HAVE
YOU EVER DESIRED PEACE and found that you couldn’t quite feel it? Have you
ever prayed fervently for it and felt as though you came up short and your spirit
remained dry and empty? Maybe the reason is that you’ve been praying for the
wrong thing.
Praying for the wrong thing
While God does tell us in His word
to pray for peace, sometimes—maybe often—we miss the boat on how to get it. I
was reminded of that possibility while reading a chapter in Karen Barber’s
great book, Surprised by Prayer. She
recounts the story of a friend who went through a unusual period of feeling
spiritually dry. (A surprise to Karen and all of her friends because this
friend was usually the one they counted on to receive uplifting accounts of
faith.)
Eventually Karen’s friend was able
to drink deeply of faith and refill her soul to overflowing with spiritual
water and peace because of a change in the way she prayed. Actually, a change
in what she prayed for.
She was able to do that because,
instead of praying for peace, she prayed for Presence—the presence of Jesus and
the Holy Spirit, because that is what truly brings peace and joy. When she sought
and prayed for God’s presence, the
peace and joy automatically followed. Why? Because He is peace and joy. They are part of His being. Where He goes, those
attributes automatically follow. And when you pray for Him to be present with
you, you’ll feel that perfect presence drape over you like a warm, protective
blanket and fill your soul with soothing contentment and joy.
Searching the Word
There are several passages in
Scripture that support this. One popular one is the words Jesus uttered to his
disciples after the Resurrection, when He told them He was leaving this earth
and not to fear.
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I
give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).
The One who is also called the
Prince of Peace promised to leave us with His peace, to pass it on to us. If
that’s true, why are so often without it? I wonder if it’s because we revert to
seeking the type of peace the world doles out, or peace defined by the world
and not the perfect peace that comes straight from Heaven. The world gives and
it takes away, and it teases and promises and falls short. And we get hooked
into its promises and then lie trampled and dejected when it doesn’t deliver.
Then Jesus goes on to tell them: “These
things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you
will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John
16:33).
And isn't that what you want, to overcome? So why not hang onto the One who has? We find peace in Him, not in
anything else. We need to approach this life expecting problems with and in
this world, and approach Him knowing He will give us His perfect love and
peace.
Assignment: Change your prayer focus
So your assignment for this week is
to pray for Jesus’ presence to be with you and in you. Open yourself to it.
Pray that God will pour the Holy Spirit into you, so that it’s impossible for
you to not have the peace you’re seeking.
Put a song in your heart
And because it’s music Monday, I
can’t sign off today without leaving you with a song to sing! A great song. A
kid’s song, but a great song, nonetheless. It was my older son’s favorite song
when he was a preschooler. It’s simple, but it’s catchy, and if you sing it a
couple of times, it will stay with you throughout the week. One woman commented
on YouTube that she sings it when she’s dealing with difficult clients! Enjoy!
I hope the peace you have in your
soul flows like a healthy river! J
Until next week.
Blessings,
Andrea
May you prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul
prospers (3 John 2).
Photos courtesy of Google Images
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