Day 6 of 30 day Devotional.

How much of faith, hope, and love is worked in us when we try to convince somebody else? It is not our business to convince other people, that is the insistence of a merely intellectual, unspiritual life. The Spirit of God will do the convicting when we are in the relationship where we simply convey God’s word. We exploit the word of God in order to fit it into some view of our own that we have generated; but when it comes to the great calm peace and rest of the Lord Jesus, we can easily test where we are. 

To “rest in the Lord” is the perfection of inward activity. In the ordinary reasoning of man it means sitting with folded arms and letting God do everything; in reality it is being so absolutely stayed on God that we are free to do the active work of men without fuss. The times God works most wonderfully are the times we never think about it.

Reflection Questions: How much of my unrest comes from trying to create peace on my terms rather than God’s? Which part of the peace-making process belongs to God and which to me?

Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. Luke 6:28 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/luk.6.28.KJV

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6‭-‬7 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/php.4.6-7.KJV

Day 5 of 30 Day Devotional.

Children are sometimes afraid in the dark. Fear gets into their hearts and nerves and they get into a tremendous state; then they hear the voice of mother or father, and all is quietened and they go off to sleep. In our own spiritual experience it is the same. Some terror comes down the road to meet us and our hearts are seized with a tremendous fear; then we hear our own name called, and the voice of Jesus saying, “It is I, do not be afraid,” and the peace of God which passes understanding takes possession of our hearts.

A man can never be the same again after having heard Jesus Christ preached. He may say he pays no attention to it; he may appear to have forgotten all about it, but he is never quite the same, and at any moment truths may spring up into his consciousness that will destroy all his peace and happiness.

Reflection Questions: What frightens me? When am I most likely to be afraid? What words of Jesus alarm me? What words of Jesus take my fear away?

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: James 1:13 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/jas.1.13.KJV

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/pro.22.6.KJV

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/jhn.14.27.KJV

Day 4 of 30 Day Devotional.

The idea of peace in connection with personality is that every power is in perfect working order to the limit of activity. That is what Jesus means when He says “My peace.” Never have in mind the idea of jadedness or stagnation in connection with peace. Health is physical peace, but health is not stagnation; health is the perfection of physical activity. Virtue is moral peace, but virtue is not innocence; virtue is the perfection of moral activity. Holiness is spiritual peace, but holiness is not quietness; holiness is the intensest spiritual activity.

The profound realization of God makes you too unspeakably peaceful to be capable of any self-interest.

Reflection Questions: In what ways does inactivity give a false sense of peace? Why is activity required for peace? Why does self-interest have to part in peace?

For thus saith the Lord , Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees. As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem. Isaiah 66:12‭-‬13 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/isa.66.12-13.KJV

Day 3 of 30 Day Devotional.

We limit ourselves and our conceptions of God by ignoring the side of the Divine Nature best symbolized by womanhood, and the Comforter surely represents this side of the Divine Nature. It is the Comforter Who sheds abroad the love of God in our hearts. It is the Comforter Who baptizes us into oneness with Jesus, in the amazing language of Scripture, until we are indwelt by a mysterious union with God. It is the Comforter Who brings forth the fruit of love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, temperance. Guidance by His sympathy leads by a blessed discipline into an understanding of God which passes knowledge.

O Lord, remove this bondage of thought, and bring peace and purity and power. Fill me this day with Your tenderness and compassion and grace.

Reflection Questions: Why is it impossible to have peace with God if we are in conflict with the opposite gender? Why does peace require tenderness as well as power, purity as well as compassion?