The Word of God for wisdom:
Proverbs 24:17-18 (HCSB)
17 Don't gloat when your enemy falls, and don't let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,
18 or the LORD will see, be displeased, and turn His wrath away from him.
The Word of God for inspiration:
Psalm 75:6-7 (HCSB)
6 Exaltation does not come from the east, the west, or the desert,
7 for God is the Judge: He brings down one and exalts another.
The Word of God for encouragement:
Philippians 4:6-7 (HCSB)
6 Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
My observation:
The choice words from our focal passage today are peace and prayer. All of us face problems in our life at one time or another. They are the rent we pay for being alive.
The goodnews is that problems, no matter how high they may pile up in our lives, are not a barrier to the peace of God breaking through. As the poet says, "There is peace in the midst of my storm tossed life, there is an anchor to build my life upon".
That anchor that the poet speaks of is Jesus. Real peace does not come from the absence of problems. Rather, it comes from the presence of God.
John 14:27 (HCSB)
27 "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful.
This is a little chorus I sing to my soul when worry shows up at my door.
"Let Jesus fix it for you,
He knows just what to do.
Whenever you pray,
Let him have his own way,
And Jesus will fix it for you."
My prayer:
Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so grateful that I don't have to face the troubles of this world alone.
Father God, I am so thankful that Christ Jesus lives in the hearts of every child of God, and for the promise that he will guard our minds and our hearts. God is in control. God is a forever God; my circumstances are just for a season.
Father God, I pray that I will not forfeit the peace that is my inheritance by failing to take my problems to the Lord in prayer. In Jesus name, Amen.
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Philippians 4:4 (HCSB)
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
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