Peace Is Not The Absense Of Turmoil; It Is Knowing The Presence Of God

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 (NKJV)

MARCH 13 - Not only was there a bitter herb set upon the Passover table, but there was also a sweet, delicate herb. Parsley is that customary herb, used to remind Jews of the sweet, peaceful incidents that no doubt occurred during their long journey to the land God prepared for them. But God cares far more about your faith than He does about your comfort. We read in 1 Peter 1:7 that trials are only tests of our faith, to show that it is strong and pure.

In Job 23:8-9, Job records his search for God, “I go east, but He is not there. I go west, but I cannot find Him. I do not see Him in the north, for He is hidden. I turn to the south, but I cannot find Him.” It could have appeared to Job that God had entirely abandoned him. All of his efforts to find God’s presence in his turmoil led to nothing until we come to verse 10, which says, “But He knows…” Job acknowledges that God knows his state, and if God knows, then He must be near!

He continues, “But He knows where I am going, and when He has tested me like gold in a fire, He will pronounce me innocent.” Do those sound like the words of an anxious, fretful man? No! His words come from a heart that is assured of God’s faithfulness even in his trouble, and because of that, great peace, as celebrated with the sweet herb, guards his heart and fixates his mind.

Let me ask you, has God ever failed you before? Even once? Then why would He fail you now? Remember His faithfulness in times past, and rest in the peace He so generously provides.

Daily Confession

Father, I thank You that I walk in Your righteousness, and that You never allow me to be moved, made to fall, slip, or fail.

Day 13: Audio Confession

Family Scripture Reading

Luke 2

Featured Resource

The Great Exchange - Book

Many believers are unaware that they do not have to be held prisoner to the fearful, accusatory, and worrisome thoughts that race through their minds on a daily basis. Since these thoughts sound like their own inner voice, people entertain them and then find themselves tormented by guilt, fear, rejection, anger, and unforgiveness.

But God not only instructs us to choose our thoughts – He tells us exactly what we should think about to experience God’s best for our life!

Through hard experience and extensive study of God’s Word, Dr. Robb Thompson has learned how to replace Satan’s thoughts of fear and failure with God’s higher thoughts of life and victory. Now he passes on this vital lesson to you. So get ready to take control of your thought life. It’s time to renovate your mind with the Word of God!

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Foreword
Introduction
1 From Conformed to Transformed
2 Identified With Jesus
3 The Key to Victory: Understanding Righteousness
4 God Has Already Qualified You!
5 Let Go of the Past
6 The Life-or-Death Power of Words
7 Eliminating Confusion From Your Life
8 Scriptural Strategies for Conquering

 

Posted under Peace

This post was written by admin on March 13, 2009

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Focusing On What You’ve Got Will Cause You To Forget What You’ve Not

“And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: ‘Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are—northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever.’”

Genesis 13:9, 14-15 (NKJV)

FEBRUARY 27 - The world’s oldest lock is said to be an Egyptian pin tumbler lock found in the ancient ruins of Nineveh. It is fascinating to note that modern cylindrical door locks still operate on this same tumbler principle, discovered thousands of years earlier. The call to follow Jesus requires us to give up, to lock up, and lock away, many things of our past. Whether it is a destructive relationship, a harmful thought pattern, an injurious addiction, or some other negative endeavor, God summons us to sacrifice what we already have in order to possess what we truly value. We, as believers, are required to focus on who we are, and what has been given to us in Christ Jesus. As we focus on what we possess, we will begin to overlook what we have lost. Many of us reading this have lost a job, a home, money, or even a loved one. If we begin to focus on what we’ve lost in the past, we will become bitter towards others, as well as towards Heaven. So, we must continually focus on what we have right in front of us.

God has given to us and done so many things for us—we are blessed. There is no one who can say they have nothing. All possess something for which they can be truly thankful. Society influences many to dwell on what they have lost, and then to devise a plan to retrieve it. We must choose to direct our focus upon what we have in an attempt to forget the things we don’t. We must maintain our focus and give thanks for everything we have in our possession, locking up and locking away those things that are behind, throwing away the proverbial key, reaching forward to the upward call of God.

Daily Confession

Father, I thank You that I do not count myself as having apprehended, but I forget those things which are behind and I reach forward to those things which are ahead.

Day 27: Audio Confession

Family Scripture Reading

2 Corinthians 5

Featured Resource

Character: Building A Godly Foundation for A Successful Life - CD Series

A house built on a faulty foundation soon becomes unfit to live in. Shifting soil causes cracks in the foundation, and those cracks lead to costly damage. Think of the trouble that could be avoided if only the foundation were repaired!

Character is the foundation of your life; you can save yourself a lifetime of grief if you will honestly inspect your character, making sure it is built firmly upon the strong, immovable foundation of God’s principles. Dr. Robb Thompson shares many of these valuable principles in this dynamic series – principles such as:

• It’s not what you say that matters, but what you do that makes all the difference.
• Character prefers the rejection of men to the disappointment of Heaven.
• It is impossible for your life to produce anything beyond the strength of your moral fiber.

Let Dr. Thompson help you explore what God has to say about pursuing excellent character. Then start building a rock-solid, Godly character that will lead you to God’s highest for your life!

 

Posted under Focus, Greatness

This post was written by admin on February 27, 2009

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