Good morning,
I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart.(John 14:27)
Marty and I have reached the stage of life when we don’t quite know what to do about wanting gifts for ourselves at Christmas. The Lord has been so good to us in giving us so many of the important gifts in life that we have to try really hard to come up with a tangible gift that would meet a genuine need. We are still very aware that we have all sorts of needs when it comes to growing up spiritually and becoming increasingly aware of our need for strength and health to carry out our Lord’s ministry assignments. Even though we are living in a world filled with chaos, we know we are God’s kids, that we have a loving Father and Savior, and that God has a perfect plan for each of our lives. What we find quite challenging on a daily basis is actually being aware of the importance of living our lives based on the Lord’s promise to us in John 14: 27. Jesus promised that each one of us who are a genuine part of God’s family will have the gift of peace of mind and heart to keep us balanced as we go through the storms of life. This gift of peace is not like anything we can get from having what we want or staying in control of life when we go through trials or sorrows. (John 16:33) This gift gets it’s power from the Holy Spirit and we are not controlled by trouble or fear when we are doing what the Lord tells us to do.
I have discovered that this gift of God’s peace gives me a wonderful gauge for knowing what my relationship with God is really like. When sin or fear or spiritual attacks are getting the best of me, I am no longer aware of God’s peace of mind and heart. When I feel the weight of keeping things under my control, I have had to learn that the absence of peace is God’s early warning system of things going wrong in my heart and mind. It is like God’s warning light on the dashboard of my heart to let me know that something needs my attention or there will be more serious trouble ahead. I am really thankful for this gift, but it sometimes get me in trouble with the people that I am talking to or working with. What I am saying isn’t much help to someone who has never experienced the gift of peace of mind and heart that comes from God. If we have had this gift and then lost it or have never had the heavenly gift, may the Lord give us a deep longing to know what only God’s close family will ever know. Dear Lord, please help us to live out our lives demonstrating this gift from you for your glory and the joy it brings to those who live around us.
John 14: 27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
Roy Wisner
