Are you strong in the Lord?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
(Ephesians 6:10 (NIV))

It is common to refer to something that someone is good at as being one of their strengths. If you were writing a resume, these would be listed at the top where they could be prominently displayed. We all have our own unique strengths. For some people, it is easy to see these strengths. For others, it is not so easy. In most instances, it is easier to see the strengths of others than it is to see our own strengths.

What about spiritual strengths?

Have you ever thought about your spiritual life as a strength?

Have you considered praise and worship a strength?

Have you considered spending time in God’s Word a strength?

Is prayer one of your strong points?

When you spend your life relying on the Lord, the world may see this as a weakness, but it is a strength!

Do you desire to be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power? What does that question mean to you? Does it mean that your faith is strong and you fully rely on God’s promises no matter what the world may say? Does it mean that you have peace? Have you ever thought about the peace of God being one of your strengths?

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 4:7 (NIV))

Are you strong in the Lord?

Copyright 1998 – 2017 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Are you anxious for anything?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV))

Patience is a virtue.

We all know that patience is a fruit of the Spirit. If that is the case, then anxiousness is what? A fruit of Satan? I don’t admit to knowing, but it would appear that it is not a desirable trait.

Patience comes from an inner peace. This peace can only come from God. Anxiousness does not come from peace. It comes from an inner restlessness and a thirst that is longing to be quenched. There is only one way to quench that thirst, and that is by accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Once you do this, God’s peace will come upon you.

Still, the world has a way of creeping into our lives even when we do not want it to. If we are not anxious, but are patient and wait on God, then He will provide and protect us from the world. It is when we do not wait on God that the world gets into our lives and ruins the peace.

Are you anxious for anything?

Copyright 1998 – 2014 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Know God and know peace

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV))

My Sunday School class has been discussing the topic of peace for the last few weeks. We seem to have discussed all aspects of the topic, including the question, “Is there a difference between physical peace and spiritual peace?”

Think about that question for a moment.

Can you be at peace when the whole world is falling apart around you?

Can you be at peace when you are faced with physical danger?

Can you be at peace even when you may face physical death?

Would you be at peace if your were told that you must deny your faith in Jesus or die?

I know that these are tough questions that I ask, but be honest with yourself. Can your faith withstand these tests? Would you be able to look the enemy in the eye and proudly and loudly proclaim that Jesus is your personal Lord and Savior? Would you be at peace with your answer?

Peace, as the world see it, is not how the Body of Christ sees it. I honestly think that the peace the passes understanding is a direct result of faith.

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
(Hebrews 11:1 (NIV))

Can you have peace if you are not sure of the hope that we have in Jesus?

Godly peace is a strange and difficult concept for the world to understand. To be honest with you, I can see why they would have trouble. God’s peace requires faith. Faith is a certainty of what we hope for. It is a certainty of what we cannot see. To those who refuse to acknowledge that there is something more to this life than what we can see, I can understand, yet, I have questions for them.

Can you see the wind? We all know that it is there.

Can we see a molecule or an atom? We are not actually able to see these building blocks, yet, we take them as truth.

We have a peace about us when it comes to the wind. We have a peace about us when it comes to the building blocks, yet, many do not have a peace when it comes to God.

I pray that we will all have the peace that passes understanding and that we may stand firm in our faith no matter what we may face. This reminds me of the old saying:

No God – No Peace
Know God – Know Peace

” ` “The LORD bless you
and keep you;
the LORD make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn his face toward you
and give you peace.” ‘
(Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV)

Copyright 1998 – 2013 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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