Judges 6:22-24 (NIV)
22 When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the LORD, he exclaimed, "Ah, Sovereign LORD! I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!"
23 But the LORD said to him, "Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die." 24 So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
A hurricane blows outside the windows of my office as I write this. It isn't as strong as it was once predicted. It is called Irene and the sustained winds are around 85 mph. There is enough to do some destruction but not what had been predicted. I like many of my neighbors wonders what we will do with our brand new power generators. We can always drink the cases of water we all bought.
It is as calm as it has ever been inside this office. There is no wind or rain though it can be heard. The storm is just as real even though I am dry and safe. There is peace here.
God says that He is peace. Gideon made that statement about God just before he tore down his family's idols. Gideon declared himself devoted to God even before being devoted to his family. Gideon had stood in the presence of an angel of the Lord and was afraid for his life. He knew that he could not stand in the presence of holiness as a sinner. He was assured by this angel that he would not die. He took this as a word from the Lord. It promised him success in doing God's will and it gave him the resolve to do what he must do.
Peace comes from a word from God. It is a faith that believes that the God who would die for you will also walk with you. It comes when the storm rains outside and the peace reigns inside. True, godly peace comes before deliverance. It comes while in the middle of the circumstances which will destroy your world.
I have found that peace comes when I pray until I hear from God. Then, I have peace. I guess that's why Paul said that we should not be so anxious but pray.
Are you in need of peace? Pray until you hear from God. This may take some time but resolve to have the peace that passes all understanding and you will be guaranteed to have it.
For God is peace.
Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
1 comment:
"Pray until you hear from God." We hear from God, from
- Him directly
- Him through His written Word
- Him through His preached Word
- Him through prophecy
- Him through His Spirit's prompting
- Him through testimonies
- Him through His signs and wonders and miracles
- Him through ....
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