Peace of God

 

Peace of God

Mark 4:35-41

35 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” 36 Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” 39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

 

There have been many storms and turbulence in our lives. Whether that may have been through losing a loved one, divorce, trauma, illness, unexplained pain in our bodies, etc. It can feel like the wind has been knocked out of us when we fall to the ground. The feeling of being helpless, hopeless, and alone is like being tossed out to the sea. This is how unforeseen storms may appear in our lives.

Sometimes, we cannot physically see that we’re in a storm. But the number one sign to watch for is do we still have peace. Many people are being sucked into the storms of life by being associated with other people’s mess, chaos, and drama. This is a mix for a mini cyclone to happen when we’re pulled into it. So many folks are clueless to the effects of what havoc a storm does to the mind, body, and soul.

When we’re in a storm we must pray and ride it out with the Word of God until it calms, then we can break free and run for our lives. There are lessons and tests that we must pay attention to survive. Satan loves to send all kinds of confusion to us, and it can be very difficult to discern what is happening and why so much is going on that’s unexplainable.

Oftentimes, we open doors that create things to come into our lives that we do not want to fight or be a part of. People have spirits on them, and they may not know it. And yet many do know that something is bothering them because their running, and they will not share it. Because they are seeking refuge and peace.

You see when we become involved with people who we meet in life, and this is sometimes family we are not discerning of what is going on with them past the physical things that we see. We are only focusing on the physical stuff that we can see and that is only the surface. The number one thing that we must keep in mind is guarding our peace. We tend to think and compare our lives and what things we do have in common that makes us like these people. Some people fall in love with a good conversation, looks and other physical things.

However, that is what the enemy wants us to think and believe about every time we decide to let our guards down and get close to someone. We must open our eyes and let the Word of the Lord guide us in discerning the actions of what people do and watch what they are showing to us e.g., we may live a modest lifestyle and work hard for a living and John blows his paychecks on payday at the casino or maybe we’ve been delivered from cigarettes but now we’re buddies with a chain smoker. The point is that there is more going on beneath the surface of what we’re hearing and seeing. These are spirits that latch on to people to entice them to do these habitual unproductive things to harm their lives and bodies. Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

Before we know it, these same habits are showing up in our lives. Spirits do transfer and bad company corrupts good behavior. Now we’re battling or struggling with something that was not on our minds before we started being around it. Some battles are long and hard to overcome.

It’s the little foxes that destroys the vine. Our peace is being snatched away little by little because we fail to ignore the things that we know the Word of the Lord tells us to not do. 1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 

It is a spirit on a person to tell them to gamble their paychecks every time they get paid. Society calls it a gambling addiction. If we agree, then we have failed to be vigilant and sober minded. The purpose the enemy has is to kill, steal, and to destroy us. He is after our peace of mind, so that we will not be able to think or make sound and good decisions. He wants to destroy our bodies as well.

Everything that seems to appear innocent needs to be checked out. We need to be cautious in taking people’s word for the truth and not be quick to believe everything we hear. Therefore, the Word of the Lord tells us to be vigilant and sober minded. 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Jesus came to give us life more abundantly. His Word is truth and life and spirit to our souls. Everything that He gives to us i.e., peace, life, forgiveness, purpose, joy, and His Word the enemy wants to steal it. He doesn’t stop there because his mission isn’t finished until he kills us. He plots against us by enticing us to sin against our bodies when we form ungodly soul ties, unequally yoke relationships, substance abuse, dressing provocatively and doing anything that the world glorifies.

Where is the peace in our lives when we are calling the things that are right in the scriptures wrong? If our minds are not being renewed in the Word of the Lord, we are deep into the storm because we cannot see the light nor discern good and evil. This is what the enemy wants us to have a double mind wavering in between two opinions. 1 Kings 18:21 And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word.

The Lord does allow storms to come into our lives to turn us around, to train us to run to Him and call upon His name. Sometimes, He will trouble the waters to wake us up to move out of the way of danger that we cannot see before it destroys us. He is working in our lives during the storms by moving the winds and water in the direction of His will to give us a favorable outcome. Sometimes these storms come to move people out of our lives who are no good for us and who will not leave us alone. There is purpose for every storm and trouble waters that falls upon us. The people of God must learn that even in the eye of the storm Jesus is Lord.

Although many storms will come and go in our lives, it doesn’t matter who sent it we must believe by faith that God is a Master in the storm, and this too shall pass. We are loved and forgiven because we believe in Jesus Christ. His peace cannot be removed from us because we are His sheep who are called by His name. John 14:26-27 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 

 

Peace of God

 

I am overwhelmed with trouble

I need You God I need Your peace

There’s nothing I can do

I’m praying for Your love to rain on me

Fill me inside and out with Your mercy

I sing praises in the midst of confusion

My soul is tormented by my thoughts

Please release me and bless my life

I want that unquenchable joy

If You are listening, please answer

I want that peace that flows like a river

Infinitely and endlessly into Your sea of forgetfulness

 ã2004 “Naima’s Inspirational Melodies”