THE PEACE OF CHRIST GIVEN TO YOU

"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. 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. You have heard Me say to you, 'I am going away and coming back to you.' If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, 'I am going to the Father,' for My Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe" (John 14:16-29)

Devotion 1 of 12

INTRODUCTION

Peace is the "balm" of the heavenly kingdom. It is available to every individual that is "in Christ." The peace of God is like a garrison that keeps the heart and mind from Satanic distraction. No believer wants to be without it, and none can afford to lack it. Yet, there are myriads of professed believers that have no stabilizing peace. Their hearts are like a raging sea, where there is no rest.

I call upon you to engage in a fervent quest for the peace that comes from God and Christ. A settled heart is fertile soil for the development of spiritual qualities. One of the great spiritual benefits that we obtain in Jesus is that of peace. This is a commodity that is very rare in our time. As Jesus said, men's hearts are "failing them for fear" (Lk 21:26). Troubled hearts are quite common, but it does not have to be so.

When peace is not within, a vast door is opened to Satan. An assault is made upon our thinking, as well as our emotion and soul. Corrupt ideas and flawed views are then entertained. These subvert the soul, causing the one lacking peace to judge and live incorrectly. Scripture and circumstance alike are not understood properly. Very often this results in sin and transgression. It is obvious that the peace of God is not an option for the overcomer--it is a necessity! Whatever guards and keeps our heart and mind is indispensable!

PRAYER POINT: Father, in Jesus' name, deliver me from any notion that I can live acceptably without Your peace.

-- TOMORROW: PEACE IS RELATED DIRECTLY TO JESUS CHRIST --