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Jesus wants to give us peace of mind and heart -- Streamed Live

 

God wants you to experience peace.

Inner Peace In The Midst of Life's Storms

We often think of peace as a state of being that involves freedom from physical violence or discord. This is a correct understanding of peace. However, peace can also be understood to involve a state of being that has more to do with inner calmness, serenity and harmony.

Part of the nature of our world is that trouble and problems happen—in fact, they are a regular part of life. Every adult knows this is true from firsthand experience. So, if we are going to live with a consistent and reliable sense of peace it will have to be a type of inner peace that can be experienced even in the midst of life’s storms.

This inner peace is a gift. It is a gift that brings freedom from fear as well as renewal and hope to our hearts. It is the state which is being described in the book of Philippians chapter 4, vv. 6&7. The passage says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

This is an inner peace that defies our ability to completely understand, but it is real and it is available to those who will place their trust in the one we celebrate as the Prince of Peace during this time of year.

I pray for this peace for you and for me.

I'm Grateful For Those Who Fought To Bring Us Freedom

I do not like war. I desire peace. I sincerely wish everyone would get along and love each other. I’m serious. Many people feel this way, in fact, I think it’s possible that the majority of people in the world feel this way.

Unfortunately, there really are people in this world who have a desire for power and control over others which prevents peace, freedom and harmony. It’s a strange and sad reality that there are people who want to stir up friction, hatred and trouble. I know this is an unpopular idea, however, I’ll go ahead and write it anyhow: There are people who are evil.

So even though I, like most people, want peace I am tremendously thankful for the countless men and women who have gone before me—people like my father—along with those who currently serve to protect freedom and oppose tyranny. I am reminded again of the fact that there are people who have fought and died to make it possible for me to sit here today and comfortably write a post like this in which I am allowed to express my opinion. In order for us to have freedom, the fighting was necessary. I know this is sad and I wish it wasn’t true. But it is. In other words, the nature of our world is such that real freedom usually costs something.

It is right for us to be grateful for those who have done the fighting on our behalf. I admire their willingness to do something extraordinarily dangerous and difficult for the good of others. What they have done and what they continue to do is a big deal!

And by the way, if you disagree with what I’ve written—this has been known to happen, on occasion—please know I am thankful you have the freedom to do so.

P.S.  …But remember, people fought to give you the freedom to disagree.

Peace Can Be Rooted In Something Stable and Unchanging

The sense of peace and contentment we experience in life does not have to be circumstance dependent.  It can be rooted in something stable and unchanging.  It can be rooted in the goodness, strength, sufficiency and presence of Christ.