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A WOMAN’S JOURNEY WITH GOD Focus Verse: "My Father, You are the Lord my God. I desire to love You, to listen to Your voice, and hold fast to You, for You, Lord, are my life". Deuteronomy 30:20 "An Amazing Walk in Peace" Study Text: "You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, whose thoughts are fixed on You! Trust in the Lord God always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock." Isaiah 26: 3, 4 NLT Introduction: Professionals in counseling and medical fields verify that "fear" is the greatest problem facing people today – fear of losing their health, their wealth, and their loved ones. Despite what patients themselves say, 90% of all chronic patients today have one common symptom, FEAR. Fear, sooner or later manifests itself in some sort of clinical symptom. Both anxiety and worry (fear) spring from natural and legitimate concerns that are part of life in this world. But these concerns are handled wrongly when they do one or more of the following: (1) become dominating concerns in our life and lead to fear, (2) destroy our perspective on life and cause us to forget that God exists and cares, or (3) move us to drift into an attitude of constant worry and concern for a future that we cannot control. Lawrence O. Richards Yes, causes for fear surround us on every side in this "mad, mad, mad world", but as Christian women, on an amazing journey with God, we have a built-in resource for handling these fears. That resource is the peace of God. As His children we can experience "An Amazing Walk in Peace" by His Holy Spirit, in the midst of life’s trials. What exactly is this peace that God’s Spirit gives? It is not the absence of problems as many suppose, or the feeling that is experienced when all is well. The truth is that God’s peace comes to us and endures regardless of life’s circumstances. In the New Testament, "peace" is referred to as "shalom" and means not just freedom from trouble. It means tranquility of heart which derives from the all-pervading consciousness that our times are in the hands of God. (William Barclay) Christ is the Source of our Peace: Jesus said, "I have told you this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world." (John 16:33 The Message) Our peace has nothing to do with our circumstances or the conditions of our life. Our peace has everything to do with knowing we have a right relationship with God and believing that God is all-sufficient . Almighty God is omnipresent and therefore fully aware of every detail of our life. He knows our needs in every situation and at all times. He gives us exactly what we need when we need it! "Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your Presence?" ( Psalm 139:7 NKJV) The anticipated answer is "nowhere". There is no hiding place from God. What a consolation for we on this "journey of faith". Corrie ten Boom: Where there is faith, there is love. Where there is love, there is peace. Where there is peace, there is blessing. Where there is blessing, there is God. Where there is God, there is no want. An amazing truth! You and I have peace through the gift of Jesus Christ, God’s Son. Seven hundred years before Jesus was born in a manger in Bethlehem, Isaiah the Old Testament prophet predicted, "For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles; Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6 NLT). That name reflects His mission. Jesus’ advent to earth accomplished our salvation. His death on Calvary gave us the gift of peace with God that comes only with forgiveness for our sins. "Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us" (Romans 5:1 NLT) When our Lord speaks peace, He makes peace; His words are ever "spirit and life". He said, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you." (John 14:27 KJV)
He is our source of peace. Peace follows Surrender: Our peace has nothing to do with daily challenges or crises, andeverything to do with knowing that our times are in God’s hands. To enjoy God’s peace, we have to actively trust Him, rest in His presence and trust in His promises. Our amazing walk in peace is characterized not by fretting, panic, and anxiety, but by the quiet peace that comes with trusting God in the midst of life’s most difficult circumstances. Elisabeth Elliot knows about fear and anxiety. When she was serving in the jungles of Ecuador, she and the other missionary wives received word that two bodies had been found at the location where their husbands had gone. What did she think? How did she feel? What did she do? First, this missionary wife focused her mind on God and the truth in His Word. "It was the first I knew that anything was amiss," she recalls. "A verse God had impressed on my mind when I first arrived in Ecuador came back suddenly and sharply, ‘When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you’ (Isaiah 43:2). Strengthened with this promise of God’s presence she proceeded to go about her duties, teaching the Indian girls’ literacy class, praying silently, "Lord, let not the waters overflow." ( Through Gates of Splendor) Jim Elliot, her husband, was one of the men who were killed. Pray: The more you pray, the closer you draw to God and the better you know Him. And the more you pray, the more His presence and power surround you, lifting you up and banishing your worries and fears. Pray first, pray often, pray continually. Come to God in prayer and place your worries, doubts, fears and concerns into His hands. Enjoy His presence and His fellowship. Learn from Him…. worship Him….experience His peace. Embrace God’s Word: To know God, His ways, His purposes, we must spend time in His Word. When we take His Holy Word as our standard and live obediently by it, we experience the peace which comes with maintaining a right relationship with God. "Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble" (Psalm 119:165 NKJV). Ponder: Praying daily, reading His Word, and meditating on God and His power, presence and peace will deepen your understanding and made you ready to receive God’s abundant grace upon grace. "He will give His people strength, He will bless them with peace" (Psalm 29:11 TLB). Praise: You can cope with whatever comes along because you know you are a recipient of His bountiful grace! Offer a prayer of praise thanking God for the assurance that there is nothing too great for God’s power; and nothing too small for His fatherly care.
