Prayer Week 32: Inner Peace

We all want peace. No one really enjoys conflict, especially not when it involves or affects them in some way. We want peace in our homes, communities, countries and lives. That is what we were made for; to live in peace, at peace with everyone. Conflict is the result of sin, whether directly or indirectly. Many cultures have different views on where peace comes from and how to get it. How can we have peace?

 

Psalm 16:8-9 New American Standard Bible 1995

I have set the Lord continually before me;
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will dwell securely.

Isaiah 26:3 New American Standard Bible 1995

The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace,
Because he trusts in You.

Isaiah 9:6-7a New American Standard Bible 1995

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,

John 14:27 New American Standard Bible 1995

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

John 16:33 New American Standard Bible 1995

These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.

 

True, lasting peace comes only from God, from trusting, relying and resting solely in Him. As I said the ultimate reason we do not have peace is because of sin. Our sinful attitudes and choices cause conflict with others, but it also causes discord with God. Even if we had no conflict with another person and lived in physical peace, we would still not have “inner peace” because we would be at odds with God. That is why Jesus died on the cross, to pay the penalty for our sins so He could bridge the gap between us and God, so that we could finally be at peace with Him.

 

It is only through believing and trusting in Him that we can have that inner peace the secular world so longs for. No amount of emptying our minds or positive thinking will give it to us. And no amount of trying to be good and making peace with others will work if we do not have the Prince of Peace dwelling within us. We can only know peace by living in His righteousness (ceasing to strive to be perfect on our own), living according to His commands (which will produce the best outcome in our dealings with others), and trusting Him completely with our lives and circumstances.

 

The people I know who have the most inner turmoil are those who, instead of trusting God with what is going on, try to manipulate people and circumstances, who try to maintain control over their lives. When this inevitable fails they are filled with worry and anxiety because life is out of their control. Unfortunately, that is the reality of life. No one truly has control over anything, but God has control of everything. If we trust in Him, that He is sovereign (completely in control of everything) and also completely good and loving, we will have peace. We need to trust that God has the power to do everything and that He is working for our good and His glory. We need to trust in His character, that He is a completely and perfectly just, loving, merciful God. We really cannot trust Him truly if we do not believe these things.

 

This week as you pray, first repent and ask Him to forgive your sins, for we cannot have anything from God, least of all peace, if we are at odds with Him. Then ask Him to help you trust in Him and fill you with His peace. Let go of what is worrying you, what you are trying to control and give it to Him. Feel His peace flow through you. Begin each morning by consciously trusting in Him and relaxing in His arms. Breathe deeply and slowly, and as you breathe out let that peace fill you. Feel your body relax. Enjoy the feeling of peace and restfulness that comes from trusting completely in God. Let thoughts of Him fill your mind and saturate you with His peace.

 Prayer points taken from Praying Through Adversity by Jennifer Kennedy Dean.

Prayer Week 27: Be Still

In our busy, fast paced world we have a hard time being in the moment. We are more intent on taking selfies or sharing what is going on than actually enjoying what is happening. We have lost the art of “being present.” This not only disrupts our relationships with others, but also with God. It is hard enough to be “with” someone sitting across from us, let alone someone whom we cannot see or feel.

 

Psalm 46:10 New American Standard Bible 1995

“Cease striving and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Exodus 14:13-14 New American Standard Bible 1995

But Moses said to the people, “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.”

Psalm 62:5-6 New American Standard Bible 1995

My soul, wait in silence for God only,
For my hope is from Him.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold; I shall not be shaken.

Psalm 37:7 New American Standard Bible 1995

Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.

 

I think the progression of Psalm 46:10 is important. Before we can know or acknowledge God, we have to cease striving, be still. We cannot be aware of, let alone know, Him if we are too busy or agitated to notice. The word translated for “know” is the Hebrew yada which denotes an intimate knowledge. It is not superficial content we skim from the internet, but personal, experiential, and deep. We can’t have that when we are focused on everything else, if we aren’t making time to be alone with Him. Interestingly, the word for “be still” literally means to slacken. We need to loosen up, relax, sink down into the loving arms of our Creator and let Him take care of our worries.

 

If we do these things God will be praised by all who are around us. Why? Because when the world sees that we can go through distressing, even traumatic, circumstances with a peace and joy that passes understanding, which can only come from God, they will not help wanting to know where it comes from and how they can get it, too. However, it all begins with each of us individually being still and relaxing in our Savior’s presence, knowing Him intimately and trusting Him with our troubles.

 

This week in your prayer time, focus on being in the moment with God. Let the words of Psalm 46 envelope you. Feel the power of His presence, allowing it to fill you with peace, joy and confidence. Each morning write down what it means to you that He is God.

 Prayer points taken from Praying Through Adversity by Jennifer Kennedy Dean.

