Taken from my book Today’s Bible Treasure, Simple Christianity Volume 2

KNOW JESUS, KNOW PEACE

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 New King James Version).

No Jesus, No peace; Know Jesus, Know peace. I’m sure you’ve seen this before. I saw it as a bumper sticker years ago and the phrase stuck with me. It wasn’t until after I met the Lord I truly understood what the sticker meant. In retrospect, it’s funny how loudly God speaks to us and how deaf we really are.

There is something about the peace Christ gives. It’s not the same as the peace we feel after eating a great dinner, or the peace we find while sitting by the shore; sitting quietly doesn’t even bring this kind of peace. Christ’s peace is deeper, more finely grafted into our very spirits. His peace is something sitting within our hearts, soothing away the chaos which threatens to consume us as we travel through this world. The peace of Jesus washes over us and settles in our hearts and because of this peace, we know that no matter what goes on around us, no matter what our circumstances are, no matter what the enemy may toss our way – we know the peace of Jesus removes worry, fear, anxiety and shame.

How does we acquire such an illuminating peace? We have to know the One who gives this peace. If you know Jesus, then you can know His peace. Go to the storehouse of our Lord and Savior and bring Him your fears, your struggles, your sorrows, your needs, your wants, your desires, your anxieties; leave them at the door, enter into His presence and take His peace.

Let’s Pray: Dear Lord Jesus, to know You is to know peace, You are the Prince of Peace! Lord, may Your peace enter our hearts, may it wash over us, may we feel that peace that surpasses all understanding. Jesus, we bring to You our fears, worries and anxieties – whether it’s job loss, lack of nutritional food, mounting bills w/ no income, wayward children, chaotic homes, abusive spouses, absent spouses, unresolved differences, chasms of distance between two who are sitting hand to hand, whatever it is Jesus, we bring it to You and we lay it down at Your feet. We thank You in advance for being there to take our cares, for caring for us, for strengthening us, for sheltering us. We thank You for Your peace that flows over us and into our spirits, we thank You for Your Holy Spirit as He ministers to each of us. We thank You for being Jehovah Shalom, we thank You for listening and answering our heartfelt prayers. Jesus, if ever there was a time to love You, it is now! We give You all glory and honor! In Your sweet and precious name, we pray. Amen.

Today’s Attitude of Worship: Think about the chaotic moments, the overwhelming moments, the stressful moments you face; if you are walking in a state of panic, then maybe it’s time you truly came to know the One who gives peace. Surrender yourself to Jesus fully, totally, completely, wholeheartedly and you will experience this peace.

Additional Scriptures: John 16:33; Ephesians 2:14-16; Philippians 4:6-7

Shalom,

Prudence