Month: May 2019

This is what I hear: It is easy to say ‘trust God and accept the Godly peace that surpasses all understanding’ But how do you do that when you don’t have money in the bank and the debit order is going through and it is costing me money because the bank will penalise me for not having money for the debit order?

How can you say ‘trust God and accept the Godly peace that surpasses all understanding’ when you hear of senseless killing of a loved one?

When Jesus prayed in Mark 14:32-42, to God the Father and asked Him to let the cup pass Him, ‘yet not My will but Your will God.’ He new exactly what was in store for Him. They didn’t caught Him by surprise. He knew there will be betrayal of the one He kept close. He knew He will be bullied, spat on, called names, hated, strike with blows, mocked. But after He prayed and gave over to God’s will, we read that He was able to endure everything – with Godly peace.

I don’t know about you, but it is easier for me to share my feelings with somebody who went through the same thing. Someone who will understand how I feel. God the Father, Jesus and therefore also the Holy Spirit understands everything you are going through, went through, will still go through. When He makes the promise that He will give you peace when you give all your worries and cares over to Him. He knows what He is talking about.

Your child may not be brought back from the dead. And the debit order may still not go through. But God will not forsake you. He will stand next to you in the burning oven as with Daniel and his friends. He will help you through this difficulty and He will give you the Godly peace that surpasses all understanding. And.. He will guard your heart and your mind. Phil4:7

I started the Peace segment on 4 April 19 by asking the question how do we get Godly peace instead of worldly stress? How to relax and not think of your responsibilities or everyone’s expectations for your life.

I stress when I’m put in a situation where things are demanded of me and I cannot deliver. Whether it is in a physical form, mental or emotional form. It can manifest in the form of a changed heart rate, changed breathing, excess sweat, headache or loss of sleep. Relaxation exercises work, but I found it is only temporary. The minute that I think about the situation, my stress level starts to pick up. If the issue is more on a physical basis, say for instance money… I can work harder or work overtime. Or sell something. But if it is more emotional, I struggle to get control over my emotions. I tend to manipulate my emotions by either ignoring it or pushing it down and not give in to it. But it is all just temporary.

The bible tells us not to stress more than 300 times in some or other form. How? By knowing who you are in God, knowing who God is and having faith in His divine plans. Read Isai 32:17-18 again.

It is only then that you realise the truth. Most of the things you stress about is things you cannot change. It is caused by a feeling of being out of control. And yes, it is out of our control, but it is in God’s control if you give it to Him.

Philippians 4:6 ‘do not be anxious (stress) about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.’ And then Peace can be received from God.

‘And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

We need to be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power – Eph 6:10; When there is no peace on earth, people slay one another – Rev 6:4 ; Peace be within your walls and security within your towers – Ps 122:7; … He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him – Prov 16:7;
Where there is peace there is no division – Luk 12:51; And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever, my people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places. Isa 32:17-18;

Through God we learn that one of the gifts He bestow on us as His children is peace. Not only within our self, but God will also ensure that we are surrounded by peace. Even our enemies will be at peace with us..

Isaiah 32:17-18 gives us a key towards this kind of peace…’the result of righteousness.’ What is righteousness? If you look up the meaning of righteousness, words like goodness, uprightness, decency, morality, innocence, guiltless and blameless comes up. So how do you receive righteousness? Through Jesus Christ who died on the cross for us to ensure that we are innocent, guiltless and blameless. Ps32:5 says, when I confessed my sin, You forgave me my iniquity and my sin. This in turn makes me good, upright, innocent, guiltless and blameless = Righteousness.

Another key in this verse refers to ‘quietness’. It is more than, not making a sound, it is to be quiet in your spirit. To be at ease in your spirit. And it includes ‘trust forever’. To trust is to not always have the full picture or answer, but to recognise that ‘I am save or OK. The situation will be OK. Because God has a plan. And He promised that He has a good plan for me (Jer29:11) and all will work for good (Rom8:28).

Peter was able to sleep when he was thrown in jail. (Acts12) I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t be able to sleep so soundly that the Angel would need to struck me to wake me up. I would be too scared to even fall asleep. But Peter was sleeping..how, why? Because he understood what is Godly peace. The knowing that God is in control, He has a plan and trusting God to have a good plan and accepting the gift of peace which surpasses all understanding. (Phil4:7)

May you accept the gift of peace God wants to give you and have made available to you. May you learn to trust Him with all your heart and may Isa32:17-18 be present in your life.