When we pray with a perfect trust in the love, wisdom and power of God, we will find God’s peace. The way to peace is in a prayer of surrender to entrust ourselves and all whom we hold dear to the loving hands of God! Scripture: "Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus" ( Philippians 4: 6-7 NLT). Relax – God is always on the job! Be a Sanctuary of Peace:Our peace is an inward repose and serenity of soul that indicates a heart at rest – regardless of our circumstances – as we place complete confidence in God minute by minute. Lord. Prepare me to be a sanctuary, Pure and holy, tried and true. With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living sanctuary for You. John W. Thompson The peace of God rules in our hearts when we are completely surrendered to God’s will, and thus our whole being is united in obedience to Him. Christ’s reconciling work makes this surrender possible. "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, remembering that as members of the same body you are called to live in harmony, and never forget to be thankful for what God has done for you" (Colossians 3:15 Phillips). Quote: Remember Whose you are and Whom you serve. When you obey God, His seal is always that of peace, the peace of Jesus. Oswald Chambers If your life is open to receive the divine presence of the risen Christ, He comes in, speaking peace. Remember, He came to His disciples again and again after the resurrection, saying, "Peace be unto you!" He comes into our lives with a new love, His own life, that expresses itself in peace. When I welcome Him into my life and allow Him to become my Lord, He penetrates every area of my being; physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. It is then I begin to know what it means to be at peace with God, at peace with others and at peace with myself. I become a sanctuary of peace. Ponder: When you abide in God you are safe and secure. You are wrapped in a glow of love and peace and able to become all that God intended you to be. "I will lie down in peace and sleep, for You alone, O Lord, will keep me safe." Psalm 4:8 NLT As I allow the Holy Spirit to control our life, my character, conduct and conversation is changed. I pray, "Lord, change me" and He does. Peace, goodness, joy and serenity replace bitterness, jealousy, animosity; all that is unlike Christ. "Peace", which comes only from Christ, is one of the genuine, indisputable marks of God’s presence in my life. Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God" ( Matthew 5:9 NIV). James echoes our Lord’s teachings that the person who makes peace demonstrates these Christ-like attitudes toward others. "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace" (James 3: 17-18 NKJV). Ponder: How full of Christ’s peace is your life? Pray that God will give you a fuller love and more intimate understanding of His peace and that it will touch every area of your life. It Is Well With My Soul: When the great Chicago fire consumed the city in 1871, Horatio G. Spafford, an attorney heavily invested in real estate, lost a fortune. About that time, his only son, age 4, succumbed to scarlet fever. Horatio drowned his grief in work, rebuilding Chicago and assisting the 100,000 who had been left homeless. Horatio had a close friendship with D. L. Moody and Ira Sankey and wanted to visit their evangelistic meetings in England. His wife and daughters would join him on the trip. As it turned out, Horatio was detained in New York, but his wife, Anna, and daughters went on ahead, setting sail in November, 1873 on the Villa du Havre. During the early hours of November 22 nd, the ship collided with an iron sailing vessel and within two hours beneath the waters. The 226 fatalities included Mr. Stafford’s four daughters. Anna was found nearly unconscious clinging to a piece of the wreckage. Later, she cabled her husband: "Saved Alone." Horatio immediately booked passage to join his wife. En route, the Captain called him aside and said, "I believe we are now passing over the place where the Villa du Havre went down." Stafford went to his cabin but found it difficult to sleep. He said to himself, "It is well; the will of God be done." He later wrote his famous hymn based on those words.
When peace like a river attendeth my way, An Amazing Walk in Peace: Father God, you are "peace"…you are my peace. You are the totality of all true contentment, the essence of calm serenity. In your presence I find peace and freedom from all that would disturb me and cause anxiety and fear. Thank you for all You have done for me. It is far more wonderful than my mind can understand. Please guard my heart and mind so that I may be Your sanctuary; pure, holy, tried and true. I remember again Your promise, "People with their minds set on You, You keep completely whole, steady on their feet, because they keep at it and don’t quit. Depend on God and keep at it because in the Lord God you have a sure thing" (Study Text: Isaiah 26: 3-4 The Message). In the name of the Prince of Peace, the Lord Jesus, I pray. Amen.
May Study |