“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. John 14:27
One of my love languages is receiving gifts. But, there is a caveat. I want them wrapped extra special and given in a surprising kind of way. I am all about flair! Even when I give gifts, I take extra special time in wrapping them. It brings such joy to select the right kind of paper, curled ribbon and even an extra special tag. I want them to know I really thought about them. Everything about gift giving should reflect the giver and the receiver.
Jesus told us in John 14:27 that He was leaving us a gift, and not just any gift, the gift of His peace. It is the kind of peace that rides out even the worst storms, gives strength to endure the foreknowledge of the cross, and to still have joy amid the trials of life that He told us we would have. His gift was gift wrapped in the form of a Cross, a Tomb, a Resurrection and an Ascension to the right hand of the Father. All we have to do is accept it and unwrap it. Sounds easy, at least on our end, doesn’t it?
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. John 16:33
The only thing is that, us choosing peace means that sometimes we have to remain silent, let go of the need to be right and even, in some instances, leave everything behind. This takes a level of trust in our Father that He sees all, hears all, knows all, and will restore all that was lost. Or was it really lost? Here is where a shift in our thinking is needed. When we give, we can’t lose. When we give our right to the last word, we can’t lose. When we choose forgiveness, we can’t lose. When we give what is “ours” to those who may not deserve it, we can’t lose. When we let Him fight our battles, we can’t lose! Why? Because our Father owns it all anyway, and if what He is requiring from us is to give, it’s because He has a replacement in mind for us that far exceeds what we are releasing. Our peace comes from that Father/child relationship of knowing He cares for all things that concern the hearts of His children (1 Peter 5:7), and He will defend and protect like a Father.
It writes so easily, but living it out isn’t as fluid. What I have come to realize, and continue to work through is the realization that the areas we have little to no peace are the areas where we trust Him the least. Areas like our children, our finances, our relationships, just to name a few. I posit that, until we surrender those areas to Him completely, and doing so by prayer and fasting, He will continue to allow that agitation to bring us to our end. He want us to experience true peace as only He can give, and will use anything to bring us to that place.
Choose peace. Protect your peace. Unwrap the gift of peace.
He will keep Him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Him. Isaiah 26:3
Till next blog……