Monday, October 2, 2017

Want Peace? Pray for Presence




           
            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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