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I was listening to a Christian radio program while driving home the other day, and started thinking about how I often struggle with God over things in prayer.  Sometimes that can be a good thing!  Read more >

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder.   And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”    (Isaiah 9:6)  I don’t know about you, but I desperately need an extra measure of peace in our day and time, especially during the holiday season.  The biblical key to peace is Christ’s Authority!  Webster defines “peace” in this way:  a state of tranquility or quiet; a state of security or order within a community; a state or period of mutual concord; without strife or disorder…  When the Lord Jesus becomes your Lord and Savior, you gain access to His peace.  The Book of Isaiah uses the word peace 26 times. God promised the nation of Israel peace when they returned wholeheartedly to the Lord.  Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”  In 32:17 Isaiah tells us, “The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.”  Again in Isaiah 48:17-18 & 22, “Thus says the Lord, you Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: ‘I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go.  Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea’…’There is no peace,’ says the Lord, ‘for the wicked.’”  The apostle Paul concluded the book of II Thessalonians with this benediction, “Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.”  Ephesians 2:14 states, “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of division between us.”  Paul also says in Philippians 4:7, “and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” More importantly, Jesus Himself says in John 14:27, “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.”  When you have Jesus as the center of your life, He is the “still water” and tranquility you need to sustain you in a world of turmoil and chaos.  He is our example of peace and our inspiration for peace.  When we make peace with Jesus, we are no longer at enmity with God.  Our salvation guarantees us peace forever with our Creator.  Jesus becomes our peace as we bend our knee to His Authority.  Because He is the Vine and we are the branches (John 15), we are to receive that peace from His reservoir.  Peace comes to those who gladly receive downstream, that which Jesus begins upstream.   We find our security in Who He is.  Colossians 3:15 says, “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.”  He is the source of a peace that surpasses all understanding…   Read more >