and prim. I thumbed through my notes and glanced around the radio studio. Then, out of the corner of my eye, a rapid movement drew my attention. A spider—a huge spider—pranced along the arm of the sofa. I caught my breath and scooted away. A different type of tenseness surged through me.
The startled receptionist looked up, questioning. I pointed to the object of my fear. Her eyes widened, and then with the bravery of a heroine she lunged toward it with a rolled newspaper in her hand. She stopped and said, “I can’t do it. It’s too big.”
Just then Kurt, the radio host, appeared. He spotted our crisis. However, unlike the two of us, he strode to the sofa, grabbed the cushion, carried it to the door and flicked the spider to a new outdoor home. “Man, that was a big one! Welcome! Let’s do the interview.”
Later, I pondered my morning’s fear. I considered my nervousness about the interview. I relived my terror of the spider. In reality, neither was worthy of my anxiety. Neither could have caused me bodily harm. (That is, unless I had passed out and cracked my head open.) Often my fears are unwarranted. I allow ordinary circumstances to rob me of my peace. I forget the promise of Jesus, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27 NIV).
Christ came to earth to redeem us and grant us peace. “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1 NIV). My tendency is to fear scary bugs, failure and the unknown future. But, I shouldn’t. Jesus offers me the gift of peace—I just need to remember to claim it for my own each day. His peace has my name on the gift tag.
His gift of peace has your name on it too.
Dear Lord, teach me to remember each day that Your peace is my peace. I thank you that You came to earth to redeem me and that I have no need to fear. Help me claim Your peace each morning before I begin the day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Perplexing Proverbs by Susanne Scheppmann
Thank-FULL, Fear-LESS message, on CD by Lysa TerKeurst
Visit Susanne’s Blog
work@home: A Practical Guide for Women Who Want to Work from Home by Glynnis Whitwer
Application Steps:
Read the Power Verses below. Commit to memory one or more of the verses that speak peace to your heart.
Reflections:
What do I fear?
Why do I fear?
How can I replace my fear with the gift of Jesus’ peace?
Power Verses:
Isaiah 9:6, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (NIV)
Numbers 6:26, “The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” (NIV)
2 Corinthians 1:2, “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (NIV)
Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org
Originally published Monday, 31 December 2007.
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