Posts with the tag “peace”

Nobody stumbles into hearing "well done." It gets built quietly, in the small things, long before anyone is watching.  Read More

“The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” - Lamentations 3:25–26If you have ever climbed into a deer stand long before dawn, you know waiting takes patience and trust. Sitting there in the cold, not knowing what the morning will bring, reminds us that some things are beyond our control. We prepare, we do al...  Read More

"On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you!'" - John 20:19Fear locks doors—sometimes literally, but more often in the heart. Even after hearing of resurrection, Jesus’s closest friends found themselves huddled together, afraid of what might happen...  Read More

“For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ, and you have been filled by him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.” – Colossians 2:9-10 Most people do not reject Jesus outright. They just quietly reduce Him. He becomes a piece of life instead of the center of it. A helper when things get hard. A spiritual option among many others. That sounds harmless, but it change...  Read More

“The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.” – Romans 8:16-17 There is a deep desire inside every human heart to belong. We long to be known, accepted, and loved. The good news of the gospel is that when we place our faith i...  Read More

“He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ as a plan for the right time—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him.” – Ephesians 1:9-10 One of the greatest gifts God has given His people is understanding. Before Christ came, the full picture of God’s plan was hidden. People knew pieces of His...  Read More

“Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ.” – Ephesians 1:3 Most people think of blessings as the good things that happen in life. We get a promotion, we post a picture, and we call it a blessing. We enjoy a healthy family, a comfortable home, or a good season, and we feel blessed. While those things are certa...  Read More

“But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds.” – Isaiah 53:5 Peace is something everyone longs for, but few understand the cost behind it. We often think of peace as something free and effortless, but true peace always comes with a price. The peace we have with God did not come cheaply. It was ...  Read More

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” – Matthew 5:9 The world is full of conflict. Everywhere we look, there is division, tension, and noise. It can be easy to think that peace is something we can only hope for but never experience. Yet Jesus calls His followers to be more than people who enjoy peace. He calls us to be peacemakers. When Jesus spoke these words, He was...  Read More

“Abundant peace belongs to those who love your instruction; nothing makes them stumble.” – Psalm 119:165 Everyone wants peace, but not everyone is willing to walk the path that leads to it. Most of the time, we try to find peace through comfort, distraction, or control. We think that if we can just make life go our way, we’ll finally feel at rest. But the Bible teaches that peace doesn’t come from...  Read More

“Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7 Everyone wants peace. We chase it in different ways, hoping that if we could just have a little more success, a little more comfort, or a little mo...  Read More

“You will keep the mind that is dependent on you in perfect peace, for it is trusting in you.” – Isaiah 26:3 Every day, we are surrounded by noise, pressure, and uncertainty. The news is heavy, the future feels fragile, and even the smallest things can stir anxiety. We live in an imperfect world, and sometimes it feels impossible to find peace in the middle of it. But the truth of Scripture remind...  Read More

“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful.” – John 14:27 Life has a way of reminding us that peace is fragile. One moment things seem steady, and the next, everything changes. The phone call you never expected. The bill you didn’t see coming. The diagnosis that shakes your confidence. It doesn’t take much f...  Read More

“For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” – Isaiah 9:6 When Isaiah spoke the words above found in Isaiah 9, the people of Israel were surrounded by fear and uncertainty. Enemies were closing in, and hope felt far away. In that moment, God’s response wa...  Read More

"You do not have, because you do not ask." – James 4:2 It’s the day after Thanksgiving. Black Friday. The world is sprinting through store doors and flooding websites, chasing the best deals on things we’ve convinced ourselves we need. New shoes. New gadgets. New upgrades. And while the carts fill and the wallets empty, it’s easy to overlook what really matters. But what if we paused for just a se...  Read More

"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts... Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly... And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus" - Colossians 3:15-17 Jesus never meant to be a weekend guest in your life. He came to take up residence. And when He moves in, He wants to saturate everything. Your decisions. Your thoughts. Your relationships. Your att...  Read More

"But he who listens to me shall dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster" – Proverbs 1:33. Sometimes the storms in our lives do not pass quickly. Sometimes they linger. The sky stays gray, the winds keep pounding, and you start wondering how long you’ll have to keep holding on. It’s one thing to have deep roots when a storm hits suddenly and leaves just as fast. It’s another to ...  Read More

“So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” – Matthew 5:23-24 After you recognize the rift and respond with repentance, the next move is simple, but it’s not easy. Restore the relationship. Whether it’s your relat...  Read More

“And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful.” - Colossians 3:15 Peace doesn’t usually show up on its own. It’s not something that just drifts into your life without permission. You have to let it in. That’s exactly what Paul is getting at in the verse above when he says, “Let the peace of Christ rule your hearts.” That word “rule” is p...  Read More

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Let’s go a little deeper into the idea of the three-legged stool life that we looked at yesterday. The three legs represent the three different aspects of us: Physically, mentally, and our so...  Read More

"Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near." - Philippians 4:5Step two in our journey toward a healthy thought life centers around a powerful truth: the Lord is near. That phrase changes everything. When your mind feels cluttered with anxiety or stuck in a cycle of negative thinking, one of the greatest things you can do is stop and remember that God is not far away. He is right...  Read More

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" - Philippians 4:4 We are going to begin a new seven-part journey, diving into what it means to develop a healthy thought life. The first step is all about joy. Not random happiness or good vibes, but the kind of joy that comes from choosing to rejoice in the Lord no matter what is happening around you. The verse shown above is not a sugge...  Read More

"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." - Revelation 21:4 Can you picture a world where all the pain and brokenness we see today is gone? A world without crime or violence, without fear or loss. It is hard to imagine because everything around us now seems to ca...  Read More

"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful." - Colossians 3:15 If you belong to Jesus, then His peace should rule your heart. That’s what this verse is saying. But what about those moments when you don’t feel peace? What if you love the Lord and are trying to follow Him, but you still feel anxious or unsettled? Before you start qu...  Read More

"Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble." – Psalm 119:165 There’s a certain kind of peace that comes from knowing you’ve done the right thing. It’s not the temporary relief of getting away with something or avoiding consequences. It’s the steady, unshakable calm that comes when your heart is right with God and your actions align with His truth. But let’s be honest,...  Read More

"And, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace." - Ephesians 6:15 In the battle of spiritual warfare, your footing matters. Soldiers in ancient times wore sturdy sandals equipped with nails or spikes to ensure stability on the battlefield. In the armor of God, your spiritual footing comes from the gospel of peace. It’s not just protection for your feet, it’s...  Read More

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” - John 14:27   When Jesus came, He didn’t just promise peace, nor did He only embody peace. He actively GIVES us peace, an invitation to live with His assurance every single day. In John 14:27, Jesus tells His disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my...  Read More

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” - Romans 5:1   While Jesus promises to bring everlasting peace to His people at His second coming, the main reason He came the first time was to bring peace between God and us. Romans 5:1 explains it beautifully: “Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord J...  Read More

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” - Luke 2:10-11   After 700 years of waiting, God’s promise of a Savior finally came to life in the quiet fields of Bethlehem. That night, an angel appeared to shepherds, shining with the glory of the Lord, and brought the b...  Read More

"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law." - Galatians 4:4   Imagine living in a time when believing in God’s promise of peace required immense faith. Picture looking around, seeing a world filled with conflict, cruelty, and chaos, and then hearing a promise: peace is coming, and it’s coming in the form of a baby. The faith it would take to...  Read More

"But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days." - Micah 5:2   When life feels overwhelming, when the news is filled with injustice, and when peace seems out of reach, it’s easy to wonder if things can ever really change. Imagine hearing a pro...  Read More

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” - Luke 2:14   Christmas Day—after all the waiting, it’s finally here. For weeks, everything has led up to this day, filling it with meaning and joy. Today is the day we celebrate the best gift ever given, a gift that changed everything.  It’s the day that reminds us of God’s incredible love and the miracle of Je...  Read More

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." - Isaiah 9:6   Imagine hearing a promise from God, spoken through Isaiah, hundreds of years before Jesus was born. To people surrounded by struggle, injustice, and longing, these words must have sounded ...  Read More

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." - John 14:27   Over the years, I've come to understand something: peace isn’t something you can buy or create on your own. Peace is a gift from God. Our world is desperate for this peace, God’s peace, because it’s drowning in conflict, restlessness...  Read More

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." - Isaiah 9:6   Some questions have answers that almost feel automatic. Growing up in Sunday School, “Jesus” seemed to be the answer to everything. Who’s your hero? Jesus. What’s the greatest gift you’ve ...  Read More

"And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.'" - Luke 2:10-11   Have you ever noticed how easily we let small things shape our mood? I remember growing up in Texas and being a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan. In the late ’80s and early ’90s, th...  Read More

"For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." - Isaiah 9:6   Have you ever wondered what the Israelites were expecting in a Messiah? Their waiting was filled with anticipation, shaped by prophecies and promises that painted a picture of a...  Read More

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.” - Isaiah 26:3-4   Here’s the thing about trust: when it moves in, worry moves out. But when worry moves in, trust leaves. Worry is like a big flashing sign that says trust has taken a backseat. So, what is trust, really?  In the Bible, trust car...  Read More

“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will.”- Hebrews 13:20-21   Worry has a way of creeping into your life, doesn’t it? Maybe it’s your health, your finances, your children, or even your future. What are you worried about today? It’s easy to...  Read More

"Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near." – Philippians 4:5    God designed you to be a gentle giant, not a weak warrior. His plan for you isn't to overpower or crush others but to carry His love and heart in the way you interact with the world. While some see gentleness as weakness, it's quite the opposite.  Gentleness is power held in check by love, strength that doesn't need to...  Read More