Where shall I go from Your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from Your Presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, You are there! Psalm 139:7-8.
Be still, and know that I AM God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7.
And continuing our 351 Old Testament prophecies, promises of God, fulfilled in Jesus Christ, we come to number 179: The Counselor, Yaatz. Isaiah 9:6: 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. And, Matthew 13:54: He came to His hometown and began teaching them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?”
This past weekend I attended a ladies Spiritual retreat titled, Perfect Peace. In addition to ladies from our own home congregation, there were women from about 8 other churches. There were just under 50 of us and there were ladies of all ages from babies with mothers, teens, young adults, middle aged and 2 of us who are seniors; and as well, two service dogs. There is something incredibly special about coming together in one spirit of love and hope to be led closer to Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit, and to one another – truly, the experience of the fruit of the Holy Spirit leading. So many things that struck me but a few I’ll share here. We all came Friday evening with varying degrees of storms, chaos, confusions at home and in our world and in our own hearts. The lack of peace – the troubled heart – as was stated, is not sitting down – on the inside. Inside where? Where I AM is with us. Once we realize that we are loved by the Father in the way He loves Jesus, and that He loves all, it changes things. We went back to the Garden of Eden. The very first temptation was for knowing. If you eat of this tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you will know…and boy, look at the result of that choice! Instantaneous information overload. And none of it has helped us live free from stress because it magnifies not knowing God. But the tree of life is Life with God helping us and bringing His healing love into our hearts and minds. I can’t change anyone’s heart, not even my own. And as was pointed out, when we stress over family and want to know everything and how it’s going to turn out for them, we are usurping God and His place in every area of life itself, including in ourselves, those we love, and our world at large. I am not God and He is able; and learning that with His help brings me peace every moment I turn to Him.
Imagine how impactful it was for the disciples, very young, who followed Jesus and yet could not understand what He was doing. Isn’t that like us still today? He told them He was leaving them but He preempted that fear rising in them by telling them He would send an Advocate to be with them – who will live inside them. He pulled the disciples into Him and the Father. He pulls us into Him and the Father by the Spirit who dwells with us. And as we listen to Him, we know peace.
Reality Switch. All of Scripture is filled with those who experienced the reality switch knowing God brings. We can know that also. Before – as we live independently with questions and strivings, and after – turning to God and trusting Him for all things. Everything changes. The world is the same. People’s hearts are still hard and there are still a lot of storms, chaos, confusions at home, at work, in our world, and, the eternal perspective of Jesus gives peace. His peace is other-worldly. Which tree are we eating from every day? Life or knowledge?
***LORD OF ALL – If life is just a song, I will sing for you. If life is just a path, I will walk for you, Jesus, Jesus, LORD of all. Down upon the earth to set me free, to break the chains that had a hold on me, Jesus, Jesus, LORD of all. Always by my side to comfort me, always by my side to carry me, Jesus, Jesus, LORD of all. The world that we know will pass away; the life that You give will forever stay, Jesus, Jesus, LORD of all. Larry Jackson, “Lord of All,” Discipleship Publications International, 1989. Used with permission.***