Prayer Week 21: Anxiety, Control and Thanksgiving

Anxiety plagues many of us, some without even realizing it. I don’t sit around biting my nails over anything, but if I think about it there are a few things stewing on the back burner that I try not to think about. However, stuffing or ignoring them is no more successful than endlessly worrying about them. It doesn’t make us less anxious about them, nor does it solve the problem in any way. It just makes us less aware of them. What do we do with the things that cause concern?

 

Philippians 4:6-7 New American Standard Bible 1995

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 6:31-33 New American Standard Bible 1995

Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

1 Peter 5:6-7 New American Standard Bible 1995

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 New American Standard Bible 1995

in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

 

Worry is a destructive thing. It steals our joy and peace without accomplishing anything good. It may make us feel like we are very caring about whatever it is that concerns us, but in truth it means that we are trying to be in control, rather than trusting the One who truly is in control. We worry because there is a problem that we can’t fix, but we aren’t willing to take it to the One who can. Ultimately it is selfish and fearful, but God has not given us a spirit of fear. That means that anxiety is not of God but of the enemy, so it is something we should fight just like we do every other temptation.

 

The question then is how do we fight it. Prayer is the first step. We need to take what is bothering us to God. We need to talk to Him about the problem and then trust Him to take care of it. We need to put it in His hands and then leave it there without trying to take it back from Him. Practically speaking, that means that every time we are tempted to worry about it, we make ourselves give it back to God or remind ourselves that He has it and it is not our problem any more. He is far better at dealing with it than we are anyway.

 

The next step is just as vital, but often overlooked: thanksgiving. This part seems counterintuitive. If something is bothering us, causing us to worry, there probably isn’t much to be thankful for, yet we are commanded to give thanks in it. However, the very fact that it is contrary means that is the very thing we need to make us not worry. We need the opposite of worry and that is thanksgiving. We need to thank God for that issue because that is where God has us and if we trust Him He will make good come from it. We can also be thankful for what God will do through it, ways that we can already see His hand working.

 

In your prayer time this week, write down everything that is making you anxious, big and small. Thank God for these things because He has a plan and will bring about good from them. Then ask Him to help you see what He is doing in them already and to be aware of His hand throughout the situation. Give the situation to God and leave it in His hands, resting in the knowledge that He is sovereign, all knowing and completely good. If this is hard for you, ask God to help you trust Him, to give you a peaceful, grateful heart. Going through this process will build your faith and trust in God, as well as building a spirit of peace and joy within you.

 Prayer points taken from Praying Through Adversity by Jennifer Kennedy Dean.

Fully Surrendered

Surrender is generally seen as a bad thing, giving up or quitting even more so. We are taught to stick with it, see it through, tough it out, or else. It is seen as weakness. Even the idea of surrendering to God is taboo. We need to be our own person, controlled by no one, dependent on no one. How do we reconcile that with being called to submit and even surrender to God?

When Feet May Fail

We are taught to be self-sufficient and independent, to stand on our own two feet. What happens when we fall? What do we do when our own two feet are not enough, when they fail? Usually we can get by on our own, but there are times for everyone when we are not enough, when we can’t make it alone. What then?

The (Sin?) Of Independence

Independence is a major theme, right now especially. Political independence, religious independence, even individual independence (when a child becomes an adult) are all important and very celebrated in our culture, but can independence be bad? Is there a time when we should be dependent?

Where Do We Turn In This Evil Hour?

There is so much in our society and world to raise concern. Regardless of one’s political bent there is always something to cause us to worry. Our government is run by human, sinful people who may or may not do what is best for our country and our people. As we get closer to the end of time, it will get worse. Where do we turn? What hope do we have?

True Virtue: Faith

According to Webster, faith is loyalty, belief in God, trust, belief without proof. Our society doesn’t have much faith in anything. We are generally pretty cynical, even pessimistic when it comes to trust or belief. We expect people to let us down. I heard that modern American women are significantly more competitive and less trusting of each other as compared to women of other nationalities or eras. We just don’t trust each other that much. Our loyalty also leaves something to be desired. We drop association or preference as fast as we drop a dirty rag. It's all about what is best for us. Few are willing to stick their neck out for a friend and take a risk. As a result of this general lack of faith and trust, I believe many people don’t know what true, godly faith is.

The Benefit of the Doubt

We have all been there; let down by someone we trusted. Unfortunately, it happens in every relationship. The issue is not to find someone who will not let you down, but how to deal with the pain when they do. It is natural to want to shut them out, never trust them again, and retreat into seclusion to never be hurt by another. But is that the best way to react?

Reprieve From Anxiety

How do you gain peace? The holiday season seems to be full of anxiety and stress. If only there were a secret formula to get rid of anxiety...Actually there is, and it's not a secret. God commands us to not worry, but He also tells us how to do that. The following is an excerpt from my recently published book about trading anxiety for peace...

What Is Your Hope In?

We all hope or trust in something or someone. Whether it is God, ourselves, another person, another religion, the stock market, we all live based on that hope. Interestingly, even if our hope is in something specific (stocks for instance) our perception of that affects the rest of our lives.