“For He himself is our peace…” (Ephesians 2:14a)
Jesus is our peace. That beautiful night Jesus was born, shepherds were sitting on the hillside with their sheep when a heavenly host of angels appeared singing out, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth PEACE, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:14, NKJV, emphasis added). This message of peace was relevant then, and it continues to be relevant today.
Why do we seek peace? To answer that, one might examine the absence of peace. The Merriman Webster Thesaurus gives the following antonyms for peace: war, conflict, strife, trouble, turmoil, contention. I would add to that fear and anxiety.
Moms, we live in a battle, not just in world events that seem to daily become more challenging, but in a spiritual battle as well. How do we obtain peace in the midst of life’s storms?
I’ve always taught my kids that whenever they are afraid, to call out to Jesus and to trust in Him. Even just saying His Name aloud as the simplest prayer, ‘Jesus’, has incredible power to dispel darkness and to usher in His peace. “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3, NKJV).
When I pray with each of my kids at bedtime, one thing they always want me to pray for is good dreams. If ever I forget to pray for them, they quickly remind me or call out to me to pray for good dreams. I remember a time when one of my children was having recurring nightmares. I prayed and asked God what I should do, and God revealed to me that I needed to be more selective with what he was watching on TV, that his heart was sensitive, and to take authority over those nightmares when I prayed for him. I prayed with him, and he decided to receive Jesus as his Lord and Savior at that time. Then together we prayed for those nightmares to stop. And do you know what? They did stop, and the incredible peace of God filled his heart.
One of my favorite Scriptures is Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” I have found that when I am not setting my mind on Jesus, fear and anxiety come in so quickly. But when I pray and give thanks to God and worship Him, a supernatural peace guards my heart. Just as a physical ‘guard’ surrounds, protects and shields, so this supernatural peace surrounds, protects and shields my heart and mind in Christ.
Moms, do you need more peace in your life? How does one get peace? I encourage you to get to know Jesus! He is peace! He broke down the dividing wall created by sin between God and man. He came to earth to bring peace and reconciliation. Call out to Him to receive this free gift of God’s grace. Get to know Him by reading God’s Word. Jesus is the Living Word (John 1:14). As you spend time with Him, you will be amazed at the incredible peace that will fill every part of your life.
With Love,
Elizabeth Moum and the Help Club for Moms Team
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