God’s Peace

God's Peace

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"And the peace that surpasses all understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus,” Philippians 4:7.

Hearing God can be a challenging pursuit. But it is so worth the effort to hear that still, small voice and the peace it gives.

I think we all hear a voice from time to time. But what we hear often frightens us or causes us to doubt. This is not God's voice of love. God’s voice is one of peace. The enemy’s voice is one that creates an environment that pushes us away from our pursuit of God.

One thing I do, when the enemy is trying to push in, is to pray, "Father, cover me in Your love."

I have a couple of verses that I also say that help me to remember that God is bigger than any negative voice in my head. He will give us peace, when we ask honestly and earnestly.

”Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight,” Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭6‬, NIV‬‬.

“Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid,”

John‬ ‭14‬:‭27‬, NIV‬‬.

If our prayer is to hear God's still, small voice of peace, and we fail to hear it the first time, or even multiple times, no worries, but keep trying. God is training us for righteousness, and sometimes that just takes time.

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand,” John 10:27-28, NIV.

“As has just been said: ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion,’” Hebrews 3:15, NIV.

He desires you to get to the point where you hear His voice. He is and will continue to be with you throughout your training and of course—forever.

God will not play games with you, to lead you into walls, for a joke, or tell you to do foolish things. That's not God. You are not a puppet to Him, but His child, and He desires to have a relationship with you AS His child; one with effective communication.

Some give up because it's too much work and they didn’t hear His voice or find peace.

But those who stay the course--will hear God. For me, God waited for me to be more earnest about my pursuit of Him, versus getting my needs met or my complaints answered. It took years of tenacity to train my “ears to hear.” The pursuit was so worth it.

It actually changed the way I worship, too. Praising God from the bottom of my hearts versus just singing along to music.

We change because we are seeking God with all we have. Which means--we have surrendered our everything to Jesus, and freedom with God’s peace is our blessing, our gift.

When we decide we want a deeper relationship with God, when we desire to be all in, and actually desire to hear His still, small voice--we are not joining a cult or “drinking the Kool-Aid” of foolishness. We actually left that darkness when we became a follower of Jesus. We are free. Now we just need to get to know and hear the one who freed us, personally. It's part of our journey.

Do you desire to hear God? Do you desire His peace? What's your desire in pursuing your Creator, your Father, your Savior?

Father,

Please hear us when we earnestly call out to You-

"Do you even hear me?"

Please show me that You do--I want to hear You more. I am no longer afraid of hearing You. I want to have that Father-child intimacy.

I am willing to spend time asking and pursuing You--for I know that when I draw near to You, You draw near to me. It's Your trusted promise. And I believe it.

Yet, there are things I still don't understand; help my unbelief.

Thank You, King Jesus, that You have opened Your throne room and invited me into Your presence through prayer. Help me find my way in, when I feel lost.

Thank You that as hard as I am pursuing You--You are also pursuing me. Help me to believe that You are pursuing me to hold my hand and walk with me on Your path of righteousness. The enemy is telling me that You are only drawing me in to knock me down. That You desire to punish me, scold me or embarrass me. Yet, I don't read that in Your Word, the Bible.

You have forgiven me. Judgment is passed, and I am found righteous, in You, because of Jesus.

Help me to dwell deep in Your heart, oh God, as a child with their Father, who loves me and protects me.

I want to hear Your voice and know Your peace. I want to praise You from deep inside of me.

Amen.