Thoughts of peace and not of evil...

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you", says the LORD, "thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." - Jeremiah 29:11-13

 

What a blessing to know God has "thoughts of peace and not of evil" towards us. That's good news for any who might think God is against them because of tough times they are going through. True, He has either ordained or allowed those times to come into our lives but He reminds us that there is always peace available. His "thoughts" are not our thoughts... His ways not like our ways... His thoughts don't continue to change and/or develop like ours. His infinite thought is locked in on  "peace and not of evil", so peace is one of those things that stays on tap (like wisdom).  

Even knowing that we have peace just a change-of-mind away, we will still struggle because of being in close proximity to our dilemmas. Notice how we find it easier to tell someone to calm down when they are upset, than it is for them to actually do it. And how we ourselves were so "out of it" and someone told us to be calm, but we found it difficult. It is times like these where we must stand on the "Rock" through faith. Jesus' disciples were facing a mighty storm while Jesus slept in the bottom of the boat. It's easy for us to say they shouldn't have been worried, but if you were in the reality of that situation, and what you were experiencing outweighed your ability to find peace (or so you thought at the time)... a lot of us would be worried too! Jesus came up and spoke to the storm and there was a "great calm" (Mark 4:39) and he asked them two questions: Why are you so fearful and How is it that you have no faith?  If we who follow the Master think about situations and storms we have come through in which we doubted and worried and fretted (all things He said not to do), if we look back we can almost see Jesus asking us those two questions:

Why are you so fearful? and How is it that you have no faith?

 From now on, my brothers and sisters, whoever may read this now or later... Let'sstand on the "Rock" and believe that God has thought peace for us.  He has given me peace like he has given me air and all I have to do is breathe it in. 

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." -Philippians 4: 6,7

 

 Father God, I find it awesome that you have smiled so on your people to think peace for us, in such a dark and troublesome world. Just like evil is always present in every day to try and throw us dear Lord, your peace is there as well to help us hold on. Jesus often left the crowds to pray and I suspect he gathered through meditation and prayer the means to gather in peace for the turmoil that would often take place  from day to day. Thank you for Jesus, our Savior, our King, our example and picture of peace! Please make us all more receptive to peace, real peace, the peace that comes from you... not the world's peace which is only temporary and doesn't last.  In Jesus name....